--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It took me better than a quarter century…" description: "\"It took me better than a quarter century to learn, the hard way, that hard work at something you want to be doing is the most fun that you can have out..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/spider-robinson-9623_bed_it-took-me-better-than-a-quarter-century_2322646.jpg" --- # It took me better than a quarter century to learn, the… ![“It took me better than a quarter century to learn, the hard way, that hard work at something you want to be doing is the most fun that you can have out of bed . . . to learn that the smart man finds ways to make everything he does be work; to learn that "leisure" time is truly pleasurable (indeed…” quote by Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/spider-robinson-9623_bed_it-took-me-better-than-a-quarter-century_2322646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/spider-robinson-9623_bed_it-took-me-better-than-a-quarter-century_2322646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/spider-robinson-9623_bed_it-took-me-better-than-a-quarter-century_2322646.jpg) > “It took me better than a quarter century to learn, the hard way, that hard work at something you want to be doing is the most fun that you can have out of bed . . . to learn that the smart man finds ways to make everything he does be work; to learn that "leisure" time is truly pleasurable (indeed tolerable) only to the extent that is its subconscious grazing for information with which to infuse newer, better work.” [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) ## 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 in a beloved field is enjoyable; leisure becomes rewarding when it feeds subconscious learning that enhances future work. **In simple terms:** Work you love feels fun; leisure fuels future work. Key Takeaway Blend passion with purposeful leisure. Themes work ethic passion leisure Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - pursuing hobbies - skill development - career transitions - personal projects Key Concepts intrinsic motivation continuous learning creative flow Questions to Reflect On - How does your leisure support your work? - What habits turn downtime into growth? A Different Perspective Leisure can become a distraction if not aligned with goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Grazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grazing/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-way/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Learn Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-hard-624470/) [Learn Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-leisure-5557983/) [Learn Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-smart-1992489/) [Learning the hard way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-the-hard-way/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Leisure time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure-time/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Quarters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quarters/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-man/) [Subconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subconscious/) [Thrive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrive/) [Tolerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerable/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Work Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-learn-1382772/) ## Related quotes > [In life, you learn lessons. And sometimes you learn them the hard way. Sometimes you learn them too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/in-life-you-learn-lessons-and-sometimes-you-learn-them-the-hard-way/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I had to learn the hard way. There was a blindness, without any education or will or drive. Everything I started in the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dyrdek/i-had-to-learn-the-hard-way-there-was-a-blindness-without-any/) [Rob Dyrdek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dyrdek/) > [He's going to learn the hard way. Hopefully he changes his mentality quick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/he-s-going-to-learn-the-hard-way-hopefully-he-changes-his-mentality/) [Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/) > [I find it best to dive right in and learn the hard way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-cashmore/i-find-it-best-to-dive-right-in-and-learn-the-hard-way/) [Pete Cashmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-cashmore/) > [Sin has made us stupid, so that we can only learn the hard way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/sin-has-made-us-stupid-so-that-we-can-only-learn-the-hard-way/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [I love to learn I am so smart and best o n the test](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kawana-gooding/i-love-to-learn-i-am-so-smart-and-best-o-n-the-test/) [Kawana Gooding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kawana-gooding/) > [You don't learn from smart people, you learn from idiots. Watch what they do, and then don't do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-wanderone/you-don-t-learn-from-smart-people-you-learn-from-idiots-watch-what/) [Rudolf Wanderone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-wanderone/) > [I think that we can all learn from what smart companies are doing. My objective is to demonstrate what's possible, even during tough economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-champy/i-think-that-we-can-all-learn-from-what-smart-companies-are-doing-my/) [James A. Champy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-champy/) > [I was not too stupid to learn, but too smart. Some instinct must have warned me that a woman accomplished in the domestic arts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corra-may-harris/i-was-not-too-stupid-to-learn-but-too-smart-some-instinct-must-have/) [Corra May Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corra-may-harris/) > [Work to learn. Don't work for money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/work-to-learn-don-t-work-for-money/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [I've been really lucky with the people that I've gotten to work with. I learn a lot from them, just by watching them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-breslin/i-ve-been-really-lucky-with-the-people-that-i-ve-gotten-to-work-with/) [Abigail Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-breslin/) > [Every person I work with, I learn something from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-rothe/every-person-i-work-with-i-learn-something-from/) [Jessica Rothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-rothe/) > [When you are young, work to learn, not to earn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/when-you-are-young-work-to-learn-not-to-earn/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Over the last few years, I've started to look more closely at the way coaches work to learn from them - not just here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-van-persie/over-the-last-few-years-i-ve-started-to-look-more-closely-at-the-way/) [Robin Van Persie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-van-persie/) > [I just want to work, and learn from people I respect and admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-miller/i-just-want-to-work-and-learn-from-people-i-respect-and-admire/) [Sienna Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-miller/) ## More by Spider Robinson > [“There's a price for absolution on this planet, and it's called penance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/there-s-a-price-for-absolution-on-this-planet-and-it-s-called-penance/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [And