--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My whole life I've worked. My whole life…" description: "\"My whole life I've worked. My whole life I've been counted out.\" — Marcus Smart" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e2/marcus-smart-6452_been_my-whole-life-i-ve-worked-my-whole-life_1083621.jpg" --- # My whole life I've worked. My whole life I've been counted… ![“My whole life I've worked. My whole life I've been counted out.” quote by Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e2/marcus-smart-6452_been_my-whole-life-i-ve-worked-my-whole-life_1083621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e2/marcus-smart-6452_been_my-whole-life-i-ve-worked-my-whole-life_1083621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e2/marcus-smart-6452_been_my-whole-life-i-ve-worked-my-whole-life_1083621.jpg) > “My whole life I've worked. My whole life I've been counted out.” [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) ## 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 feels that despite constant effort, they have been repeatedly overlooked or undervalued. **In simple terms:** Hard work yet still ignored. Key Takeaway Seek environments that recognize your contributions. Themes perseverance recognition career selfworth Mood determined hopeful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - Job interviews - performance reviews - team meetings - career planning Key Concepts Resilience Systemic bias Self-advocacy Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to showcase your value? - Are there alternative paths where your work is appreciated? A Different Perspective External factors may limit recognition despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [There are lots more people in the House. I don't know exactly - I've never counted, but at least a couple hundred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/there-are-lots-more-people-in-the-house-i-don-t-know-exactly-i-ve/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [I've been counted out a lot of times, but always find a way to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-garcia/i-ve-been-counted-out-a-lot-of-times-but-always-find-a-way-to-win/) [Danny Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-garcia/) > [I've always been counted out. I've always had people believing I didn't belong. I think that has made me work a little harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ensberg/i-ve-always-been-counted-out-i-ve-always-had-people-believing-i-didn/) [Morgan Ensberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ensberg/) > [I've worked all my life to shed myself of any character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/i-ve-worked-all-my-life-to-shed-myself-of-any-character/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [I've worked all my life not to be a simpleton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roisin-murphy/i-ve-worked-all-my-life-not-to-be-a-simpleton/) [Roisin Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roisin-murphy/) > [I've worked my whole life and never missed a deadline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/i-ve-worked-my-whole-life-and-never-missed-a-deadline/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [I want everything that's possible that I've worked for to show up in my life and be mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-zingano/i-want-everything-that-s-possible-that-i-ve-worked-for-to-show-up-in/) [Cat Zingano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-zingano/) > [Always, through my whole life, I've had a thirst for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmitt-smith/always-through-my-whole-life-i-ve-had-a-thirst-for-knowledge/) [Emmitt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmitt-smith/) > [My dad worked all his life, an engineer, 30 years, week in, week out at the same machine. That is mind-boggling to me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/my-dad-worked-all-his-life-an-engineer-30-years-week-in-week-out-at/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I worked all my life to get to the penthouse and there ain't nothin' there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-paycheck/i-worked-all-my-life-to-get-to-the-penthouse-and-there-ain-t-nothin/) [Johnny Paycheck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-paycheck/) > [“I don't know who you think you are, Alexis," Hailey hissed. "I've worked my whole life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-claflin/i-don-t-know-who-you-think-you-are-alexis-hailey-hissed-i-ve-worked/) [Stacy Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-claflin/) > [My grandma worked her whole life as a single mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-dynevor/my-grandma-worked-her-whole-life-as-a-single-mother/) [Phoebe Dynevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-dynevor/) > [I have worked all my life, wanted to work all my life, needed to work all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carpenter/i-have-worked-all-my-life-wanted-to-work-all-my-life-needed-to-work/) [Liz Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carpenter/) > [“When the people you worked for your whole life are still here, you have everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-wood/when-the-people-you-worked-for-your-whole-life-are-still-here-you/) Patricia Wood > [I don't think I have ever worked in my life, because work to me means that you are really doing something that you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kluge/i-don-t-think-i-have-ever-worked-in-my-life-because-work-to-me-means/) [John Kluge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kluge/) ## More by Marcus Smart > [I've always felt like a little bit of an underdog at each level - never the tallest or strongest or even fastest. But one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-ve-always-felt-like-a-little-bit-of-an-underdog-at-each-level-never/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [I'm blessed. I'm going to get to do something I love to do and get paid a lot of money for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-m-blessed-i-m-going-to-get-to-do-something-i-love-to-do-and-get/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [To be honest, I'm worth more than 12-14 million. Just for the things I do on the court that don't show up on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/to-be-honest-i-m-worth-more-than-12-14-million-just-for-the-things-i/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [We can't change the past. We can only get ready for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/we-can-t-change-the-past-we-can-only-get-ready-for-the-future/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [I've always played hard. That's how I was raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-ve-always-played-hard-that-s-how-i-was-raised/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [Nobody else is going to protect yourself. You've got to protect yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/nobody-else-is-going-to-protect-yourself-you-ve-got-to-protect/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [I love Boston, and Boston loves me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-love-boston-and-boston-loves-me/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [I was always taught coming back from injuries the last thing you want to do is have a mental game going on with yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-was-always-taught-coming-back-from-injuries-the-last-thing-you-want/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [I've always been a little out of control since I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-ve-always-been-a-little-out-of-control-since-i-was-a-kid/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [My actions speak harder than words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/my-actions-speak-harder-than-words/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [You understand what your eyes mean to you, but it's different when you have to go through something like I did, where it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/you-understand-what-your-eyes-mean-to-you-but-it-s-different-when-you/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [I hate losing more than I love winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-hate-losing-more-than-i-love-winning/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [I had a lot of adversity that kind of tested my maturity and things I was able to learn from and were put in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-had-a-lot-of-adversity-that-kind-of-tested-my-maturity-and-things-i/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [I'm not the best shooter and I'm not the best scorer, but you do have to respect me because I can go off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/i-m-not-the-best-shooter-and-i-m-not-the-best-scorer-but-you-do-have/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [Being on the court is a great thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/being-on-the-court-is-a-great-thing-for-me/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) [Explore all 99 Marcus Smart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My whole life I've worked. 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