--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My work is the only ground I've ever had…" description: "\"My work is the only ground I've ever had to stand on.\" — Marilyn Monroe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/marilyn-monroe-416_ground_my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had_2923423.jpg" --- # My work is the only ground I've ever had to stand on. ![“My work is the only ground I've ever had to stand on.” quote by Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/marilyn-monroe-416_ground_my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had_2923423.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/marilyn-monroe-416_ground_my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had_2923423.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/marilyn-monroe-416_ground_my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had_2923423.jpg) > “My work is the only ground I've ever had to stand on.” [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She feels that her career is the sole foundation of her identity and stability. **In simple terms:** Work is her only solid ground. Key Takeaway Build identity beyond professional achievements. Themes identity career selfworth Mood introspective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - mental health Key Concepts sociology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What other foundations support you? - How does work define your self‑image? A Different Perspective Relying solely on work can be fragile. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ground/) [Ground Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ground-ve-4270907/) [Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-ground-1226528/) ## Related quotes > [My work is the only ground I've ever had to stand on. To put it bluntly, I seem to have a whole superstructure with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had-to-stand-on-to-put-it/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [My work is the only ground I've ever had to stand on. I seem to have a whole superstructure with no foundation but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had-to-stand-on-i-seem-to-have-a/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I work myself into the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/i-work-myself-into-the-ground/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [You can't put your feet on the ground until you've touched the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/you-can-t-put-your-feet-on-the-ground-until-you-ve-touched-the-sky/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [I work myself into the ground. But I think I'm a nice friend and a good person, and I try to do my work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/i-work-myself-into-the-ground-but-i-think-i-m-a-nice-friend-and-a/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [Don't be weak. Stand your ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-weak-stand-your-ground/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I will stand my ground, no matter what, I will never back down...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/i-will-stand-my-ground-no-matter-what-i-will-never-back-down/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [Let me tell you something, Mari. The ground we stand on looks solid enough, but if something happens it can drop right out from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/let-me-tell-you-something-mari-the-ground-we-stand-on-looks-solid/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [When I go to Indian reservations in the West, and especially to the Pine Ridge Reservation, I sometimes feel unsure where to put my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-frazier/when-i-go-to-indian-reservations-in-the-west-and-especially-to-the/) [Ian Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-frazier/) > [I will never faulter, I'll stand my ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/i-will-never-faulter-i-ll-stand-my-ground/) [A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/) > [“nor ground control was something of a step back for them. Furthermore, having reached France,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holland/nor-ground-control-was-something-of-a-step-back-for-them-furthermore/) [James Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holland/) > [I have tried to treat people on the other side civilly and look for common ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/i-have-tried-to-treat-people-on-the-other-side-civilly-and-look-for/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [If you take away the predators in the prairies and the national parks, you suddenly have an explosion of elk, and then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-benchley/if-you-take-away-the-predators-in-the-prairies-and-the-national-parks/) [Peter Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-benchley/) > [Griezmann is an exceptional player. He's brimming with talent, and he knows how to keep his feet on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-matuidi/griezmann-is-an-exceptional-player-he-s-brimming-with-talent-and-he/) [Blaise Matuidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-matuidi/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) ## More by Marilyn Monroe > [Everyone's just laughing at me. I hate it. Big breasts, big ass, big deal, Can't I be anything else ? Gee, how long can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/everyone-s-just-laughing-at-me-i-hate-it-big-breasts-big-ass-big-deal/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Nothing happens without a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/nothing-happens-without-a-reason/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Sometimes I've been to a party where no one spoke to me for a whole evening. The men, frightened by their wives or sweeites...the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/sometimes-i-ve-been-to-a-party-where-no-one-spoke-to-me-for-a-whole/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/you-believe-lies-so-you-eventually-learn-to-trust-no-one-but-yourself/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [The worst thing that happens to people when they dress up and go to a party is that they leave their real selves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/the-worst-thing-that-happens-to-people-when-they-dress-up-and-go-to-a/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Confidentially, the type of male I find most enjoyable for a friend is one who has enough fire and assurance to speak up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/confidentially-the-type-of-male-i-find-most-enjoyable-for-a-friend-is/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I usually eat four or five raw carrots with my meat, and that is all. I must be part rabbit; I never get bored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/i-usually-eat-four-or-five-raw-carrots-with-my-meat-and-that-is-all-i/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupied so are regrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/we-should-all-start-to-live-before-we-get-too-old-fear-is-stupied-so/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [You're