--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father thought of himself as a…" description: "\"My father thought of himself as a tradesman. A craftsman.\" — Thomas Steinbeck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/thomas-steinbeck-23891_craftsman_my-father-thought-of-himself-as-a-trades_2514795.jpg" --- # My father thought of himself as a tradesman. A craftsman. ![“My father thought of himself as a tradesman. A craftsman.” quote by Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/thomas-steinbeck-23891_craftsman_my-father-thought-of-himself-as-a-trades_2514795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/thomas-steinbeck-23891_craftsman_my-father-thought-of-himself-as-a-trades_2514795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/thomas-steinbeck-23891_craftsman_my-father-thought-of-himself-as-a-trades_2514795.jpg) > “My father thought of himself as a tradesman. A craftsman.” [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing oneself as a craftsman emphasizes skill, pride, and responsibility in shaping one’s life and work. **In simple terms:** Viewing life as craftsmanship adds purpose. Key Takeaway Cultivate skill, take pride in your work. Themes craftsmanship identity responsibility pride Mood reflective motivational Type literary advice When to use this quote - career development - handiwork - entrepreneurship - personal projects Key Concepts existentialism work ethic Questions to Reflect On - How does your work reflect your values? - What balance do you need between craft and rest? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on work can neglect relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Craftsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craftsman/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [There is not a manufacturer or tradesman in existence, who would not employ a man who takes a reasonable degree of pride in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-is-not-a-manufacturer-or-tradesman-in-existence-who-would-not/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [To the body and mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone. The tradesman, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-the-body-and-mind-which-have-been-cramped-by-noxious-work-or-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Everything that is done in the world is done by hope. No merchant or tradesman would set himself to work if he did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/everything-that-is-done-in-the-world-is-done-by-hope-no-merchant-or/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [It's no good starting out by thinking one is a heaven-born genius- some people are, but very few. No, one is a tradesman -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/it-s-no-good-starting-out-by-thinking-one-is-a-heaven-born-genius/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Prayer is a trade to be learned. We must be apprentices and serve our time at it. Painstaking care, much thought, practice and labour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/prayer-is-a-trade-to-be-learned-we-must-be-apprentices-and-serve-our/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [What would people think of a tradesman, that was to give a ball in his shop, hire performers, and hand refreshments about, with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/what-would-people-think-of-a-tradesman-that-was-to-give-a-ball-in-his/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [I went to college because my father thought that I should learn engineering, because he wanted to go into the heating business with me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-susskind/i-went-to-college-because-my-father-thought-that-i-should-learn/) [Leonard Susskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-susskind/) > [“Mr Cobb would acquaint him, that when he was his age, his father thought no more of giving him a parental kick, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mr-cobb-would-acquaint-him-that-when-he-was-his-age-his-father/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [My father thought I would lead a simple life; that I was bright but unambitious, complacant with whatever work life threw at me. 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Lily's dad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/you-know-who-you-should-ask-about-this-my-pal-ray-who-works-with-me/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [Because I was the only child, I was completely indulged. My father thought I was the best looking boy. And even though I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-johar/because-i-was-the-only-child-i-was-completely-indulged-my-father/) [Karan Johar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-johar/) > [When I was growing up, I idolised my father. I thought his ghost followed me around the house. I had been told how he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisling-bea/when-i-was-growing-up-i-idolised-my-father-i-thought-his-ghost/) [Aisling Bea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisling-bea/) > [My father thought sport was something fun - he didn't know it was a way to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/my-father-thought-sport-was-something-fun-he-didn-t-know-it-was-a-way/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) ## More by Thomas Steinbeck > [I've always been fascinated by the Chinese. This goes a long way back to my childhood. The Chinese invented money, movable type, clocks, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-chinese-this-goes-a-long-way-back/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [For someone who loves literature, and all books on principle, being asked to name three titles over a half century of serious reading is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/for-someone-who-loves-literature-and-all-books-on-principle-being/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [I started writing serious books so late because I knew I'd be accused of riding on my father's coattails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/i-started-writing-serious-books-so-late-because-i-knew-i-d-be-accused/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [I thought my dad was out of work, because my friends had fathers with briefcases who'd go off somewhere with bow ties on. