"Any jackass can kick down a barn but it takes a good carpenter to build one"

This quote by Lyndon B. Johnson is a metaphor for the value of hard work and dedication. It suggests that it is simple to destroy something, but it takes a lot of skill and effort to develop something of worth. The quote is a suggestion that it is insufficient to just tear something down; it is very important to have the knowledge and ability to build something of lasting value. The quote also functions as a pointer that it is necessary to put in the time to do things right, rather than hurrying through a job and producing something of lower quality. Johnson's quote is a pointer that effort and commitment are necessary for producing something of lasting value.