--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the Egyptians were building the…" description: "\"When the Egyptians were building the pyramids or the Romans were building roads, or you had the westward push with the railroads, I don't think that th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/mike-leach-5229_look_when-the-egyptians-were-building-the-pyr_2783826.jpg" --- # When the Egyptians were building the pyramids or the… ![“When the Egyptians were building the pyramids or the Romans were building roads, or you had the westward push with the railroads, I don't think that the guys on the ground were spending a lot of time thinking, 'Hey, hundreds or thousands of years from now they will look back at the brick I have…” quote by Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/mike-leach-5229_look_when-the-egyptians-were-building-the-pyr_2783826.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/mike-leach-5229_look_when-the-egyptians-were-building-the-pyr_2783826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/mike-leach-5229_look_when-the-egyptians-were-building-the-pyr_2783826.jpg) > “When the Egyptians were building the pyramids or the Romans were building roads, or you had the westward push with the railroads, I don't think that the guys on the ground were spending a lot of time thinking, 'Hey, hundreds or thousands of years from now they will look back at the brick I have just laid down here and say that I changed the world!'” [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Builders of great works rarely anticipate future fame; they focus on present effort. **In simple terms:** People work now without expecting future glory. Key Takeaway Focus on present work, not future praise. Themes history humility legacy effort Mood pragmatic inspirational Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - construction projects - long‑term planning - personal goals Key Concepts sociology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does your work contribute to future generations? - Do you seek recognition or personal satisfaction? A Different Perspective Future recognition can be motivating for some individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Building Pyramids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-pyramids-279740/) [Changed World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed-world/) [Egyptians Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egyptians-building-3330470/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Pyramids Romans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pyramids-romans-3330469/) [Roads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roads/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thousands Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousands-years/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I be off the slave ships, building pyramids, writing my own hieroglyphs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/i-be-off-the-slave-ships-building-pyramids-writing-my-own-hieroglyphs/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [“When the ancient Egyptians finished building the pyramids, they had built the pyramids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/when-the-ancient-egyptians-finished-building-the-pyramids-they-had/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Like the elite of ancient Egypt, most people in most cultures dedicate their lives to building pyramids. Only the names, shapes and sizes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/like-the-elite-of-ancient-egypt-most-people-in-most-cultures-dedicate/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [What we might have been dealing with here - with the building of the Pyramids - is an age that got lost. Man had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/what-we-might-have-been-dealing-with-here-with-the-building-of-the/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [“Pharaohs It took Khufu twenty-three years to build his Great Pyramid at Giza, where some eleven hundred stone blocks, each weighing about two and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/pharaohs-it-took-khufu-twenty-three-years-to-build-his-great-pyramid/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [“Thousands of years ago, after the big Titan—God war, the gods had sliced him to bits with his own scythe and scattered his remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thousands-of-years-ago-after-the-big-titan-god-war-the-gods-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I don’t see why it’s taken thousands of years to sort out.” “That’s because the people trying to sort it out were men,” said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-don-t-see-why-it-s-taken-thousands-of-years-to-sort-out-that-s/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Start to use the Law of Attraction as it was originally intended all of those thousands of years ago today by just using simple,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/start-to-use-the-law-of-attraction-as-it-was-originally-intended-all/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [ \[Arab peoples\] are stuck back thousands of years and they think they're going to get out with a TV set. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/arab-peoples-are-stuck-back-thousands-of-years-and-they-think-they-re/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [For thousands of years, humans have used the art of storytelling to motivate and persuade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-soltis-anderson/for-thousands-of-years-humans-have-used-the-art-of-storytelling-to/) [Kristen Soltis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-soltis-anderson/) > [Our heritage as actors goes back thousands of years, and we have to feel as comfortable in the clothes, and the language of Sophocles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/our-heritage-as-actors-goes-back-thousands-of-years-and-we-have-to/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [You might think that after thousands of years of coming up too soon and getting frozen, the crocus family would have had a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/you-might-think-that-after-thousands-of-years-of-coming-up-too-soon/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Beliefs and values that have held sway for thousands of years will be questioned as never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/beliefs-and-values-that-have-held-sway-for-thousands-of-years-will-be/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [Yoga has been done for thousands of years and if people keep doing it, it must mean it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-bellerin/yoga-has-been-done-for-thousands-of-years-and-if-people-keep-doing-it/) [Hector Bellerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-bellerin/) > [“Crucial decisions are made, today as thousands of years ago, in terms of the intuitive guesses and preferences of a few men in positions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/crucial-decisions-are-made-today-as-thousands-of-years-ago-in-terms/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) ## More by Mike Leach > [I'm proud to say I had a bet with a guy from Chicago who said Chicago is windier and colder than Wyoming. Wyoming dominated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/i-m-proud-to-say-i-had-a-bet-with-a-guy-from-chicago-who-said-chicago/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [I know that in Ames, Iowa, they fancy themselves being experts on the wind, but in Lubbock, Texas, we'll put our wind up against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/i-know-that-in-ames-iowa-they-fancy-themselves-being-experts-on-the/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [You go out and do the best you can and hope it works. You just try to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/you-go-out-and-do-the-best-you-can-and-hope-it-works-you-just-try-to/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [You know, I'll tell who's really embraced football is Austria. Austria's really embraced football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/you-know-i-ll-tell-who-s-really-embraced-football-is-austria-austria/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [I figured I'd coach two or three years at the most and go back and be an attorney.