--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From that age until seventeen I did all…" description: "\"“From that age until seventeen I did all the work done with horses, such as breaking up the land, furrowing, ploughing corn and potatoes, bringing in t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/ulysses-s-grant-1793_fifteen-years_from-that-age-until-seventeen-i-did-all_2376037.jpg" --- # From that age until seventeen I did all the work done with… ![“From that age until seventeen I did all the work done with horses, such as breaking up the land, furrowing, ploughing corn and potatoes, bringing in the crops when harvested, hauling all the wood, besides tending two or three horses, a cow or two, and sawing wood for stoves, etc., while still…” quote by Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/ulysses-s-grant-1793_fifteen-years_from-that-age-until-seventeen-i-did-all_2376037.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/ulysses-s-grant-1793_fifteen-years_from-that-age-until-seventeen-i-did-all_2376037.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30d/ulysses-s-grant-1793_fifteen-years_from-that-age-until-seventeen-i-did-all_2376037.jpg) > ““From that age until seventeen I did all the work done with horses, such as breaking up the land, furrowing, ploughing corn and potatoes, bringing in the crops when harvested, hauling all the wood, besides tending two or three horses, a cow or two, and sawing wood for stoves, etc., while still attending school. For this I was compensated by the fact that there was never any scolding or punishing by my parents; no objection to rational enjoyments, such as fishing, going to the creek a mile away to swim in summer, taking a horse and visiting my grandparents in the adjoining county, fifteen miles off, skating on the ice in winter, or taking a horse and sleigh when there was snow on the ground. While still quite young I had visited Cincinnati, forty-five miles away, several times, alone; also Maysville, Kentucky, often, and once Louisville. The journey to Louisville was a big one for a boy of that day. I had also gone once with a two-horse carriage to Chilicothe, about seventy miles, with a neighbor’s family, who were removing to Toledo, Ohio, and returned alone; and had gone once, in like manner, to Flat Rock, Kentucky, about seventy miles away. On this latter occasion I was fifteen years of age.”” [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes a youth of hard physical labor, travel, and freedom, balanced with schooling and parental support. **In simple terms:** Hard work, travel, and freedom shaped his early life. Key Takeaway Value hard work and independence. Themes hard work independence travel family education Mood reflective proud nostalgic Type historical personal memoir When to use this quote - school days - farm chores - long rides - family visits - early travel Key Concepts self‑reliance responsibility rural life Questions to Reflect On - How did early labor influence his leadership? - What freedoms did he cherish? A Different Perspective Limited perspective on formal education and urban opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fifteen years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fifteen-years/) [Horse Carriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse-carriage-3303494/) [Horse Visiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse-visiting-5868806/) [Taking Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-horse-5868805/) [Tending Horses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tending-horses-4751393/) [Work done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-done/) [Work Horses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-horses-513104/) ## Related quotes > [“Learning anything proved to be difficult. Impossible. First the men were busy setting up camp, tending the horses, making a larger fire. They did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/learning-anything-proved-to-be-difficult-impossible-first-the-men/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [I think of modern marriage as a car strangely fashioned out of an old abandoned horse carriage, built upon the framework of a mule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-think-of-modern-marriage-as-a-car-strangely-fashioned-out-of-an-old/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [In the medical profession a horse and carriage are more necessary than any scientific knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-the-medical-profession-a-horse-and-carriage-are-more-necessary/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I had a whistle-stop tour of Havana in a horse and carriage and couldn't stop taking photographs of the decaying yet enchanting buildings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-williamson/i-had-a-whistle-stop-tour-of-havana-in-a-horse-and-carriage-and/) [Matthew Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-williamson/) > [The one thing I find the least romantic is taking a horse and carriage ride. I can't express enough how unhappy these horses are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-michele/the-one-thing-i-find-the-least-romantic-is-taking-a-horse-and/) [Lea Michele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-michele/) > [I'd like to work with horses, but it doesn't pay very well. Maybe I'd like to go somewhere in the Middle East because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-campbell/i-d-like-to-work-with-horses-but-it-doesn-t-pay-very-well-maybe-i-d/) [Edie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-campbell/) > [The corncob was the central object of my life. My father was a horse handler, first trotting and pacing horses, then coach horses, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-engle/the-corncob-was-the-central-object-of-my-life-my-father-was-a-horse/) [Paul Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-engle/) > [I