Whatever the job you are asked to do at whatever level, do a good job because your reputation is your resume.
—Madeleine Albright (1937–2022) Czech-born American Diplomat
Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
I received a letter from a lad asking me for an easy berth. To this I replied: You cannot be an editor; do not try the law; do not think of the ministry; let alone all ships and merchandise; abhor politics; don’t practice medicine; be not a farmer or a soldier or a sailor; don’t study, don’t think. None of these are easy. O, my son, you have come into a hard world. I know of only one easy place in it, and that is the grave.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
My job is about the most fun thing I do, but I have a broad set of interests, going places, reading things, doing things.
—Bill Gates (b.1955) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Author
Happiness is an inside job
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes.
—William Bennett (b.1943) American Politician, Political Theorist, Government Official
Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any.
—Fred Astaire (1899–1987) American Actor, Dancer, Singer
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Once a job is fouled up, anything done to improve it makes it worse.
—Indian Proverb
People who work sitting down get paid more than people who work standing up.
—Ogden Nash (1902–71) American Writer of Sophisticated Light Verse
Professionalism: It’s not the job you do, It’s how you do the job.
—Indian Proverb
To catch a husband is an art; to hold him is a job.
—Simone de Beauvoir (1908–86) French Philosopher, Writer, Feminist
Diamonds are only lumps of coal that stuck to their jobs.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
I have discovered that I cannot enhance anybody’s performance without getting them not only to live with the butterflies that come with high-pressure jobs but to embrace that kind of physical response, enjoy it, get into it. That’s the first real ticket to being a performer who thinks exceptionally.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
The only job where you start at the top, is digging a hole.
—Unknown
Recession is when a neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.
—Unknown
There is no future in any job. The future lies in the man who holds the job.
—George W. Crane (1901–95) American Psychologist, Physician
Being a housewife and a mother is the biggest job in the world, but if it doesn’t interest you, don’t do it – I would have made a terrible mother.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
God will forgive me; that’s his business
—Heinrich Heine (1797–1856) German Poet, Writer
If your children look up to you, you’ve made a success of life’s biggest job.
—Unknown
It’s not my job to motivate players. They bring extraordinary motivation to our program. It’s my job not to de-motivate them.
—Lou Holtz (1893–1980) American Stage Performer
The man with the best job in the country is the vice-president. All he has to do is get up every morning and say, “How is the president?”
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Two can live as cheaply as one – if they both have good jobs.
—Laurence J. Peter (1919–90) Canadian-born American Educator, Author
The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case.
—George W. Bush (b.1946) American Head of State, Businessperson
As soon as you have finished a job, you start appreciating the difficulties.
—Chinese Proverb
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
I want everyone to tell me the truth, even if it costs him his job.
—Samuel Goldwyn (1879–1974) Polish-born American Film Producer, Businessperson