Inspirational quote of the day: 'Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first' - A powerful life lesson on managing expectations by the American humorist Robert J. Burdette

Some quotes stay relevant because they express a very simple idea in a very few words. American humorist, journalist and lecturer Robert J. Burdette’s quote that “The world owes you nothing. It was here first” is one such phrase. Even after more than a century has passed since it was spoken, the quote still gives a blunt reminder about expectations and personal responsibility.

What does Robert J. Burdette’s quote mean?

The quote of the day reads, “Don’t believe the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”

Burdette’s quote challenges the idea that the world owes a person some kind of success, comfort or a particular outcome. His message is that people should not assume that life or society is responsible for fulfilling their expectations simply because they believe they deserve something special.


The quote goes back to one of Burdette’s lectures in 1883 and one of the earliest known printed versions appeared in The Morris Chronicle of New York on January 31, 1883, in a report about his lecture “Advice To Young Men.”

Since public lectures in the 19th century were not recorded through audio or video, newspapers were often responsible for preserving what speakers said.

Who was Robert J. Burdette?

Robert Jones Burdette was born on July 30, 1844, in Greensboro, Pennsylvania and his family later moved to Peoria, Illinois, where he received his education. During the American Civil War, he served as a private in the 47th Illinois Infantry.

After the war, Burdette began his journalism career and worked at the Peoria Daily Transcript and later joined the Burlington Hawk-Eye in 1872. His humorous paragraphs in the newspaper soon gained attention and were quoted by publications across the United States.

Burdette later became a popular lecturer and beginning in 1876, he travelled extensively, delivering lectures on subjects including ''Advice to a Young Man' and 'The Rise and Fall of the Mustache.' The latter one was reportedly delivered more than 3,000 times over a period of three decades.

His career eventually extended beyond journalism and humour as Burdette became a licensed Baptist minister in 1897 and took charge of the Temple Baptist Church in Los Angeles in 1903.

He continued writing and lecturing during his later years and died at his Pasadena home on November 19, 1914.