--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My dad worked all his life, an engineer…" description: "\"My dad worked all his life, an engineer, 30 years, week in, week out at the same machine. That is mind-boggling to me. I do not know how the hell he di..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/steve-bruce-4727_computers_my-dad-worked-all-his-life-an-engineer-3_1311423.jpg" --- # My dad worked all his life, an engineer, 30 years, week… ![“My dad worked all his life, an engineer, 30 years, week in, week out at the same machine. That is mind-boggling to me. I do not know how the hell he did it.” quote by Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/steve-bruce-4727_computers_my-dad-worked-all-his-life-an-engineer-3_1311423.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/steve-bruce-4727_computers_my-dad-worked-all-his-life-an-engineer-3_1311423.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/steve-bruce-4727_computers_my-dad-worked-all-his-life-an-engineer-3_1311423.jpg) > “My dad worked all his life, an engineer, 30 years, week in, week out at the same machine. That is mind-boggling to me. I do not know how the hell he did it.” [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Long-term dedication to a single task can seem incomprehensible, highlighting the mystery of sustained commitment. **In simple terms:** Staying at one job for decades is hard to understand. Key Takeaway Seek purpose and balance in work. Themes work ethic longevity purpose Mood reflective analytical Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - retirement preparation - skill development - work-life balance Key Concepts commitment career identity motivation Questions to Reflect On - Why do some people stay in one role forever? - What drives such deep commitment? A Different Perspective Modern work often values variety over long tenure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [It is a great profession. 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The most obvious examples are computer programs and computer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/the-third-way-to-change-the-laws-of-life-is-to-engineer-completely/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Keep in mind that if you take a tour through a hospital and look at every machine with on and off switch that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/keep-in-mind-that-if-you-take-a-tour-through-a-hospital-and-look-at/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [It would be great to have every engineer have at least some amount of knowledge of machine learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dean/it-would-be-great-to-have-every-engineer-have-at-least-some-amount-of/) [Jeff Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dean/) > [If you, or any public-spirited programmer, wanted to figure out what the software on your machine is really doing, tough luck. It's illegal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/if-you-or-any-public-spirited-programmer-wanted-to-figure-out-what/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [“When the people you worked for your whole life are still here, you have everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-wood/when-the-people-you-worked-for-your-whole-life-are-still-here-you/) Patricia Wood > [I've worked my whole life and never missed a deadline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/i-ve-worked-my-whole-life-and-never-missed-a-deadline/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [I worked all my life to get to the penthouse and there ain't nothin' there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-paycheck/i-worked-all-my-life-to-get-to-the-penthouse-and-there-ain-t-nothin/) [Johnny Paycheck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-paycheck/) > [I want everything that's possible that I've worked for to show up in my life and be mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-zingano/i-want-everything-that-s-possible-that-i-ve-worked-for-to-show-up-in/) [Cat Zingano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-zingano/) > [I don't think I have ever worked in my life, because work to me means that you are really doing something that you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kluge/i-don-t-think-i-have-ever-worked-in-my-life-because-work-to-me-means/) [John Kluge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kluge/) > [I have worked all my life, wanted to work all my life, needed to work all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carpenter/i-have-worked-all-my-life-wanted-to-work-all-my-life-needed-to-work/) [Liz Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carpenter/) > [My whole life I've worked. My whole life I've been counted out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-smart/my-whole-life-i-ve-worked-my-whole-life-i-ve-been-counted-out/) [Marcus Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-smart/) > [“I don't know who you think you are, Alexis," Hailey hissed. "I've worked my whole life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-claflin/i-don-t-know-who-you-think-you-are-alexis-hailey-hissed-i-ve-worked/) [Stacy Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-claflin/) > [My grandma worked her whole life as a single mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-dynevor/my-grandma-worked-her-whole-life-as-a-single-mother/) [Phoebe Dynevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-dynevor/) ## More by Steve Bruce > [I've been fortunate enough to have some big games as both a player and a manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-ve-been-fortunate-enough-to-have-some-big-games-as-both-a-player/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [He’s a fantastic talent and the complete footballer, probably the most coveted in the Premiership. It’s a privilege for the rest of us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/he-s-a-fantastic-talent-and-the-complete-footballer-probably-the-most/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I have not got a CV like Rafa, few do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-have-not-got-a-cv-like-rafa-few-do/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [When I was younger, I was a bit awkward to work for, hence why I had about five clubs in two years. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/when-i-was-younger-i-was-a-bit-awkward-to-work-for-hence-why-i-had/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I've got the utmost respect for Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-ve-got-the-utmost-respect-for-mauricio-pochettino-at-tottenham/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [From a playing or managing point of view relegation is a blot on your CV that you don't want, but you have to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/from-a-playing-or-managing-point-of-view-relegation-is-a-blot-on-your/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [You have to be as truthful as you possibly can. That's always been my philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/you-have-to-be-as-truthful-as-you-possibly-can-that-s-always-been-my/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I accept I am not everyone's cup of tea, but judge me over a period of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/i-accept-i-am-not-everyone-s-cup-of-tea-but-judge-me-over-a-period-of/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [Alan Shearer is a friend of mine and he is entitled to his opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/alan-shearer-is-a-friend-of-mine-and-he-is-entitled-to-his-opinions/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [You do get labelled in the game, and that's why I enjoyed my time managing in the Championship. 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Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. Had a one night stand with something cute a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/probably-it-goes-without-saying-but-time-machine-guys-don-t-get-a-lot/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Note found in the patron suggestion box: "You have SIGNS up near the computers that say BE QUIET, but people don't be quiet. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. 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No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjs-hayward/alan-turing-proposed-the-turing-test-a-computer-is-intelligent-if-you/) [CJS Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cjs-hayward/) > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) Cruce Stark > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My dad worked all his life, an engineer, 30 years, week in, week out at the same machine. That is mind-boggling to me. 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