"Je n'ai pas pitié de l'homme qui fait un travail difficile digne d'être fait. Je l'admire. J'ai pitié de la créature qui ne travaille pas, à quelque extrémité de l'échelle sociale qu'elle puisse se considérer."
— Theodore Roosevelt
Simplified Meaning:
This quote means that people who put in effort and do valuable work deserve respect, no matter how hard that work might be. Hard work can be tough and tiring, but it’s meaningful and shows dedication. Think of a construction worker building a school. Even if the job is difficult, the work is important because it helps the community. The speaker feels admiration for such effort. On the other hand, the quote expresses sadness for people who do nothing useful. It doesn't matter if they are rich or poor. Not contributing through work means missing out on the purpose and satisfaction that comes from being productive. For example, if someone is very wealthy but spends all their time doing nothing, they might feel empty because they’re not using their time and resources to make a difference. The advice here is that everyone should strive to do work that matters, as it brings pride and fulfillment.