Money Quote by Lorrie Moore
““She came to this California university for one reason, she reminds herself: the paycheck. Although every time the paycheck arrives the amount taken out in taxes for a single woman with no dependents is so huge it stuns her. The money starts to feel like an insult: For this, she thinks, I’ve uprooted my life? Whatever money she might save, moreover, she usually spends trying to console herself. And it is hard to make any job financially worth its difficulties, she realizes, when you’re constantly running out to J. C. Penney’s to buy bathmats.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Paycheck” (fiction) by Lorrie Moore, 1995
A woman struggles with the high tax burden on her paycheck, feeling that her earnings are diminished and questioning the value of her work.
In simple terms: Taxes erode her earnings, making work feel unrewarding.
Key Takeaway
Seek financial strategies to improve net income.
Themes
financial stress
gender
work‑life balance
Mood
frustrated
reflective
Type
social commentary
narrative
When to use this quote
- budgeting
- career planning
- advocacy for tax reform
Key Concepts
taxation impact
economic inequality
Questions to Reflect On
- How does tax policy affect low‑income workers?
- What alternatives exist to reduce tax burden?
A Different Perspective
The narrative overlooks systemic tax policy issues.