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/i-figured-i-d-coach-two-or-three-years-at-the-most-and-go-back-and-be/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [Everybody says marriage is 'til death do you part - and I've been married 29 years - but a book is really 'til death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/everybody-says-marriage-is-til-death-do-you-part-and-i-ve-been/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [Washington State is great. I'm completely happy at Washington State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/washington-state-is-great-i-m-completely-happy-at-washington-state/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [Atlanta might have snow and Macon might have good weather, and they're not really far apart. But there's a period of time in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/atlanta-might-have-snow-and-macon-might-have-good-weather-and-they-re/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [It's a good idea to shave for TV games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/it-s-a-good-idea-to-shave-for-tv-games/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [Playing someone difficult is tough and can be discouraging, but if you beat them the payoff is huge!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/playing-someone-difficult-is-tough-and-can-be-discouraging-but-if-you/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [The government shutdown, we all know that's a sham. I mean, are they really going to just go to the entire Army and Navy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/the-government-shutdown-we-all-know-that-s-a-sham-i-mean-are-they/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [I've directly contributed to losses, but likewise, I'd like to think I contributed to a lot of wins and a lot of good play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/i-ve-directly-contributed-to-losses-but-likewise-i-d-like-to-think-i/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [In golf, you keep trying to score well when you're ahead. In basketball, they don't quit shooting when they're ahead. In hockey, they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/in-golf-you-keep-trying-to-score-well-when-you-re-ahead-in-basketball/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [If you get into a fight, don't take your helmet off. We're looking for smart football players, not dumb ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/if-you-get-into-a-fight-don-t-take-your-helmet-off-we-re-looking-for/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [I'm a big movie guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/i-m-a-big-movie-guy/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) [Explore all 102 Mike Leach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) ## More Look quotes > [The World Is Perfect, But It Depends How You Look At.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria/the-world-is-perfect-but-it-depends-how-you-look-at/) [Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria/) > [Do I look like a fool to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/do-i-look-like-a-fool-to-you/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [If you want to edit your photos and make yourself look different, go for it. That is up to you, but in my opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/if-you-want-to-edit-your-photos-and-make-yourself-look-different-go/) [Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I'm tired of looking for the perfect guy. From now on.. he can look for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-tired-of-looking-for-the-perfect-guy-from-now-on-he-can-look-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not gonna squeal out that this is my 23rd retirement, my real, real retirement. But you know there comes a time where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-funk/i-m-not-gonna-squeal-out-that-this-is-my-23rd-retirement-my-real-real/) [Terry Funk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-funk/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [That's one of my idols, I really look up to Pacquiao. 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I think it really does look so different for everyone who does it, I'm always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-abrams/i-don-t-know-what-successful-journaling-really-looks-like-i-think-it/) [Gracie Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-abrams/) [Browse all 19,477 Look quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the Egyptians were building the pyramids or the Romans were building roads, or you had the westward push with the railroads, I don't think that the guys on the ground were spending a lot of time thinking, 'Hey, hundreds or thousands of years from now they will look back at the brick I have just laid down here and say that I changed the world!'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Leach" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/when-the-egyptians-were-building-the-pyramids-or-the-romans-were/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Look" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/when-the-egyptians-were-building-the-pyramids-or-the-romans-were/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/mike-leach-5229_look_when-the-egyptians-were-building-the-pyr_2783826.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/mike-leach-5229_look_when-the-egyptians-were-building-the-pyr_2783826.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/mike-leach-5229_look_when-the-egyptians-were-building-the-pyr_2783826.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the Egyptians were building the pyramids or the Romans were building roads, or you had the westward…” — Mike Leach", "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": "Mike Leach", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When the Egyptians were building the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/when-the-egyptians-were-building-the-pyramids-or-the-romans-were/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/when-the-egyptians-were-building-the-pyramids-or-the-romans-were/#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 } } ] } ```