---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For being good is a fearful occupation…"
description: "\"“For being good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it & sometimes break in two. I've known a few. You work twice as hard to be a farmer as to be hi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/ray-bradbury-75_career_for-being-good-is-a-fearful-occupation-m_1053703.jpg"
---

#  For being good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it &amp;…

![“For being good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it &amp; sometimes break in two. I've known a few. You work twice as hard to be a farmer as to be his hog.” quote by Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/ray-bradbury-75_career_for-being-good-is-a-fearful-occupation-m_1053703.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/ray-bradbury-75_career_for-being-good-is-a-fearful-occupation-m_1053703.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/ray-bradbury-75_career_for-being-good-is-a-fearful-occupation-m_1053703.jpg)

> ““For being good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it &amp; sometimes break in two. I've known a few. You work twice as hard to be a farmer as to be his hog.””

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

## About This Quote

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

Being good is portrayed as a demanding, risky endeavor that can break a person, especially in harsh work like farming, highlighting the moral strain of virtue.

**In simple terms:** Doing good can be hard and exhausting.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the cost of moral effort.

Themes

morality hardship labor ethical strain resilience

Mood

somber thoughtful serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- farming
- social work
- activism
- caregiving
- leadership

Key Concepts

existentialism ethical philosophy working class struggles

Questions to Reflect On

- What sacrifices do you make for integrity?
- Is it worth the personal cost?

A Different Perspective

Goodness may not always be rewarded; it can lead to burnout.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmer/) [Farmer Hog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmer-hog-2535117/) [Fearful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearful/) [Fearful Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearful-occupation-2535114/) [Good Fearful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-fearful-2535116/) [Hard Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-farmer-2535115/)

## Related quotes

> [“If I wanted to work hard, I’d be a farmer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/it-books/if-i-wanted-to-work-hard-i-d-be-a-farmer/)

[It Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/it-books/)

> [Being fearful, is good to be cautioned, but not to face something which may change many life for good, is not being fearful of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santanu-mishra/being-fearful-is-good-to-be-cautioned-but-not-to-face-something-which/)

[Santanu Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santanu-mishra/)

> [Shut the door, they're coming through the window, shut the window, they're coming through the door," are the words to an old song. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/shut-the-door-they-re-coming-through-the-window-shut-the-window-they/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [“Farmer Landis, and raisin or "Rosina" pie,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-thomas/farmer-landis-and-raisin-or-rosina-pie/)

[Edith Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-thomas/)

> [A real farmer. He spent his childhood in the wheat, and his marriage in the hay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/a-real-farmer-he-spent-his-childhood-in-the-wheat-and-his-marriage-in/)

[Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/)

> [I buy my produce at the local farmer's market, which is actually cheaper than shopping at the grocery store.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-getty/i-buy-my-produce-at-the-local-farmer-s-market-which-is-actually/)

[Anna Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-getty/)

> [My mom had Julia Child and 'The Fannie Farmer Cookbook' on top of the refrigerator, and she had a small repertoire of French dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/my-mom-had-julia-child-and-the-fannie-farmer-cookbook-on-top-of-the/)

[Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/)

> [The duty of the individual farmer, at this time, is to increase his production, particularly of food crops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-houston/the-duty-of-the-individual-farmer-at-this-time-is-to-increase-his/)

[David F. Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-houston/)

> [How will you know a good farmer when you meet him? He will not ask you for any favors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/how-will-you-know-a-good-farmer-when-you-meet-him-he-will-not-ask-you/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [The pious farmer, who ne'er misses pray'rs, With patience suffers unexpected rain; He blesses Heav'n for what its bounty spares, And sees, resign'd, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/the-pious-farmer-who-ne-er-misses-pray-rs-with-patience-suffers/)

[Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/)

> [The most peaceful thing in the world is plowing a field. Chances are you’ll do your best thinking that way. And that’s why I’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-peaceful-thing-in-the-world-is-plowing-a-field-chances-are/)

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

> [I am not a pig farmer. The pigs had a great time, but I didn't make any money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/i-am-not-a-pig-farmer-the-pigs-had-a-great-time-but-i-didn-t-make-any/)

[Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/)

> [“The Prince had fallen in love. She was only a farmer's daughter, but she was was beautiful, and also smart, as the daughters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/the-prince-had-fallen-in-love-she-was-only-a-farmer-s-daughter-but/)

[Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/)

> [Im a farmer. I always will be a farmer. When I die, Ill be a farmer. Its something that Ive wanted to do since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/im-a-farmer-i-always-will-be-a-farmer-when-i-die-ill-be-a-farmer-its/)

[Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/)

> [A buyer can buy anything from wherever he gets it cheap. Where will the Indian trader or farmer go in this case? Are we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-sitharaman/a-buyer-can-buy-anything-from-wherever-he-gets-it-cheap-where-will/)

[Nirmala Sitharaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-sitharaman/)

## More by Ray Bradbury

> [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" He laughed. "That's against the law!" "Oh. Of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/do-you-ever-read-any-of-the-books-you-burn-he-laughed-that-s-against/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [There's no reason to burn books if you don't read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/there-s-no-reason-to-burn-books-if-you-don-t-read-them/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [Remember, with writing, what you’re looking for is just one person to come up and tell you, 'I love you for what you do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/remember-with-writing-what-you-re-looking-for-is-just-one-person-to/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [“You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-can-t-learn-to-write-in-college-it-s-a-very-bad-place-for-writers/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [We're going to become the martians when we land there. When we explore and build communities, we become the martians. That's a wonderful destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-re-going-to-become-the-martians-when-we-land-there-when-we-explore/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [I wish you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime. ... I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-wish-you-a-wrestling-match-with-your-creative-muse-that-will-last-a/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [The library is the biggest cracker box factory in the world. The more you eat, the more you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-library-is-the-biggest-cracker-box-factory-in-the-world-the-more/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-travel-for-romance-we-travel-for-architecture-and-we-travel-to-be/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it's better than college. People should educate themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-spent-three-days-a-week-for-10-years-educating-myself-in-the-public/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [If we try to deny the darkness in our souls then we'll become completely dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-we-try-to-deny-the-darkness-in-our-souls-then-we-ll-become/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [But remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/but-remember-that-the-captain-belongs-to-the-most-dangerous-enemy-to/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

[Explore all 1,520 Ray Bradbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

## More Career quotes

> [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/)

[Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/)

> [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/)

[Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/)

> [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/)

[Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/)

> [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/)

[Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/)

> [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/)

[Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/)

> [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/)

[Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/)

> [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/)

[Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/)

> [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/)

[John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/)

> [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/)

[Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/)

> [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/)

[Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/)

[Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/)

[Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“For being good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it & sometimes break in two. I've known a few. You work twice as hard to be a farmer as to be his hog.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ray Bradbury"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/for-being-good-is-a-fearful-occupation-men-strain-at-it-sometimes/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Career"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/for-being-good-is-a-fearful-occupation-men-strain-at-it-sometimes/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/ray-bradbury-75_career_for-being-good-is-a-fearful-occupation-m_1053703.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/ray-bradbury-75_career_for-being-good-is-a-fearful-occupation-m_1053703.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/ray-bradbury-75_career_for-being-good-is-a-fearful-occupation-m_1053703.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“For being good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it & sometimes break in two. I've known a few. You…” — Ray Bradbury",
                "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": "Ray Bradbury",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“For being good is a fearful...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/for-being-good-is-a-fearful-occupation-men-strain-at-it-sometimes/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/for-being-good-is-a-fearful-occupation-men-strain-at-it-sometimes/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
