--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man is worked upon by what he works…" description: "\"“A man is worked upon by what he works on,” Frederick Douglass once said.”\" — Ryan Holiday" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/ryan-holiday-514_frederick-douglas_a-man-is-worked-upon-by-what-he-works-on_2255234.jpg" --- # A man is worked upon by what he works on,” Frederick… ![“A man is worked upon by what he works on,” Frederick Douglass once said.” quote by Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/ryan-holiday-514_frederick-douglas_a-man-is-worked-upon-by-what-he-works-on_2255234.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/ryan-holiday-514_frederick-douglas_a-man-is-worked-upon-by-what-he-works-on_2255234.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/ryan-holiday-514_frederick-douglas_a-man-is-worked-upon-by-what-he-works-on_2255234.jpg) > ““A man is worked upon by what he works on,” Frederick Douglass once said.”” [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working on something changes the worker, emphasizing personal growth through effort. **In simple terms:** Work reshapes the worker. Key Takeaway Engage in purposeful tasks. Themes growth effort self-improvement Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - career development - skill acquisition Key Concepts stoicism personal development Questions to Reflect On - What projects have reshaped you? - How do you balance work and self-care? A Different Perspective Work can also cause burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Frederick douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frederick-douglas/) ## Related quotes > [“But believe it or not, I really do like to read. I don't think anyone can ever pull the wool over your eyes if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-l-bates/but-believe-it-or-not-i-really-do-like-to-read-i-don-t-think-anyone/) [Brandi L. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-l-bates/) > [“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. —Frederick Douglass”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timber-hawkeye/it-is-easier-to-build-strong-children-than-to-repair-broken-men/) [Timber Hawkeye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timber-hawkeye/) > [“Mr. Johnson had just been reading the "Lady of the Lake," and at once suggested that my name be "Douglass." From that time until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/mr-johnson-had-just-been-reading-the-lady-of-the-lake-and-at-once/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“Find out what any people will quietly submit to, and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong that will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adbanyan/find-out-what-any-people-will-quietly-submit-to-and-you-have-found/) ADBanyan > [“Sincerely and earnestly hoping that this little book may do something toward throwing light on the American slave system, and hastening the glad day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/sincerely-and-earnestly-hoping-that-this-little-book-may-do-something/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Growing up, I read all three of Frederick Douglass' autobiographies by the time I was 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/growing-up-i-read-all-three-of-frederick-douglass-autobiographies-by/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [“Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, (born circa 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American abolitionist, women's suffragist, editor, orator, author, statesman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/frederick-douglass-born-frederick-augustus-washington-bailey-born/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“Summing up Grant’s career, Frederick Douglass wrote: “In him the Negro found a protector, the Indian a friend, a vanquished foe a brother, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/summing-up-grant-s-career-frederick-douglass-wrote-in-him-the-negro/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [In every era going back to Lincoln with Frederick Douglass, presidents talk to those that were leading at that time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/in-every-era-going-back-to-lincoln-with-frederick-douglass-presidents/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [Frederick Douglass had to teach himself how to read before standing up to defeat slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/frederick-douglass-had-to-teach-himself-how-to-read-before-standing/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [...Slavery appears such a relatively mild business that one begins to wonder why Frederick Douglass and so many others ever tried to escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/slavery-appears-such-a-relatively-mild-business-that-one-begins-to/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [“Frederick Douglass, former slave, extraordinary speaker and writer, wrote in his Rochester newspaper the North Star, January 21, 1848, of “the present disgraceful, cruel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/frederick-douglass-former-slave-extraordinary-speaker-and-writer/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [They cannot degrade Frederick Douglass. The soul that is within me no man can degrade. I am not the one that is being degraded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/they-cannot-degrade-frederick-douglass-the-soul-that-is-within-me-no/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“Frederick Douglass, who had entertained hopes for the Haitian post, graciously conceded defeat. “Your appointment,” he told Bassett, “is a grand achievement for yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/frederick-douglass-who-had-entertained-hopes-for-the-haitian-post/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [Gandhi said it; Frederick Douglass said it. A lot of people have probably said 'It's not Christ that I have a problem with, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/gandhi-said-it-frederick-douglass-said-it-a-lot-of-people-have/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) ## More by Ryan Holiday > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“With a business, we take most failures less personally and understand they’re part of the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/with-a-business-we-take-most-failures-less-personally-and-understand/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Many creatives want to be just the creator, or only “the idea guy.” They like that because it’s sexy and because that’s what comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/many-creatives-want-to-be-just-the-creator-or-only-the-idea-guy-they/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Pretty much everyone's career starts the same way: with grunt work. Not just the cliched fetching of coffee, but other lowly tasks: taking notes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/pretty-much-everyone-s-career-starts-the-same-way-with-grunt-work-not/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The greats - they protect their sleep because it's where the best work comes from. They say no to things. They turn in when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-greats-they-protect-their-sleep-because-it-s-where-the-best-work/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Where little danger is apprehended, the more the enemy will be unprepared and consequently there is the fairest prospect of success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-little-danger-is-apprehended-the-more-the-enemy-will-be/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [We often learn the hard way that our world is ruled by external