It is not industry, but idleness, that is degrading.
Meaning
Coolidge wrote this in his autobiography while describing his view of honest labor and the dignity it gives a person. He saw work as a source of self-respect rather than a burden. If a task feels beneath you, do it well anyway and notice how your confidence grows.
Source: The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge (1929)
About the author
Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) was the 30th President of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929. He was known for his reserved manner, fiscal restraint and plainspoken speeches.
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