--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People call me a saint and I think, I…" description: "\"“People call me a saint and I think, I have to work harder. Because a saint would be a great thing to be.” - Paul Farmer”\" — Tracy Kidder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/tracy-kidder-8859_saint_people-call-me-a-saint-and-i-think-i-hav_2902415.jpg" --- # People call me a saint and I think, I have to work harder… ![“People call me a saint and I think, I have to work harder. Because a saint would be a great thing to be.” - Paul Farmer” quote by Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/tracy-kidder-8859_saint_people-call-me-a-saint-and-i-think-i-hav_2902415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/tracy-kidder-8859_saint_people-call-me-a-saint-and-i-think-i-hav_2902415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/tracy-kidder-8859_saint_people-call-me-a-saint-and-i-think-i-hav_2902415.jpg) > ““People call me a saint and I think, I have to work harder. Because a saint would be a great thing to be.” - Paul Farmer”” [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being labeled a saint creates pressure to meet high moral standards, prompting extra effort to live up to that ideal. **In simple terms:** A saintly label pushes us to work harder. Key Takeaway Use labels as motivation, not burden. Themes morality identity expectation motivation Mood thoughtful inspirational analytical Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career - volunteer work - leadership - community service Key Concepts social labeling ethical standards personal growth Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel pressure from others’ expectations? - Can you define your own moral standards? A Different Perspective Labels can cause anxiety and unrealistic self‑expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harder Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder-saint-2540596/) [Paul Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paul-farmer-226578/) [People Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-saint-947012/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Saint Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint-think-2540597/) [Work harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-harder/) ## Related quotes > [People call me a saint and I think, I have to work harder. Because a saint would be a great thing to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-farmer/people-call-me-a-saint-and-i-think-i-have-to-work-harder-because-a/) [Paul Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-farmer/) > [Paul Farmer has helped to build amazing health care system in one of the poorest areas of Haiti. He founded Partners in Health, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/paul-farmer-has-helped-to-build-amazing-health-care-system-in-one-of/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I usually write about ordinary people and ordinary things, but Paul Farmer is the least ordinary person I've ever met... He's the leader of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-usually-write-about-ordinary-people-and-ordinary-things-but-paul/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I never planned on doing a book about Paul Farmer or his organization. I met him in Haiti when I was on a magazine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-never-planned-on-doing-a-book-about-paul-farmer-or-his-organization/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [Helping people, Being a Saint, Nothing good comes out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniyal-butt/helping-people-being-a-saint-nothing-good-comes-out-of-it/) [Daniyal Butt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniyal-butt/) > [“You have to be a two people; a saint and a sinner”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangu-mandanna/you-have-to-be-a-two-people-a-saint-and-a-sinner/) [Sangu Mandanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangu-mandanna/) > [“Paul Farmer, the renowned physician who has spent his life trying to cure the world's sickest and poorest people, once quoted me something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/paul-farmer-the-renowned-physician-who-has-spent-his-life-trying-to/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [People call me a saint because I was poor / But it was full of human sensitivity and /but today me I'm rich, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/people-call-me-a-saint-because-i-was-poor-but-it-was-full-of-human/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“If I could just get my partner to see me how she used to - to fall in love with me all over again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/if-i-could-just-get-my-partner-to-see-me-how-she-used-to-to-fall-in/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [If you want something you have to work for it. If you don't get it, work harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-something-you-have-to-work-for-it-if-you-don-t-get-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is always one option that is completely within your control: the ability to work harder than anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-always-one-option-that-is-completely-within-your-control-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives-seem-to-believe-that-the/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [I still have to unify my division and basically become the undefeated welterweight champion of the world. I can't lose. It is more added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-spence-jr/i-still-have-to-unify-my-division-and-basically-become-the-undefeated/) [Errol Spence Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-spence-jr/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) ## More by Tracy Kidder > [“He sniffed, and said as others had before him and others no doubt would again, "I have learned never to say, 'Never again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/he-sniffed-and-said-as-others-had-before-him-and-others-no-doubt/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [Don't worry about being worried. You're heading out on an adventure and you can always change your mind along the way and try something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/don-t-worry-about-being-worried-you-re-heading-out-on-an-adventure/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I do believe that enduring geological features are important, though I don't think I can be clear about exactly