--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My parents had always preached the…" description: "\"My parents had always preached the virtues of hard work. But hard work is one thing; economic struggle is another.\" — Sargent Shriver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/sargent-shriver-13145_economic_my-parents-had-always-preached-the-virtu_895242.jpg" --- # My parents had always preached the virtues of hard work… ![“My parents had always preached the virtues of hard work. But hard work is one thing; economic struggle is another.” quote by Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/sargent-shriver-13145_economic_my-parents-had-always-preached-the-virtu_895242.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/sargent-shriver-13145_economic_my-parents-had-always-preached-the-virtu_895242.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/sargent-shriver-13145_economic_my-parents-had-always-preached-the-virtu_895242.jpg) > “My parents had always preached the virtues of hard work. But hard work is one thing; economic struggle is another.” [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work alone does not guarantee economic success; systemic factors also shape outcomes. **In simple terms:** Hard work isn’t enough; broader forces matter. Key Takeaway Address both effort and systemic barriers. Themes hard work economic inequality systemic barriers Mood reflective critical Type analytical motivational When to use this quote - job seeking - education planning - policy advocacy - community support Key Concepts social policy economic mobility Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals mitigate systemic obstacles? - What policies best complement personal effort? A Different Perspective Hard work may be undervalued without addressing structural issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-struggle-1065399/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Pregnancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pregnancy/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtues Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues-hard-889933/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [It is a distinction to have many virtues, but a hard lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-a-distinction-to-have-many-virtues-but-a-hard-lot/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“..:Waiting is a process that brings forth great virtues. 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Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Capitalism is an organized system to guarantee that greed becomes the primary force of our economic system and allows the few at the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/capitalism-is-an-organized-system-to-guarantee-that-greed-becomes-the/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [If you ask for good schools, you aren't likely to get them. 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He must not join to run abroad or escape problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/in-the-peace-corps-the-volunteer-must-be-a-fully-developed-mature/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [I don't think the Gallup Poll technique is going to be very helpful in determining the goals of our educational system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/i-don-t-think-the-gallup-poll-technique-is-going-to-be-very-helpful/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [One of the things Mr. Kennedy taught me was that in laying out a new project, you shouldn't try to cope with every little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/one-of-the-things-mr-kennedy-taught-me-was-that-in-laying-out-a-new/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [There is an alternative to war. It has been with us forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/there-is-an-alternative-to-war-it-has-been-with-us-forever/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [Shatter the glass. In our society that is so self-absorbed, begin to look less at yourself and more at each other. Learn more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/shatter-the-glass-in-our-society-that-is-so-self-absorbed-begin-to/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [When Roosevelt came along, I approved of his program, generally. I figured an economic system should work for people, not vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/when-roosevelt-came-along-i-approved-of-his-program-generally-i/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [Christian virtues unite men. Racism separates them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/christian-virtues-unite-men-racism-separates-them/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [Racists are irrational and illogical in their attempts to justify their prejudices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/racists-are-irrational-and-illogical-in-their-attempts-to-justify/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [It's the most rewarding thing to be a civil servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/it-s-the-most-rewarding-thing-to-be-a-civil-servant/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [A line has to be drawn somewhere between what is essential and what is peripheral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/a-line-has-to-be-drawn-somewhere-between-what-is-essential-and-what/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [The cure is care. Caring for others is the practice of peace. Caring becomes as important as curing. Caring produces the cure, not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/the-cure-is-care-caring-for-others-is-the-practice-of-peace-caring/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [The Peace Corps is guilty of enthusiasm and a crusading spirit. But we're not apologetic about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/the-peace-corps-is-guilty-of-enthusiasm-and-a-crusading-spirit-but-we/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [It is not what you get out of life that counts. It's what you give and what is given from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/it-is-not-what-you-get-out-of-life-that-counts-it-s-what-you-give-and/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [The roots of racism lie deep in man's nature, wounded and bruised by original sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/the-roots-of-racism-lie-deep-in-man-s-nature-wounded-and-bruised-by/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [He who knows all things and believes nothing is damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/he-who-knows-all-things-and-believes-nothing-is-damned/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) [Explore all 51 Sargent Shriver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) ## More Economic quotes > [It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. 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