End of the day Quote by Nikola Tesla
![“There were many days when [I] did not know where my next meal was coming from. But I was never afraid to work, I went where some men were digging a ditch ... [and] said I wanted to work. The boss looked at my good clothes and white hands and laughed to the others ... but he said, “All right. Spit…” quote by Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/859/nikola-tesla-1383_end-of-the-day_there-were-many-days-when-i-did-not-know_1544799.jpg)
““There were many days when [I] did not know where my next meal was coming from. But I was never afraid to work, I went where some men were digging a ditch ... [and] said I wanted to work. The boss looked at my good clothes and white hands and laughed to the others ... but he said, “All right. Spit on your hands. Get in the ditch.” And I worked harder than anybody. At the end of the day I had $2””
About This Quote
Source Autobiography: My Inventions and Ideas, 1919
He faced extreme poverty yet refused to be deterred, taking any work available and excelling at it.
In simple terms: He worked hard despite being poor.
Key Takeaway
Hard work can overcome hardship.
Themes
perseverance
humility
work ethic
resilience
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
inspirational
realistic
When to use this quote
- seeking employment
- manual labor
- earning a living
- overcoming adversity
Key Concepts
determination
social class
self‑reliance
Questions to Reflect On
- What work would you do if you needed money urgently?
- How does dignity affect willingness to work?
A Different Perspective
Hard work may not eliminate systemic inequality.
![“I had prepared myself for the second half of my life [to be] filled with other passions that don't include being in front of the camera. And then all of a sudden I got more work and more work and more work. And I went, "Well maybe things have shifted." And I think they have.” quote by Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d07/sandra-bullock-985_cameras_i-had-prepared-myself-for-the-second-hal_1909839.jpg)
![“If he [Thomas Edison] had a needle to find in a haystack, he would not stop to reason where it was most likely to be, but would proceed at once with the feverish diligence of a bee, to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search. ... [J]ust a little theory and calculation…” quote by Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a00/nikola-tesla-1383_bees_if-he-thomas-edison-had-a-needle-to-find_97217.jpg)
