---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't have to work till I was three…"
description: "\"I didn't have to work till I was three. But after that, I never stopped.\" — Martha Raye"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/martha-raye-54876_stopped_i-didn-t-have-to-work-till-i-was-three-b_2531522.jpg"
---

#  I didn't have to work till I was three. But after that, I…

![“I didn't have to work till I was three. But after that, I never stopped.” quote by Martha Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/martha-raye-54876_stopped_i-didn-t-have-to-work-till-i-was-three-b_2531522.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/martha-raye-54876_stopped_i-didn-t-have-to-work-till-i-was-three-b_2531522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/martha-raye-54876_stopped_i-didn-t-have-to-work-till-i-was-three-b_2531522.jpg)

> “I didn't have to work till I was three. But after that, I never stopped.”

[Martha Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-raye/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Hard work after early freedom leads to continual growth and achievement throughout life.

**In simple terms:** Keep working, never stop.

Key Takeaway

Maintain dedication and lifelong learning.

Themes

work ethic perseverance growth

Mood

determined inspirational

Type

motivational pragmatic

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- skill acquisition
- entrepreneurship

Key Concepts

career development personal ambition continuous improvement

Questions to Reflect On

- What habits keep you motivated long‑term?
- How do you balance work and rest?

A Different Perspective

Burnout risk if balance ignored.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [I used to work from 7 A.M. till 3 A.M.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-bhosle/i-used-to-work-from-7-a-m-till-3-a-m/)

[Asha Bhosle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-bhosle/)

> [“Work till you drop dead, and get back up till you drop again!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-ward/work-till-you-drop-dead-and-get-back-up-till-you-drop-again/)

[Tyler Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-ward/)

> [Never put off the work till tomorrow what you can put off today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/never-put-off-the-work-till-tomorrow-what-you-can-put-off-today/)

[Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/)

> [Do not put your work off till to-morrow and the day after; for a sluggish worker does not fill his barn, nor one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/do-not-put-your-work-off-till-to-morrow-and-the-day-after-for-a/)

[Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/)

> [I made up my mind that I'd get out of that place and I didI learned that if you want to get somewhere, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-made-up-my-mind-that-i-d-get-out-of-that-place-and-i-didi-learned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I do spend really focused time with my wife, my kids, grandkids, and so when I'm doing something or on a golf course, work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-do-spend-really-focused-time-with-my-wife-my-kids-grandkids-and-so/)

[Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/)

> [I never stopped training, I never stopped working out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royce-gracie/i-never-stopped-training-i-never-stopped-working-out/)

[Royce Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/royce-gracie/)

> [My mother did like to make clothes, and in I think the worst picture I've ever seen of myself - I must have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/my-mother-did-like-to-make-clothes-and-in-i-think-the-worst-picture-i/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [For three months, when I was 23 years old, I worked as a clerk at Wandsworth Sewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/for-three-months-when-i-was-23-years-old-i-worked-as-a-clerk-at/)

[Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/)

> [“Don’t hit till you have to; but, when you do hit, hit hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/don-t-hit-till-you-have-to-but-when-you-do-hit-hit-hard/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [My tears will keep no channel, know no laws to guide their streams, but like the waves, their cause, run with disturbance till they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleveland/my-tears-will-keep-no-channel-know-no-laws-to-guide-their-streams-but/)

[John Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleveland/)

> [The bad blood between me and Tim Sylvia, it's over, and that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-arlovski/the-bad-blood-between-me-and-tim-sylvia-it-s-over-and-that-s-it/)

[Andrei Arlovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-arlovski/)

> [“When it's over...ring the bell. It's over!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/when-it-s-over-ring-the-bell-it-s-over/)

[Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/)

> [“It ain't over till its over”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/it-ain-t-over-till-its-over/)

[Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/)

> [I didn't pass my driving test till I was 38!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/i-didn-t-pass-my-driving-test-till-i-was-38/)

[Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/)

## More by Martha Raye

> [Ask any girl what she'd rather be than beautiful, and she'll say more beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-raye/ask-any-girl-what-she-d-rather-be-than-beautiful-and-she-ll-say-more/)

[Martha Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-raye/)

> [Don't give up the search for happiness because you're afraid of getting hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-raye/don-t-give-up-the-search-for-happiness-because-you-re-afraid-of/)

[Martha Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-raye/)

> [I am a Republican because I believe in the constitution, strength in national defense, limited government, individual freedom, and personal responsibility as the concrete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-raye/i-am-a-republican-because-i-believe-in-the-constitution-strength-in/)

