--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't pity any man who does hard work…" description: "\"I don't pity any man who does hard work worth doing. I admire him. I pity the creature who does not work, at whichever end of the social scale he may r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/theodore-roosevelt-218_admire_i-don-t-pity-any-man-who-does-hard-work_2337614.jpg" --- # I don't pity any man who does hard work worth doing. I… ![“I don't pity any man who does hard work worth doing. I admire him. I pity the creature who does not work, at whichever end of the social scale he may regard himself as being.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/theodore-roosevelt-218_admire_i-don-t-pity-any-man-who-does-hard-work_2337614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/theodore-roosevelt-218_admire_i-don-t-pity-any-man-who-does-hard-work_2337614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/theodore-roosevelt-218_admire_i-don-t-pity-any-man-who-does-hard-work_2337614.jpg) > “I don't pity any man who does hard work worth doing. I admire him. I pity the creature who does not work, at whichever end of the social scale he may regard himself as being.” [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Respect is earned by diligent effort; those who avoid work are deserving of pity regardless of social status. **In simple terms:** Hard work earns respect; laziness invites pity. Key Takeaway Value effort, avoid idleness. Themes work ethic social equality personal responsibility Mood inspirational serious Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - career development - education policy - community service programs Key Concepts American pragmatism social philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What defines “hard work” in modern society? - How can we support those unable to work? A Different Perspective May discount systemic barriers to work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire/) [Admire Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire-pity-4450551/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pity Creature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-creature-5645885/) [Pity Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-man-514329/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“But still I was curious to know what sort of an explanation she would have given me—or would give now, if I pressed her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/but-still-i-was-curious-to-know-what-sort-of-an-explanation-she-would/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [but very little achievement is required in order to pity another man's shortcomings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-very-little-achievement-is-required-in-order-to-pity-another-man/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I pity the man who can travel from Dan to Beersheba, and cry, 'Tis all barren--and so it is; and so is all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/i-pity-the-man-who-can-travel-from-dan-to-beersheba-and-cry-tis-all/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [I pity the man who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth will starve in the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-harrison/i-pity-the-man-who-wants-a-coat-so-cheap-that-the-man-or-woman-who/) [Benjamin Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-harrison/) > [“Daniel had one more question. 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The knot in his throat had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-bailey/daniel-had-one-more-question-he-hated-asking-it-but-her-answer-would/) [Tessa Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-bailey/) > [It is noble to pity a man who is cruel because he is weak, but it is idiotic and dangerous to allow him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-horsley/it-is-noble-to-pity-a-man-who-is-cruel-because-he-is-weak-but-it-is/) [Kate Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-horsley/) > [Pity the man who has a favorite restaurant, but not a favorite author.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/pity-the-man-who-has-a-favorite-restaurant-but-not-a-favorite-author/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [God pity the man of science who believes in nothing but what he can prove by scientific methods; for if ever a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/god-pity-the-man-of-science-who-believes-in-nothing-but-what-he-can/) [J. G. 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Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-a-strong-individualist-by-personal-habit-inheritance-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/alone-of-human-beings-the-good-and-wise-mother-stands-on-a-plane-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The greatest privilege and greatest duty for any man is to be happily married, and no other form of success or service, for either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-greatest-privilege-and-greatest-duty-for-any-man-is-to-be-happily/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-unflagging-interest-and-enjoyment-a-household-of-children-if/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) [Explore all 876 Theodore Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## More Admire quotes > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. 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She's a minority woman and she's done all this by herself...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-saralegui/how-proud-i-am-to-be-compared-to-oprah-i-really-admire-her-she-s-a/) [Cristina Saralegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-saralegui/) > [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I really admire people's interactions with technology that aren't tech-centric but use it as a tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/i-really-admire-people-s-interactions-with-technology-that-aren-t/) [Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/) > [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Shaw's works make me admire the magnificent tolerance and broadmindedness of the english.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/shaw-s-works-make-me-admire-the-magnificent-tolerance-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [I believe in a world where there are no heroes, and I've read and know humanity a lot. 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It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/i-think-it-s-really-good-and-helpful-to-have-the-people-you-most/) [Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/) > [Part of what we admire about a painting or a piece of music is the order which the artist has imposed upon what would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-storr/part-of-what-we-admire-about-a-painting-or-a-piece-of-music-is-the/) [Anthony Storr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-storr/) > [I respect and admire the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-respect-and-admire-the-premier-league/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) > [“The thing I admire most about you is no matter how hard, or how much the world has tried to beat you, break you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-gill/the-thing-i-admire-most-about-you-is-no-matter-how-hard-or-how-much/) [Nikita Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-gill/) [Browse all 2,369 Admire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't pity any man who does hard work worth doing. 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