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About this quote

What does it mean?
Unrecognized groups of ordinary people often build the foundations of society.
In plain terms
Ordinary people work hard without recognition to help others.
What can you take from it?
Hidden labor often drives progress.

Where it applies

  • community service
  • blue-collar work
  • social movements

Putting it to work

  • valuing unseen work
  • recognizing contributors

Questions to consider

  • Who are the unnoticed workers?
  • What builds our world?

Another view

Not all invisible labor is noble or voluntary.

More from Rudyard Kipling

  1. I've taken my fun where I've found it; I've rogued an' I've ranged in my time; I've 'ad my pickin' o' sweet'earts, An' four o' the lot was prime. One was an 'a…

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  2. There are nine and sixty ways of constructing tribal lays, And every single one of them is right!

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  3. For 'im that doth not work must surely die; But that's no reason man should labour all 'Is life on one same shift - life's none so long.

    Permalink to quote #102

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