get to work with horses, be around them, you know. When you love horses as much as I do, you want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-baffert/i-get-to-work-with-horses-be-around-them-you-know-when-you-love/) [Bob Baffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-baffert/) > [“Work is what horses die of. Everybody should know that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/work-is-what-horses-die-of-everybody-should-know-that/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Work is what horses die of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/work-is-what-horses-die-of/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [God doesn't love me any more or less because I had some work done on my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/god-doesn-t-love-me-any-more-or-less-because-i-had-some-work-done-on/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [There are actresses who've had expensive work done and look great, so I'm not holier-than-thou about it. But it wouldn't be for me, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/there-are-actresses-who-ve-had-expensive-work-done-and-look-great-so/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [“For some employers, there is no more glorious work than work done for free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/for-some-employers-there-is-no-more-glorious-work-than-work-done-for/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [Most celebrities are not going to admit they had work done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nassif/most-celebrities-are-not-going-to-admit-they-had-work-done/) [Paul Nassif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nassif/) > [“I hope we're not intruding,' she croons, sweetly. "Well, I say, "I was trying to get a little work done." I give T.J. a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-grunwald/i-hope-we-re-not-intruding-she-croons-sweetly-well-i-say-i-was-trying/) [Lisa Grunwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-grunwald/) ## More by Ulysses S. Grant > [“In the early days of the country, before we had railroads, telegraphs and steamboats—in a word, rapid transit of any sort—the States were each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/in-the-early-days-of-the-country-before-we-had-railroads-telegraphs/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The much talked of surrendering of Lee’s sword and my handing it back, this and much more that has been said about it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-much-talked-of-surrendering-of-lee-s-sword-and-my-handing-it-back/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely new, and was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely the sword…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/general-lee-was-dressed-in-a-full-uniform-which-was-entirely-new-and/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The great bulk of the legal voters of the South were men who owned no slaves; their homes were generally in the hills and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-great-bulk-of-the-legal-voters-of-the-south-were-men-who-owned-no/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/if-we-are-to-have-another-contest-in-the-near-future-of-our-national/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [...but for a soldier his duty is plain. He is to obey the orders of all those placed over him and whip the enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/but-for-a-soldier-his-duty-is-plain-he-is-to-obey-the-orders-of-all/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“I was afraid, every morning, that I would awake from my sleep to hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing was left but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-was-afraid-every-morning-that-i-would-awake-from-my-sleep-to-hear/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The efforts to kill off politically the two successful generals, made them both candidates for the Presidency. General Taylor was nominated in 1848, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-efforts-to-kill-off-politically-the-two-successful-generals-made/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/hold-fast-to-the-bible-to-the-influence-of-this-book-we-are-indebted/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The fact is the constitution did not apply to any such contingency as the one existing from 1861 to 1865. Its framers never dreamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-fact-is-the-constitution-did-not-apply-to-any-such-contingency-as/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [It was my fortune, or misfortune, to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/it-was-my-fortune-or-misfortune-to-be-called-to-the-office-of-chief/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [No other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/no-other-terms-than-unconditional-and-immediate-surrender-i-propose/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [I would suggest the taxation of all property equally whether church or corporation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-would-suggest-the-taxation-of-all-property-equally-whether-church/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [I know only two tunes: one of them is 'Yankee Doodle,' and the other isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-know-only-two-tunes-one-of-them-is-yankee-doodle-and-the-other-isn-t/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“I could have allowed myself more time. I have used my best efforts, with the aid of my eldest son, F. D. Grant, assisted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-could-have-allowed-myself-more-time-i-have-used-my-best-efforts/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) [Explore all 208 Ulysses S. Grant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) ## More