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Work Quotes

Quotes on the meaning of work.

Several quotes here describe work as a solitary process, one that takes real effort to protect from distraction, while others connect a person's politics directly to the character of their work. Related reading includes Growth Quotes.

I do yoga. I do tai chi. I do a lot to keep my body and my spirit together so I can work.

Quotes by Marianne Faithfull

I want to see my grandchildren grow up. I want to be there for my friends. I want to be able to love the person in my life. I want to work. I want to do something I've never done,...

Quotes by Marianne Faithfull

I want to work, so I'm going where the work is.

Quotes by Marianne Jean-Baptiste

I still take my own lunches to work. That way I can control what I'm eating, as opposed to another doughnut.

Quotes by Marianne Jean-Baptiste

I think there are always phases in life when things get intense or difficult, whether it's the sheer volume of work or personal circumstances. And I've definitely had tough moments. The way I approach them is just to tell myself...

Quotes by Marianne Lake

I will always need to compromise and make choices - you just have to work hard at making the right choice day by day.

Quotes by Marianne Lake

When push comes to shove, my children always come first, and I am lucky that I work in an environment that respects that.

Quotes by Marianne Lake

I see no reason for calling my work poetry except that there is no other category in which to put it.

Quotes by Marianne Moore

In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.

Quotes by Marianne Williamson

And dialogue, I'm good at it, and it's because it's the only thing you have to work with in TV writing.

Quotes by Maria Semple

On my walks, that's when the good ideas come. The kind of hard, gritty work is when you're sitting at the computer and it's kind of intense and you're kind of in super control of it - the walks are...

Quotes by Maria Semple

After decades spent in rewrite rooms surrounded by other shouting writers, I discovered that I work best alone. I like being in charge of my time, working out the problems according to my own rhythms and being able to nap....

Quotes by Maria Semple

After decades spent in rewrite rooms surrounded by other shouting writers, I discovered that I work best alone. I like being in charge of my time, working out the problems according to my own rhythms and being able to nap.

Quotes by Maria Semple

Writing a novel is so hard, and there are so many problems that the last thing you're thinking about is adapting this mess you have on your hands as a movie. You just want to get it to work as...

Quotes by Maria Semple

I have had lots of luck in my career but there has also been a lot of hard work.

Quotes by Maria Sharapova

Sometimes when you're putting the work in it just seems so, so hard, and you never know when that work's going to pay off.

Quotes by Maria Sharapova

If I'm nervous, it means I had to work hard to get there, whether it's playing in a tournament or speaking at an event. So I try to stop and be proud of getting to live in that moment.

Quotes by Maria Sharapova

Don't think of him as a Republican. Think of him as the man I love, and if that doesn't work, think of him as the man who can crush you.

Quotes by Maria Shriver

I thought I had to show people that I would get in early, stay late or even all night, work on holidays. I didn't want to be the rich kid who was along for a free ride.

Quotes by Maria Shriver

At work, you're replaceable... but as a parent, you're irreplaceable.

Quotes by Maria Shriver

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of quotes are on the "Work" page?
These lean toward the thoughtful side of work — the idea that "intellectual work is essentially a lonely process," the belief that one's politics and "the character of his particular work are inseparable," and an image of people unwinding after work all over the world talking about life's bigger questions.
Is there a spiritual angle to any of these?
While these particular quotes are secular, if you're looking for a spiritual perspective on work, see Prayers for that theme.
Do these quotes connect work to personal identity?
Yes, one of the strongest lines here argues that your politics and "the character of his particular work are inseparable" — the idea that what you do reflects who you are. If that resonates, Growth quotes explore a similar idea of work shaping the person.
Is there anything here about effort or persistence?
These specific quotes focus more on the nature and meaning of work than on effort itself, but Effort quotes cover that ground directly.
What about setting goals through work?
For that angle, Goal quotes is the better fit — the "Work" page here is more about the character and process of working itself.

There's also a lighter side - people unwinding after work to talk through life's bigger questions over drinks. See Effort Quotes and Goal Quotes for more on getting things done.