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/i-thought-my-dad-was-out-of-work-because-my-friends-had-fathers-with/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [My father, John Steinbeck, was a man who held human history in great reverence, and in particular the biographies of those people who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/my-father-john-steinbeck-was-a-man-who-held-human-history-in-great/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [My only job is to write in such a way that the reader gets a new handle on humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/my-only-job-is-to-write-in-such-a-way-that-the-reader-gets-a-new/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [When I was fifteen, my father gave me a first edition copy of Ray Bradbury's magnificent work, 'The Martian Chronicles.' I had read other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/when-i-was-fifteen-my-father-gave-me-a-first-edition-copy-of-ray/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [I would hardly say that I have a rich knowledge of anything in particular, but I do seem to be burdened with an unseemly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/i-would-hardly-say-that-i-have-a-rich-knowledge-of-anything-in/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [Since I can't write the greatest American novel, I'm going to write the longest American novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/since-i-can-t-write-the-greatest-american-novel-i-m-going-to-write/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [I like writing, but I write for self-improvement more than I do for money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/i-like-writing-but-i-write-for-self-improvement-more-than-i-do-for/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [From my fathers point of view, without a thought for self, a true patriot stands up against the stones of condemnation and speaks for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/from-my-fathers-point-of-view-without-a-thought-for-self-a-true/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [I started writing serious books so late because I knew Id be accused of riding on my fathers coattails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/i-started-writing-serious-books-so-late-because-i-knew-id-be-accused/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [You didn't grow up in the shadow of John Steinbeck. He put you on his shoulders and gave you all the light you wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/you-didn-t-grow-up-in-the-shadow-of-john-steinbeck-he-put-you-on-his/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [My father believed, like Pericles, that a man's genius could be easily judged by the number of unenlightened fools set in phalanx against his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/my-father-believed-like-pericles-that-a-man-s-genius-could-be-easily/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [My father told us all the time: to become a good writer takes writing. Because the more you do it, the better you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/my-father-told-us-all-the-time-to-become-a-good-writer-takes-writing/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) [Explore all 25 Thomas Steinbeck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) ## More Craftsman quotes > [My father was a very good craftsman. He made furniture, he made silverware and he had an incredible gift in terms of how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/my-father-was-a-very-good-craftsman-he-made-furniture-he-made/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [“What is the difference between “creator” and “craftsman”? The one who creates bestows being itself, he brings something out of nothing— ex nihilo sui…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/what-is-the-difference-between-creator-and-craftsman-the-one-who/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [If theory is the role of the architect, then such beautiful proofs are the role of the craftsman. Of course, as with the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atiyah/if-theory-is-the-role-of-the-architect-then-such-beautiful-proofs-are/) [Michael Atiyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-atiyah/) > [The movies today are too rich to have any room for genuine artists. They produce a few passable craftsmen, but no artists. Can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-movies-today-are-too-rich-to-have-any-room-for-genuine-artists/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I grew up in a craftsman's home, where things were done with our own hands. I did cabinetmaking for four years and I hated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-zumthor/i-grew-up-in-a-craftsman-s-home-where-things-were-done-with-our-own/) [Peter Zumthor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-zumthor/) > [“If I demand to be both the craftsman and the tool, I will be neither.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-i-demand-to-be-both-the-craftsman-and-the-tool-i-will-be-neither/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Nevertheless, the Tenth Commandment-'Thou shalt not covet'-recognizes that making money and owning things could become selfish activities. But it is not the creation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/nevertheless-the-tenth-commandment-thou-shalt-not-covet-recognizes/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Potter is jealous of potter, and craftsman of craftsman; and the poor have a grudge against the poor, and the poet against the poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/potter-is-jealous-of-potter-and-craftsman-of-craftsman-and-the-poor/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [“craftsman mindset is the foundation for creating work you love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/craftsman-mindset-is-the-foundation-for-creating-work-you-love/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [You can't find a YouTube clip to become a craftsman, friend, parent - or disciple of Christ. It's all of grace. And to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/you-can-t-find-a-youtube-clip-to-become-a-craftsman-friend-parent-or/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [The artist had captured a moment that went on suggesting other moments in the mind of the beholder. This, Timmon told me, was what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-grimsley/the-artist-had-captured-a-moment-that-went-on-suggesting-other/) [Jim Grimsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-grimsley/) > [I'm not a craftsman of graphics or art or film. I'm more of an idea generator and manufacturer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/i-m-not-a-craftsman-of-graphics-or-art-or-film-i-m-more-of-an-idea/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [A craftsman knows in advance what the finished result will be, while the artist knows only what it will be when he has finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/a-craftsman-knows-in-advance-what-the-finished-result-will-be-while/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [“But still he keeps working with a will; that's the craftsman in him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sennett/but-still-he-keeps-working-with-a-will-that-s-the-craftsman-in-him/) [Richard Sennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sennett/) > [We have neglected the truth that a good farmer is a craftsman of the highest order, a kind of artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/we-have-neglected-the-truth-that-a-good-farmer-is-a-craftsman-of-the/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) [Browse all 175 Craftsman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craftsman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father thought of himself as a tradesman. 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