The law of work does seem utterly unfair-but there it is, and nothing can change it; the higher the pay in enjoyment the worker gets out of it, the higher shall be his pay in money also.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Language learning deserves special mention. It is, bar none, the best thing you can do to hone clear thinking.
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author
There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better or worse as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but though his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Why should I let the toad work Squat on my life? Can’t I use my wit as a pitchfork and drive the brute off?
—Philip Larkin (1922–85) English Poet, Librarian, Novelist
Let no one till his death
Be called unhappy. Measure not the work
Until the day’s out and the labor done:
Then bring your gauges.
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–61) English Poet
I see no virtues where I smell no sweat.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
There are only two ways of getting on in the world; by one’s own industry, or by the stupidity of others.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American Poet, Journalist
Like the bee, we should make our industry our amusement.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Work is the order of the day, just as it was at one time, with our first starts and our best efforts. Do you remember? Therein lies its delight. It brings back the forgotten; one’s stores of energy, seemingly exhausted, come back to life.
—Boris Pasternak (1890–1960) Russian Lyric Poet, Novelist, Translator
Men, for the sake of getting a living forget to live.
—Margaret Fuller (1810–50) American Feminist, Writer, Revolutionary
The work praises the man.
—Irish Proverb
The best part of one’s life is the working part, the creative part. Believe me, I love to succeed… However, the real spiritual and emotional excitement is in the doing.
—Garson Kanin (1912–99) American Novelist, Director, Playwright
No good work is ever done while the heart is hot and anxious and fretted.
—Olive Schreiner (1855–1920) South African Writer, Feminist
It requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun. Yet, is it any more unusual to find grace in the texture and softly curved silhouette of a bun than to reflect lovingly on … the arrangement of textures and colors in a butterfly’s wing?
—Ray Kroc (1902–84) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Learn to ask, “If this is the only thing I accomplish today, will I be satisfied with my day?”
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author
People who decide they came to earth to work, who make work their personal philosophy, are kept very busy.
—Konstantinos Karamanlis (1907–98) Greek Statesman
Fatigue dulls the pain, but awakes enticing thoughts of death. So! that is the way in which you are tempted to overcome your loneliness—by making the ultimate escape from life.—No! It may be that death is to be your ultimate gift to life: it must not be an act of treachery against it.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
He has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and loved much.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle… when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.
—Unknown
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns whate’er he can,
And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Lincoln’s stepmother probably did not teach him very much, but she kindled his mind and encouraged him. He did the work and put in the hours on his own.
—Indian Proverb
Even a mosquito doesn’t get a slap on the back until it starts to work.
—Anonymous
Life is to be lived. If you have to support yourself, you had bloody well better find some way that is going to be interesting. And you don’t do that by sitting around wondering about yourself.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
The person who understands Dharma will have the opposite reaction to a “hard” job. That person will be eager to get started, no matter what kind of work is in front of her, because she understands that she’s doing God’s work. And when you’re working for God, nothing is too hard.
—Russell Simmons (b.1957) American Music Promoter
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
I didn’t want to work. It was as simple as that. I distrusted work, disliked it. I thought it was a very bad thing that the human race had unfortunately invented for itself.
—Agatha Christie (1890–1976) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
The only liberty an inferior man really cherishes is the liberty to quit work, stretch out in the sun, and scratch himself.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
In the democratic way of life it is not the best things in life are free, but rather the best things in life are worth working for.
—Ruth M. Leverton (1908–82) American Nutrition Scientist
Personally, I have nothing against work, particularly when performed, quietly and unobtrusively, by someone else. I just don’t happen to think it’s an appropriate subject for an “ethic.”
—Barbara Ehrenreich (1941–2022) American Social Critic, Essayist
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