"If it is surely the means to the highest end we know, can any work be humble or disgusting? Will it not rather be elevating as a ladder, the means by which we are translated?"

This quote by Henry David Thoreau is a tip that no matter how tough or unpleasant a job might be, it can still be seen as a way to a higher end. He is suggesting that if we can acknowledge the significance of the task, it can be viewed as a ladder that will help us reach our goals. He is encouraging us to look beyond the instant difficulty of a job and to focus on the long-term advantages that it can bring. He is also recommending that if we can acknowledge the importance of the job, it can be viewed as a method to raise ourselves and to reach our highest capacity. By seeing our operate in this way, we can discover motivation and function in even the most mundane tasks.