the beautiful one. It's society that's ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/you-re-the-beautiful-one-it-s-society-that-s-ugly/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves. They didn't bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/i-ve-never-fooled-anyone-i-ve-let-people-fool-themselves-they-didn-t/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [If I'd observed all the rules, I'd never have got anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/if-i-d-observed-all-the-rules-i-d-never-have-got-anywhere/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [A woman can't be alone. She needs a man. A man and a woman support and strengthen each other. She just can't do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/a-woman-can-t-be-alone-she-needs-a-man-a-man-and-a-woman-support-and/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [It's better being completely ridiculous than unbelievably boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/it-s-better-being-completely-ridiculous-than-unbelievably-boring/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [A career is wonderful thing, but you can't snuggle up to it on a cold night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/a-career-is-wonderful-thing-but-you-can-t-snuggle-up-to-it-on-a-cold/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Suicide, is a persons privilege. I don't believe it's a sin or a crime it's your right if you do. Though it doesn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/suicide-is-a-persons-privilege-i-don-t-believe-it-s-a-sin-or-a-crime/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) [Explore all 572 Marilyn Monroe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) ## More Ground quotes > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [“nor ground control was something of a step back for them. Furthermore, having reached France,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holland/nor-ground-control-was-something-of-a-step-back-for-them-furthermore/) [James Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holland/) > [If you take away the predators in the prairies and the national parks, you suddenly have an explosion of elk, and then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-benchley/if-you-take-away-the-predators-in-the-prairies-and-the-national-parks/) [Peter Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-benchley/) > [Griezmann is an exceptional player. He's brimming with talent, and he knows how to keep his feet on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-matuidi/griezmann-is-an-exceptional-player-he-s-brimming-with-talent-and-he/) [Blaise Matuidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-matuidi/) > [I have tried to treat people on the other side civilly and look for common ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/i-have-tried-to-treat-people-on-the-other-side-civilly-and-look-for/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [When you cook a sausage, the skin sometimes breaks and the ground meat comes apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-cook-a-sausage-the-skin-sometimes-breaks-and-the-ground-meat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I look for in a script is something that challenges me, something that breaks new ground, something that allows me to flex my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bay/what-i-look-for-in-a-script-is-something-that-challenges-me-something/) [Michael Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bay/) > [In Bellator, one guy that I would love to fight is Kimbo. And I'm not going to the ground. I want to fight in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanderlei-silva/in-bellator-one-guy-that-i-would-love-to-fight-is-kimbo-and-i-m-not/) [Wanderlei Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanderlei-silva/) > [“Any day above ground is a good day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gerus/any-day-above-ground-is-a-good-day/) [Robert Gerus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gerus/) > [Ground and pound is my thing, everyone knows that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-volkanovski/ground-and-pound-is-my-thing-everyone-knows-that/) [Alexander Volkanovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-volkanovski/) > [I'm a legend now. But I'll keep my feet on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oliveira/i-m-a-legend-now-but-i-ll-keep-my-feet-on-the-ground/) [Charles Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oliveira/) > [You can have information and ease of use and have artistic integrity at the same time. The art of being a good Web designer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-davidson/you-can-have-information-and-ease-of-use-and-have-artistic-integrity/) [Mike Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-davidson/) > [I had opposed the Jet-Etihad FDI arrangement on the ground of the disproportionate share of airspace given to Etihad, which is against the interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subramanian-swamy/i-had-opposed-the-jet-etihad-fdi-arrangement-on-the-ground-of-the/) [Subramanian Swamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subramanian-swamy/) > [But when we're helping children understand how people from different walks of life can coexist, prioritizing common ground too often obscures or erases uncommon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/but-when-we-re-helping-children-understand-how-people-from-different/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [With post offices and postal workers already on the ground, USPS could partner with banks to make a critical difference for millions of Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/with-post-offices-and-postal-workers-already-on-the-ground-usps-could/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) [Browse all 1,200 Ground quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ground/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My work is the only ground I've ever had to stand on.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marilyn Monroe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had-to-stand-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ground" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had-to-stand-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/marilyn-monroe-416_ground_my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had_2923423.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/marilyn-monroe-416_ground_my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had_2923423.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/marilyn-monroe-416_ground_my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had_2923423.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My work is the only ground I've ever had to stand on.” — Marilyn Monroe", "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": "Marilyn Monroe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My work is the only ground...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had-to-stand-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/my-work-is-the-only-ground-i-ve-ever-had-to-stand-on/#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 } } ] } ```