I repeat: if there is anything that can divert the land of my birth from its current stampede into the Stone Age, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/and-i-repeat-if-there-is-anything-that-can-divert-the-land-of-my/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [“Annie clouded up. For a second, he thought she was going to erupt, and flinched. She saw that...and got control of herself with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/annie-clouded-up-for-a-second-he-thought-she-was-going-to-erupt-and/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > […when writing, always hook the reader with your first sentence…in love, never settle…value yourself first and this will help you to value others…life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/when-writing-always-hook-the-reader-with-your-first-sentence-in-love/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [If you've lived a bad life, they send you to Hell. But if you've been truly wicked, they give you a tour of Heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/if-you-ve-lived-a-bad-life-they-send-you-to-hell-but-if-you-ve-been/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [The whole world turns upside down in ten years, but you turn upside down with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/the-whole-world-turns-upside-down-in-ten-years-but-you-turn-upside/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [“I had not until then fully realized that I was odd, that there was anything strange about growing up with a single-parent genius. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/i-had-not-until-then-fully-realized-that-i-was-odd-that-there-was/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [“Shared pain is lessened Shared joy is increased Thus do we refute entropy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/shared-pain-is-lessened-shared-joy-is-increased-thus-do-we-refute/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [She danced because she needed to. She needed to say things which could be said in no other way, and she needed to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/she-danced-because-she-needed-to-she-needed-to-say-things-which-could/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [Sometimes I think I must have a Guardian Idiot. A little invisible spirit just behind my shoulder, looking out for me...only he's an imbecile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/sometimes-i-think-i-must-have-a-guardian-idiot-a-little-invisible/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [...I know good design when I fail to trip over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/i-know-good-design-when-i-fail-to-trip-over-it/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [The problems of today's youth were no longer a Sunday supplement, or a news broadcast, or anything so remote and intangible. They were suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/the-problems-of-today-s-youth-were-no-longer-a-sunday-supplement-or-a/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [Now that I finally have the time for it, this web surfing stuff turns out to be as interesting and fun and addictive as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/now-that-i-finally-have-the-time-for-it-this-web-surfing-stuff-turns/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [Librarians are like crack dealers when it comes to hooking small children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/librarians-are-like-crack-dealers-when-it-comes-to-hooking-small/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [We did make use, from time to time, of candles, neckties, scarves, shoelaces, a little water-color paintbrush, her hairbrush, butter, whipped cream, strawberry jam,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/we-did-make-use-from-time-to-time-of-candles-neckties-scarves/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) [Explore all 71 Spider Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) ## More Bed quotes > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Your idea of fidelity is not having more than one man in bed at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-raphael/your-idea-of-fidelity-is-not-having-more-than-one-man-in-bed-at-the/) [Frederic Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-raphael/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wish I had as much in bed as I get in the newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-wish-i-had-as-much-in-bed-as-i-get-in-the-newspapers/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“In the parking lot, she drove and parked in a dark area with no other cars around. She reclined her seat, and listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/in-the-parking-lot-she-drove-and-parked-in-a-dark-area-with-no-other/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [I have to meditate before I go to bed, always. I have to let the day go and let the eternal in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bellamy-young/i-have-to-meditate-before-i-go-to-bed-always-i-have-to-let-the-day-go/) [Bellamy Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bellamy-young/) > [Sometimes by a woodland stream he watched the water rush over the pebbled bed, its tiny modulations of bounce and flow. A woman's body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/sometimes-by-a-woodland-stream-he-watched-the-water-rush-over-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-i-saw-him-i-thought-i-could-curl-up-inside-him-and-go-to-sleep/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [I always wanted to be a movie star. I thought it meant being famous and having breakfast in bed. I didn't know you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-allyson/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-movie-star-i-thought-it-meant-being-famous/) [June Allyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-allyson/) [Browse all 4,159 Bed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It took me better than a quarter century to learn, the hard way, that hard work at something you want to be doing is the most fun that you can have out of bed . . . to learn that the smart man finds ways to make everything he does be work; to learn that \"leisure\" time is truly pleasurable (indeed tolerable) only to the extent that is its subconscious grazing for information with which to infuse newer, better work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Spider Robinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/it-took-me-better-than-a-quarter-century-to-learn-the-hard-way-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/it-took-me-better-than-a-quarter-century-to-learn-the-hard-way-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/spider-robinson-9623_bed_it-took-me-better-than-a-quarter-century_2322646.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/spider-robinson-9623_bed_it-took-me-better-than-a-quarter-century_2322646.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/spider-robinson-9623_bed_it-took-me-better-than-a-quarter-century_2322646.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It took me better than a quarter century to learn, the hard way, that hard work at something you want to be…” — Spider Robinson", "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": "Spider Robinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It took me better than a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/it-took-me-better-than-a-quarter-century-to-learn-the-hard-way-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/it-took-me-better-than-a-quarter-century-to-learn-the-hard-way-that/#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 } } ] } ```