--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we saw a destitute-looking man…" description: "\"“When we saw a destitute-looking man trying to sell worn flip-flops, I vowed never to complain about a job again. When I considered the steady paycheck..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/kristine-k-stevens-34754_employment_when-we-saw-a-destitute-looking-man-tryi_2312047.jpg" --- # When we saw a destitute-looking man trying to sell worn… ![“When we saw a destitute-looking man trying to sell worn flip-flops, I vowed never to complain about a job again. When I considered the steady paycheck and quality of life it provided, my past gripes - primarily boring meetings, back-biting office politics and pantyhose - were just whining.” quote by Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/kristine-k-stevens-34754_employment_when-we-saw-a-destitute-looking-man-tryi_2312047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/kristine-k-stevens-34754_employment_when-we-saw-a-destitute-looking-man-tryi_2312047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/kristine-k-stevens-34754_employment_when-we-saw-a-destitute-looking-man-tryi_2312047.jpg) > ““When we saw a destitute-looking man trying to sell worn flip-flops, I vowed never to complain about a job again. When I considered the steady paycheck and quality of life it provided, my past gripes - primarily boring meetings, back-biting office politics and pantyhose - were just whining.”” [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker contrasts personal grievances about office life with the hardships of a street vendor, realizing the privilege of stable employment. **In simple terms:** Realizing a job is a privilege compared to street hardship. Key Takeaway Appreciate your job and avoid complaining. Themes gratitude perspective work ethic Mood reflective empathetic Type personal social commentary When to use this quote - office meetings - street vending - career reflection - financial planning Key Concepts privilege empathy social inequality Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing privilege change your daily attitude? - What steps can you take to help those less fortunate? A Different Perspective The anecdote may romanticize poverty and ignore systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Employment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employment/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Kenya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kenya/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Quality of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality-of-life/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) ## Related quotes > [I think all actors, when they're not working, say, 'If I can get to this point where I'm working on a consistent basis, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-think-all-actors-when-they-re-not-working-say-if-i-can-get-to-this/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [There are so many musicians, friends of mine, who play shows for ten people a night, or always desperately wanted a record contract. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/there-are-so-many-musicians-friends-of-mine-who-play-shows-for-ten/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [If I ever complain about my job, hit me with a rubber hose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-johnson-jr/if-i-ever-complain-about-my-job-hit-me-with-a-rubber-hose/) [Ernie Johnson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-johnson-jr/) > [I think that there are a lot of things that come along with being a musician, but I don't want to whine about them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/i-think-that-there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-come-along-with-being-a/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [Many of the scrappy young people I meet who are the first in their family to go to college feel that they have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/many-of-the-scrappy-young-people-i-meet-who-are-the-first-in-their/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [I would trade a steady paycheck for a summer vacation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-trade-a-steady-paycheck-for-a-summer-vacation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's nothing wrong with getting a steady paycheck, unless it interferes with your ability to earn what you're worth. There's the rub. It usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-getting-a-steady-paycheck-unless-it/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [I earned my first steady paycheck watering rose bushes at a nursery for a dollar an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/i-earned-my-first-steady-paycheck-watering-rose-bushes-at-a-nursery/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [I'm 37 years old and don't have a steady paycheck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lando/i-m-37-years-old-and-don-t-have-a-steady-paycheck/) [Joe Lando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lando/) > [If there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/if-there-s-a-steady-paycheck-in-it-i-ll-believe-anything-you-say/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [When you go somewhere like Kenya and you see how the children don't have pencils and pens, and all of these things are considered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomie-harris/when-you-go-somewhere-like-kenya-and-you-see-how-the-children-don-t/) [Naomie Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomie-harris/) > [At independence Kenya's economic indicators were equal to those of South Korea, but 45 years down the road, Korea's economy is 40 times that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raila-odinga/at-independence-kenya-s-economic-indicators-were-equal-to-those-of/) [Raila Odinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raila-odinga/) > [I am grateful to my father for sending me to school, and that we moved from Somalia to Kenya, where I learned English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/i-am-grateful-to-my-father-for-sending-me-to-school-and-that-we-moved/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [We played well in Kenya. We didn't lose a game and we bowled Pakistan out for 100 twice. We don't need to change much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-warne/we-played-well-in-kenya-we-didn-t-lose-a-game-and-we-bowled-pakistan/) [Shane Warne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-warne/) > [I very much like Kenya. It's hard to beat the Masai Mara and the idea of ballooning across it. I have a great time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-burnett/i-very-much-like-kenya-it-s-hard-to-beat-the-masai-mara-and-the-idea/) [Mark Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-burnett/) ## More by Kristine K. Stevens > [“I finally decided to adopt guidelines rather than set a budget. If it could be done at home, skip it. If I had done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/i-finally-decided-to-adopt-guidelines-rather-than-set-a-budget-if-it/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [“There I was, poised on the edge of the high diving board of life, and the pool kept moving around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/there-i-was-poised-on-the-edge-of-the-high-diving-board-of-life-and/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [“What I did not realize was that I also hoped to have an epiphany, to discover a cause to devote my life to, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/what-i-did-not-realize-was-that-i-also-hoped-to-have-an-epiphany-to/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [ “Writing \[my journal\] was the only