Bed Quote by Rachel Cohn
“I figured being a bed salesman was a job of biblically bad paradox. I mean, here he was, forced to stand for eight or nine hours a day, and the whole time he’s surrounded by beds. And not only that, he’s surrounded by shoppers who see the beds and can’t help but think, Man, I’d love to lie down on that bed for a second. So not only does he have to stop himself from lying down, but he has to stop everyone else from doing it, too. I knew if I were him, I would be desperate for human company.”
About This Quote
A salesman's job is ironic because he must resist the temptation to use the product he sells while also preventing customers from succumbing to that temptation.
In simple terms: The salesman must avoid lying down on the beds he sells and keep customers from doing the same.
Key Takeaway
Resist personal temptation and help others stay disciplined.
Themes
irony
temptation
self‑control
customer influence
Mood
witty
reflective
Type
anecdotal
humorous
When to use this quote
- retail work
- customer service
- personal discipline
- product testing
- workplace humor
Key Concepts
paradox
behavioral economics
sales dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you manage personal temptation at work?
- What strategies keep customers focused on buying rather than using?
A Different Perspective
The humor may down the genuine stress and monotony of the job.
![“[S]he leans into this guy and rocks her head like I’m making this music for her, when if I could, I would take it all away and give her as much silence as she’s given me pain.” quote by Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/432/rachel-cohn-1244_given_s-he-leans-into-this-guy-and-rocks-her-h_54874.jpg)
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