factors. We don't always get what is rightfully ours, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-often-learn-the-hard-way-that-our-world-is-ruled-by-external/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“From Rusticus … I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/from-rusticus-i-learned-to-read-carefully-and-not-be-satisfied-with-a/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [I wholeheartedly agree that many media 'standards' can feel disingenuous or, in fact, be a cover for less-than-honest behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/i-wholeheartedly-agree-that-many-media-standards-can-feel/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Remember: even what we get for free has a cost, if only in what we pay to store it—in our garages and in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/remember-even-what-we-get-for-free-has-a-cost-if-only-in-what-we-pay/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [It's your job to find a release and an outlet for the stress and the feelings. Never forget: the crazy stays at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-your-job-to-find-a-release-and-an-outlet-for-the-stress-and-the/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-the-head-goes-the-body-follows-perception-precedes-action-right/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The risks of speaking extemporaneously are apparent the first time you wing it and promptly put your foot in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-risks-of-speaking-extemporaneously-are-apparent-the-first-time/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) [Explore all 504 Ryan Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## More Frederick douglas quotes > [Thomas Sowell, among many others, has articulated the power of individual responsibility as an antidote to black poverty for over 40 years. Black thinkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/thomas-sowell-among-many-others-has-articulated-the-power-of/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. —Frederick Douglass”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timber-hawkeye/it-is-easier-to-build-strong-children-than-to-repair-broken-men/) [Timber Hawkeye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timber-hawkeye/) > [In the words of Frederick Douglas, power concedes nothing without a demand; it never has and it never will. We must be that demand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/in-the-words-of-frederick-douglas-power-concedes-nothing-without-a/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [They cannot degrade Frederick Douglass. The soul that is within me no man can degrade. I am not the one that is being degraded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/they-cannot-degrade-frederick-douglass-the-soul-that-is-within-me-no/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I tend to be one who just speaks from my soul, and so what comes out sometimes is rather harsh. In that sense, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-tend-to-be-one-who-just-speaks-from-my-soul-and-so-what-comes-out/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“The United States of Andrew Jackson or George Washington is not the United States of Frederick Douglass or Sitting Bull. But we present our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-united-states-of-andrew-jackson-or-george-washington-is-not-the/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [“Frederick Douglass, former slave, extraordinary speaker and writer, wrote in his Rochester newspaper the North Star, January 21, 1848, of “the present disgraceful, cruel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/frederick-douglass-former-slave-extraordinary-speaker-and-writer/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [It was Frederick Douglass, John Brown, Harriet Tubman, Wendell Phillips - these were the people who made abolition real. Now, none of you guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-was-frederick-douglass-john-brown-harriet-tubman-wendell-phillips/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [...Slavery appears such a relatively mild business that one begins to wonder why Frederick Douglass and so many others ever tried to escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/slavery-appears-such-a-relatively-mild-business-that-one-begins-to/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [Secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square. Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/secularists-are-wrong-when-they-ask-believers-to-leave-their-religion/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The black agenda, from Frederick Douglas to Ida B. Wells to Martin King, has always been the most broad, deep, inclusive, embracing agenda of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-black-agenda-from-frederick-douglas-to-ida-b-wells-to-martin-king/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Frederick Douglas taught that literacy is the path from slavery to freedom. There are many kinds of slavery and many kinds of freedom, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/frederick-douglas-taught-that-literacy-is-the-path-from-slavery-to/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Frederick Douglass had to teach himself how to read before standing up to defeat slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/frederick-douglass-had-to-teach-himself-how-to-read-before-standing/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [A recently reprinted memoir by Frederick Douglass has footnotes explaining what words like 'arraigned,' 'curried' and 'exculpate' meant, and explaining who Job was. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/a-recently-reprinted-memoir-by-frederick-douglass-has-footnotes/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“Sensing an abandonment of Reconstruction, Frederick Douglass wondered what good abolition had been for the black man if “having been freed from the slaveholder’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/sensing-an-abandonment-of-reconstruction-frederick-douglass-wondered/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) [Browse all 57 Frederick douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frederick-douglas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A man is worked upon by what he works on,” Frederick Douglass once said.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Holiday" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/a-man-is-worked-upon-by-what-he-works-on-frederick-douglass-once-said/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Frederick douglas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/a-man-is-worked-upon-by-what-he-works-on-frederick-douglass-once-said/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/ryan-holiday-514_frederick-douglas_a-man-is-worked-upon-by-what-he-works-on_2255234.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/ryan-holiday-514_frederick-douglas_a-man-is-worked-upon-by-what-he-works-on_2255234.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/ryan-holiday-514_frederick-douglas_a-man-is-worked-upon-by-what-he-works-on_2255234.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man is worked upon by what he works on,” Frederick Douglass once said.” — Ryan Holiday", "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": "Ryan Holiday", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A man is worked upon by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/a-man-is-worked-upon-by-what-he-works-on-frederick-douglass-once-said/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/a-man-is-worked-upon-by-what-he-works-on-frederick-douglass-once-said/#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 } } ] } ```