why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-do-believe-that-enduring-geological-features-are-important-though-i/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“In the process Paul laid out a comprehensive theory of poverty, of a world designed by the elites of all nations to serve their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/in-the-process-paul-laid-out-a-comprehensive-theory-of-poverty-of-a/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“Farmer liked to tell his Harvard students that to be a good clinician you must never let a patient know that you have problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/farmer-liked-to-tell-his-harvard-students-that-to-be-a-good-clinician/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“One shouldn't expect anyone to be complete at any given moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/one-shouldn-t-expect-anyone-to-be-complete-at-any-given-moment/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I want my prose to be as clear as a pane of glass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-want-my-prose-to-be-as-clear-as-a-pane-of-glass/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [What I like about non-fiction is that it covers such a huge territory. The best non-fiction is also creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/what-i-like-about-non-fiction-is-that-it-covers-such-a-huge-territory/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [Things were here before you and will be here after you're gone. The geographic features, especially, give you a sense of your own place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/things-were-here-before-you-and-will-be-here-after-you-re-gone-the/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I do believe in God. I think God has given so much power to people, and intelligence, and said, 'Well, you are on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-do-believe-in-god-i-think-god-has-given-so-much-power-to-people-and/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [The goofiness of radicals thinking they have to dress in Guatemalan peasant clothes. The poor don't want you to look like them. They want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/the-goofiness-of-radicals-thinking-they-have-to-dress-in-guatemalan/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [That's when I feel most alive, he told me once on an airplane, when I'm helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/that-s-when-i-feel-most-alive-he-told-me-once-on-an-airplane-when-i-m/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [...Attempts at imitation would put the emphasis where it didn't belong. The goal was to improve the lives of others, not oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/attempts-at-imitation-would-put-the-emphasis-where-it-didn-t-belong/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [“Nothing every happens unless you push it. Ed Rasala. 111”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/nothing-every-happens-unless-you-push-it-ed-rasala-111/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [Curing yourself of obsessive compulsive disorder by going to a strip club is pretty strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/curing-yourself-of-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-by-going-to-a-strip/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) [Explore all 77 Tracy Kidder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) ## More Saint quotes > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [I knew a girl so ugly, she had a face like a saint-a Saint Bernard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-knew-a-girl-so-ugly-she-had-a-face-like-a-saint-a-saint-bernard/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [Pray to Saint Philomena, What ever you ask from her, She will obtain for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-xvi/pray-to-saint-philomena-what-ever-you-ask-from-her-she-will-obtain/) [Pope Gregory XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-xvi/) > [Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-and-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise, he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/every-latter-day-saint-should-make-the-study-of-this-book-a-lifetime/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [I think being raised within a Mexican Catholic family made magical realism a very natural part of who I am as a person and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-olivas/i-think-being-raised-within-a-mexican-catholic-family-made-magical/) [Daniel Olivas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-olivas/) > [“Everything about me sounds wonderful and kind. (I'm pretty much a fuckin' saint).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-edwards/everything-about-me-sounds-wonderful-and-kind-i-m-pretty-much-a/) [Helen Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-edwards/) > [It takes all sorts to make a world - saints as well as soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-anderson/it-takes-all-sorts-to-make-a-world-saints-as-well-as-soldiers/) [Anthony Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-anderson/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [“There is salvation for every soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-is-salvation-for-every-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I was in the South of France, in Saint-Tropez and I met her when it was totally unexpected. I was very lucky because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-stern/i-was-in-the-south-of-france-in-saint-tropez-and-i-met-her-when-it/) [Bert Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-stern/) > [Some of God's noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/some-of-god-s-noblest-sons-i-think-will-be-selected-from-those-that/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Admired as a saint, defined by my rank. Combined with my strength, my time and my length.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/admired-as-a-saint-defined-by-my-rank-combined-with-my-strength-my/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [My decision to destroy the authority of the blacks in Saint Domingue (Haiti) is not so much based on considerations of commerce and money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-decision-to-destroy-the-authority-of-the-blacks-in-saint-domingue/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) [Browse all 2,315 Saint quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People call me a saint and I think, I have to work harder. 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