I get up in the morning, have a job to do, go there, come home

When Amitabh Bachchan, the towering figure of Indian cinema, said, “I get up in the morning, have a job to do, go there, come home, be with the family, that’s it,” he gave voice to a truth as ancient as humanity itself: that life’s greatness often lies in its simplicity. These are not the words of a man intoxicated with fame, but of one who has seen the heights of glory and still found the deepest meaning in the humble rhythm of daily duty and family love.

The origin of this quote lies in Bachchan’s life, a journey that has been filled with acclaim, struggle, triumph, and reinvention. Worshipped as the “Shahenshah” of Bollywood, he has been a legend to millions, yet he speaks of his days not as extraordinary but as ordinary. This is wisdom: to strip life of illusion and recognize that no matter how high one climbs, the essence remains the same—work with honesty, return to family, and rest in the embrace of the simple.

History offers us parallels. The Roman general Cincinnatus, who was called from his plow to save Rome and, having triumphed, returned again to his farm, embodies this same humility. Though he bore power and command, he never let it define him; his greatness was not in holding authority but in returning to the life of ordinary duty. Bachchan’s words echo this ancient spirit: greatness is not the noise of the world, but the quiet strength of a man who knows his place among his loved ones.

This quote also unmasks the illusion of glory. Many believe that fame, wealth, or recognition will bring peace, but Bachchan reminds us that peace is found in routine, discipline, and belonging. To rise each day, to do one’s work faithfully, to return home and share bread with family—this is the hidden treasure of existence. The trappings of success are fleeting, but the rhythm of such a life is eternal.

Yet, there is also a heroic humility in his words. To declare “that’s it” is not resignation, but victory over vanity. It is to say that life does not need endless complexity or restless ambition to be meaningful. Bachchan’s life, though outwardly extraordinary, finds its anchor in the most ordinary of truths: work and family. It is a reminder that the pillars of life are simple, and those who recognize this will not be shaken by storms of fortune or fame.

The lesson is clear: do not chase after endless adornments for your life. Instead, build a rhythm of duty and love. Do your work with excellence, but do not let it consume you. Return to your family, for they are the true measure of your legacy. If you have no family near, create one in friendships, in community, in those who share your burdens. For at the end of life, the world may remember your name, but your heart will remember only the faces at your table.

So let us take Amitabh Bachchan’s words to heart: “I get up in the morning, have a job to do, go there, come home, be with the family, that’s it.” Let them remind us that simplicity is not emptiness but fullness, that the greatest victories are not on screens or in stadiums, but in the quiet dignity of faithful labor and the love of home. This is the wisdom of the ancients, spoken anew by one who has walked among gods of fame and yet chosen the humble joy of being a man.