[Martha Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-raye/)

> [One paper says I'm Catholic and the other says I'm Jewish. I guess that's fitting because as a Methodist I'm meant to be undetermined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-raye/one-paper-says-i-m-catholic-and-the-other-says-i-m-jewish-i-guess/)

[Martha Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-raye/)

> [I thought success in show business was everything. It isn't. I don't know what is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-raye/i-thought-success-in-show-business-was-everything-it-isn-t-i-don-t/)

[Martha Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-raye/)

[Explore all 6 Martha Raye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-raye/)

## More Stopped quotes

> [Would she understand that time had stopped while she was gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/would-she-understand-that-time-had-stopped-while-she-was-gone/)

[Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/)

> [“But for Ricky,Andrew,Mary &amp; me the world stopped when those dogs entered the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-carlos-montalv-n/but-for-ricky-andrew-mary-me-the-world-stopped-when-those-dogs/)

[Luis Carlos Montalván](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-carlos-montalv-n/)

> [The moment I met you I stopped existing and started living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-moment-i-met-you-i-stopped-existing-and-started-living/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I always tell Asian actors, especially Filipinos wanting to break into Hollywood, to study, study and study and show their best. I haven't stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-always-tell-asian-actors-especially-filipinos-wanting-to-break-into/)

[Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/)

> [I have stopped thinking too much. It all started against West Indies. I told myself that I want to enjoy my life. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shreyas-iyer/i-have-stopped-thinking-too-much-it-all-started-against-west-indies-i/)

[Shreyas Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shreyas-iyer/)

> [I've learned to suck in my stomach when photographers are around. I used to read gossip magazines all the time, but I stopped when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/i-ve-learned-to-suck-in-my-stomach-when-photographers-are-around-i/)

[Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/)

> [I ended up becoming so self-conscious that my songs stopped being about my life and started being about what people thought of my music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-phair/i-ended-up-becoming-so-self-conscious-that-my-songs-stopped-being/)

[Liz Phair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-phair/)

> [I stopped drinking on 24 September 1986.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/i-stopped-drinking-on-24-september-1986/)

[Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/)

> [“One day, at least it seemed that fast, she just stopped wanting to be a part of anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/one-day-at-least-it-seemed-that-fast-she-just-stopped-wanting-to-be-a/)

[Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/)

> [“She stopped caring... and started laughing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-j-ginger/she-stopped-caring-and-started-laughing/)

Coco J. Ginger

> [I stopped making films to look after animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/i-stopped-making-films-to-look-after-animals/)

[Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/)

> [“\*\*“I get it,” he said. “I was supposed to give you your space. I didn’t want to. So...I compromised. Only, you frustrate the hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/i-get-it-he-said-i-was-supposed-to-give-you-your-space-i-didn-t-want/)

[Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/)

> [School bored me. Being educated and being intelligent are two different things. I thought I was smart enough. And I wanted to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djimon-hounsou/school-bored-me-being-educated-and-being-intelligent-are-two/)

[Djimon Hounsou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djimon-hounsou/)

> [I stopped playing in Jr. events when I was 12 and played women's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-gulbis/i-stopped-playing-in-jr-events-when-i-was-12-and-played-women-s/)

[Natalie Gulbis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-gulbis/)

> [“You can choose when and when not to be stopped... Choose to be stopped after you die... when your work is done and done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-can-choose-when-and-when-not-to-be-stopped-choose-to-be-stopped/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

Browse all 757 Stopped quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I didn't have to work till I was three. But after that, I never stopped.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Martha Raye"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-raye/i-didn-t-have-to-work-till-i-was-three-but-after-that-i-never-stopped/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Stopped"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-raye/i-didn-t-have-to-work-till-i-was-three-but-after-that-i-never-stopped/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/martha-raye-54876_stopped_i-didn-t-have-to-work-till-i-was-three-b_2531522.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/martha-raye-54876_stopped_i-didn-t-have-to-work-till-i-was-three-b_2531522.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/martha-raye-54876_stopped_i-didn-t-have-to-work-till-i-was-three-b_2531522.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I didn't have to work till I was three. But after that, I never stopped.” — Martha Raye",
                "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": "Martha Raye",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-raye/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I didn't have to work till...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-raye/i-didn-t-have-to-work-till-i-was-three-but-after-that-i-never-stopped/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-raye/i-didn-t-have-to-work-till-i-was-three-but-after-that-i-never-stopped/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