Fifteen years quotes > [A statesman is a politician who has been dead ten or fifteen years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/a-statesman-is-a-politician-who-has-been-dead-ten-or-fifteen-years/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [“That was fifteen years ago. Fifteen Valentine's Days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/that-was-fifteen-years-ago-fifteen-valentine-s-days/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [“Near home I ran through our park, where I had aired my children on weekends and late-summer afternoons. I stopped at the northeast playground,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/near-home-i-ran-through-our-park-where-i-had-aired-my-children-on/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) > [It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/it-took-me-fifteen-years-to-discover-i-had-no-talent-for-writing-but/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Fifteen years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the United States government still has little idea how many foreign travelers overstay their visas annually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/fifteen-years-after-the-september-11-terrorist-attacks-the-united/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [We are shut up in school and college recitation rooms for ten to fifteen years, and come out at last with a bellyful of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-are-shut-up-in-school-and-college-recitation-rooms-for-ten-to/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“She was fifteen years younger than Paul, a point his other retired cop friends kidded him about mercilessly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-james/she-was-fifteen-years-younger-than-paul-a-point-his-other-retired-cop/) [Russell James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-james/) > [I have an IQ of about 160, I taught science for about fifteen years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-hovind/i-have-an-iq-of-about-160-i-taught-science-for-about-fifteen-years/) [Kent Hovind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-hovind/) > [Dan Brister's book bears witness to the last fifteen years of this bureaucratic madness to tame the last vestige of wild America and domesticate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-peacock/dan-brister-s-book-bears-witness-to-the-last-fifteen-years-of-this/) [Doug Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-peacock/) > [“We've had fifteen years of being grown-ups when we could have got together and we never have. Doesn't that tell you something?' 'Yeah, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-bliss/we-ve-had-fifteen-years-of-being-grown-ups-when-we-could-have-got/) [Karina Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-bliss/) > [Well, when I was fifteen years old I worked in a lingerie store and that's how I feel in love with vintage lingerie because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dita-von-teese/well-when-i-was-fifteen-years-old-i-worked-in-a-lingerie-store-and/) [Dita Von Teese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dita-von-teese/) > [Old age is fifteen years older than I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/old-age-is-fifteen-years-older-than-i-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Let’s take a quick look at what a psychopath is. Although the American Psychiatric Association (APA) no longer uses this term, much of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kirkconnell/let-s-take-a-quick-look-at-what-a-psychopath-is-although-the-american/) [Robert Kirkconnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kirkconnell/) > [“Tell me about the war,” he pressed cautiously. She smiled again and began, “Well . . .” The sentence ended there. Her tongue moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-fishman/tell-me-about-the-war-he-pressed-cautiously-she-smiled-again-and/) [Boris Fishman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-fishman/) > [“The key experiential approach I now use to induce non-ordinary states of consciousness and gain access to the unconscious and superconscious psyche is Holotropic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislav-grof/the-key-experiential-approach-i-now-use-to-induce-non-ordinary-states/) [Stanislav Grof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislav-grof/) [Browse all 438 Fifteen years quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fifteen-years/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“From that age until seventeen I did all the work done with horses, such as breaking up the land, furrowing, ploughing corn and potatoes, bringing in the crops when harvested, hauling all the wood, besides tending two or three horses, a cow or two, and sawing wood for stoves, etc., while still attending school. For this I was compensated by the fact that there was never any scolding or punishing by my parents; no objection to rational enjoyments, such as fishing, going to the creek a mile away to swim in summer, taking a horse and visiting my grandparents in the adjoining county, fifteen miles off, skating on the ice in winter, or taking a horse and sleigh when there was snow on the ground. While still quite young I had visited Cincinnati, forty-five miles away, several times, alone; also Maysville, Kentucky, often, and once Louisville. The journey to Louisville was a big one for a boy of that day. I had also gone once with a two-horse carriage to Chilicothe, about seventy miles, with a neighbor’s family, who were removing to Toledo, Ohio, and returned alone; and had gone once, in like manner, to Flat Rock, Kentucky, about seventy miles away. On this latter occasion I was fifteen years of age.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ulysses S. 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