--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Keeping house is as unpleasant and filthy…" description: "\"Keeping house is as unpleasant and filthy as coal mining, and the pay's a lot worse.\" — P. J. O'Rourke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/p-j-o-rourke-184_coal_keeping-house-is-as-unpleasant-and-filth_912369.png" --- # Keeping house is as unpleasant and filthy as coal mining… ![“Keeping house is as unpleasant and filthy as coal mining, and the pay's a lot worse.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/p-j-o-rourke-184_coal_keeping-house-is-as-unpleasant-and-filth_912369.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/p-j-o-rourke-184_coal_keeping-house-is-as-unpleasant-and-filth_912369.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/p-j-o-rourke-184_coal_keeping-house-is-as-unpleasant-and-filth_912369.png) > “Keeping house is as unpleasant and filthy as coal mining, and the pay's a lot worse.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Domestic chores are grueling and low-paid, comparable to dangerous labor. **In simple terms:** Housework is hard and underpaid. Key Takeaway Advocate for fair compensation for domestic work. Themes labor economics gender satire Mood critical humorous Type satirical political When to use this quote - policy advocacy - union organizing - public awareness campaigns Key Concepts social inequality work value fair wages Questions to Reflect On - How can society better value household labor? - What reforms could improve pay for such work? A Different Perspective Not all domestic work is equally demanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coal/) [Coal mining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coal-mining/) [Filthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filthy/) [Filthy Coal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filthy-coal-1347552/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [House Unpleasant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-unpleasant-1347553/) [Keeping House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-house-1347555/) [Lot Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot-worse-451996/) [Mining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mining/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Unpleasant Filthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpleasant-filthy-1347554/) ## Related quotes > [“Save the world? How about keeping our own house in order first?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/save-the-world-how-about-keeping-our-own-house-in-order-first/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [We don't know, ultimately, if we'll end up in San Francisco, but we're talking about keeping the house. It would be nice to always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cain/we-don-t-know-ultimately-if-we-ll-end-up-in-san-francisco-but-we-re/) [Matt Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cain/) > [I've leased the apartment; my partner is going to come out here. But we're keeping our house in Chicago because real estate is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-allen/i-ve-leased-the-apartment-my-partner-is-going-to-come-out-here-but-we/) [Ted Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-allen/) > [“For me, to be grown-up means I accept responsibility for taking care of my home. When my husband and I first got married, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-soukup/for-me-to-be-grown-up-means-i-accept-responsibility-for-taking-care/) [Ruth Soukup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-soukup/) > [“You never buy a woman an appliance or anything to use for keeping house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-brooks/you-never-buy-a-woman-an-appliance-or-anything-to-use-for-keeping/) [Kathleen Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-brooks/) > [You need to understand what's padding your walls, especially if you live in an older home and renovating the attic is on your spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-baeumler/you-need-to-understand-what-s-padding-your-walls-especially-if-you/) [Bryan Baeumler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-baeumler/) > [I'm from L.A. 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Chaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-n-chaney/) > [“I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. I know other people have it a lot worse. I do know that, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-supposed-to-do-now-i-know-other-people-have-it/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I think about my mom and the things she went through, and things could always be a lot worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deshaun-watson/i-think-about-my-mom-and-the-things-she-went-through-and-things-could/) [Deshaun Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deshaun-watson/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. 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O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Coal quotes > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The only difference between black coal and a precious diamond is the amount of pressure it endured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-only-difference-between-black-coal-and-a-precious-diamond-is-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [In that sense, I became politicized because the people in the coal mining villages who were involved in the struggle knew why they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/in-that-sense-i-became-politicized-because-the-people-in-the-coal/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [Dusty, dark, cold, and hard, coal has no beauty of its own, but when it is consummated by fire it is beautiful and becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederica-mathewes-green/dusty-dark-cold-and-hard-coal-has-no-beauty-of-its-own-but-when-it-is/) [Frederica Mathewes-Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederica-mathewes-green/) > [a TEN-YEAR-OLD lad in Indianapolis who was arrested for picking up coal along the side of railroad tracks is now in jail. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/a-ten-year-old-lad-in-indianapolis-who-was-arrested-for-picking-up/) [Mother Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-jones/) > [Coal is the moral choice, particularly for the developing world... The model for the world right now should be Australia. Australia gets it. Scientifically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morano/coal-is-the-moral-choice-particularly-for-the-developing-world-the/) [Marc Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morano/) > [Iron and coal dominated everywhere, from grey to black: the black boots, the black stove-pipe hat, the black coach or carriage, the black iron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/iron-and-coal-dominated-everywhere-from-grey-to-black-the-black-boots/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [I remember being very influenced by 'Taxi Driver', and also Tommy Lee Jones in 'Coal Miner's Daughter' a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-remember-being-very-influenced-by-taxi-driver-and-also-tommy-lee/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-visited-sweatshops-factories-and-crowded-slums-if-i-could-not/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Shakespeare doesn't belong to the past. If his material is valid, it is valid now. It's like coal. The only meaningfulness of a piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-brook/shakespeare-doesn-t-belong-to-the-past-if-his-material-is-valid-it-is/) [Peter Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-brook/) > [Coal is My Worst Nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-chu/coal-is-my-worst-nightmare/) [Steven Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-chu/) > [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“...those others - they're looking for trends - subjects to catch a spark - but I have you - a coal from God's altar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/those-others-they-re-looking-for-trends-subjects-to-catch-a-spark-but/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [We're not going to be living in a world of abundant coal power in a hundred years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/we-re-not-going-to-be-living-in-a-world-of-abundant-coal-power-in-a/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) [Browse all 720 Coal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Keeping house is as unpleasant and filthy as coal mining, and the pay's a lot worse.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. 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