way I could keep track of the last experience before a new one came along and erased the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/writing-my-journal-was-the-only-way-i-could-keep-track-of-the-last/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [“For the rest of my life, Zanzibar will be the Swahili word for rain. The rain would drizzle, spit, mist, downpour, shower, torrent, gust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/for-the-rest-of-my-life-zanzibar-will-be-the-swahili-word-for-rain/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [“Slowly, all the days became Saturdays, full of more sunlight than I could remember seeing in a long time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/slowly-all-the-days-became-saturdays-full-of-more-sunlight-than-i/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [“I like the idea that when I die, I will have a long sit-down chat with God and get answers to all my questions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/i-like-the-idea-that-when-i-die-i-will-have-a-long-sit-down-chat-with/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [“People dream. They talk about escaping from it all. Their friends and family diligently listen and politely ignore it when the ruminations fade into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/people-dream-they-talk-about-escaping-from-it-all-their-friends-and/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [“While National Geographic magazine had given me a taste of the world, the three-dimensional details of this moment - the tickle of the rain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/while-national-geographic-magazine-had-given-me-a-taste-of-the-world/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [“I was 8,569 miles away, 37 butt-numbing hours of travel across seven time zones in the last two days, or was it three? Amelia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/i-was-8-569-miles-away-37-butt-numbing-hours-of-travel-across-seven/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [“Toilet paper was either bleached white or unbleached gray, yet there were more than a dozen kinds of ketchup and about 30 brands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/toilet-paper-was-either-bleached-white-or-unbleached-gray-yet-there/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [“In a tree-shaded pasture, seventeen adult tortoises randomly stood around. As I fed them spinach leaves sold by an opportune vendor, they tolerated my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/in-a-tree-shaded-pasture-seventeen-adult-tortoises-randomly-stood/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [“It’s weird,” I said. “In one way I feel almost crushed by all the freedom, but the longer I travel, the more I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/it-s-weird-i-said-in-one-way-i-feel-almost-crushed-by-all-the-freedom/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) [Explore all 14 Kristine K. Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) ## More Employment quotes > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Time wasted can never be compensated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-wasted-can-never-be-compensated/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“It's no accident that in a bureaucracy getting fired is called 'termination,' as in ontological erasure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/it-s-no-accident-that-in-a-bureaucracy-getting-fired-is-called/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“Work is a vehicle with which man chases some fleeting destination called a full tummy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/work-is-a-vehicle-with-which-man-chases-some-fleeting-destination/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Your calling multiplies you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/your-calling-multiplies-you/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Employment is an employee’s kissing of an employer’s ass. A salary is the employer’s pretense to be cleaning his ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/employment-is-an-employee-s-kissing-of-an-employer-s-ass-a-salary-is/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“...the pleasantness of an employment does not always evince its propriety.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/the-pleasantness-of-an-employment-does-not-always-evince-its-propriety/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Will capitalist economies operate at full employment in the absence of routine intervention? Certainly not. Are deviations from full employment a social problem? Obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/will-capitalist-economies-operate-at-full-employment-in-the-absence/) [Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Time is the source of all things”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-is-the-source-of-all-things/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [In a world where lifelong employment in the same job is a thing of the past, creativity is not a luxury. It is essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/in-a-world-where-lifelong-employment-in-the-same-job-is-a-thing-of/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“Time is a running factor; once it goes, it cannot be reclaimed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-is-a-running-factor-once-it-goes-it-cannot-be-reclaimed/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Money is created from time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/money-is-created-from-time/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [As the president of Kosovo, I am more concerned about the current situation with the employment standing at around 70 % of the population,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibrahim-rugova/as-the-president-of-kosovo-i-am-more-concerned-about-the-current/) [Ibrahim Rugova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibrahim-rugova/) [Browse all 1,829 Employment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When we saw a destitute-looking man trying to sell worn flip-flops, I vowed never to complain about a job again. When I considered the steady paycheck and quality of life it provided, my past gripes - primarily boring meetings, back-biting office politics and pantyhose - were just whining.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kristine K. Stevens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/when-we-saw-a-destitute-looking-man-trying-to-sell-worn-flip-flops-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Employment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/when-we-saw-a-destitute-looking-man-trying-to-sell-worn-flip-flops-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/kristine-k-stevens-34754_employment_when-we-saw-a-destitute-looking-man-tryi_2312047.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/kristine-k-stevens-34754_employment_when-we-saw-a-destitute-looking-man-tryi_2312047.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/kristine-k-stevens-34754_employment_when-we-saw-a-destitute-looking-man-tryi_2312047.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we saw a destitute-looking man trying to sell worn flip-flops, I vowed never to complain about a job…” — Kristine K. Stevens", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kristine K. Stevens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When we saw a destitute-looking man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/when-we-saw-a-destitute-looking-man-trying-to-sell-worn-flip-flops-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/when-we-saw-a-destitute-looking-man-trying-to-sell-worn-flip-flops-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```