"I worked my way up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty"

Groucho Marx's quote is a humorous method of revealing the concept that no matter how difficult one works, it may not suffice to accomplish success. He is suggesting that even if one works hard, they may still wind up in a worse scenario than when they began. This might be interpreted as a commentary on the problem of accomplishing success in life, or the absence of opportunity for those who are not born into benefit. It might likewise be seen as a suggestion to not take success for approved, as it can be fleeting. Ultimately, Groucho Marx's quote is a funny way of expressing the concept that hard work may not constantly suffice to attain success.