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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.

When I was very young, I sold the rights to my work... through 2000.

Quotes by Juan Gabriel

I am tremendously inspired by many women around the world who work under dire circumstances to make a difference for their families.

Quotes by Joyce Banda

When I complete a novel I set it aside, and begin work on short stories, and eventually another long work. When I complete that novel I return to the earlier novel and rewrite much of it. In the meantime the...

Quotes by Joyce Carol Oates

The cleaning is something I use as a reward if I get some work done. I go into a very happy state of mind when I'm vacuuming.

Quotes by Joyce Carol Oates

As a teacher at Princeton, I'm surrounded by people who work hard so I just make good use of my time. And I don't really think of it as work - writing a novel, in one sense, is a problem-solving...

Quotes by Joyce Carol Oates

A writer can't subtract or excise any of his/her past because doing so would erase the work produced during that time.

Quotes by Joyce Carol Oates

Pageants were an amazing platform that gave a little girl like me from the mountains of my beautiful Puerto Rico a chance to travel, explore the world, meet amazing people, work for great charities and be a voice to empower...

Quotes by Joyce Giraud

I don't really work out. I eat a lot of sweets. I have chocolate all over my house.

Quotes by Joyce Giraud

Nothing like being visible, publishing one's work, and speaking openly about one's life, to disabuse the world of the illusion of one's perfection and purity.

Quotes by Joyce Maynard

If people choose to live their life in a way that does not confront the more troubling aspects of their experience, that's fine, if it works for them. But it will probably make them uncomfortable if they come up against...

Quotes by Joyce Maynard

There is a theme that runs through my work, and that is: the toxic property of keeping secrets.

Quotes by Joyce Maynard

I wrote 'Sophie's World' in three months, but I was only writing and sleeping. I work for 14 hours a day when I'm working on a book.

Quotes by Jostein Gaarder

Denzel, one of the biggest stars in the world, comes into town, everybody knows about it, and they're ready. They got lawn chairs outside, sitting outside the gates when we're coming on set to work. They're always bringing food from...

Quotes by Jovan Adepo

I'm Italian, but some people think I'm Jewish because I work the Yiddish. I also work the Italian, by the way.

Quotes by Joy Behar

Have four things going. I have stand-up comedy, two television shows and I'm working on a play. I like to work, and I fear that something could fall through. You know what they say: 'The show must go off.'

Quotes by Joy Behar

I think if you believe in something hard enough, it'll work.

Quotes by Joy Mangano

I'm a mom. I work. I have a house to clean, things to organize. We all have certain similar needs, and I address them.

Quotes by Joy Mangano

The work of anti-racism can only take place inside each individual soul, where we all try to grow into better people. There is no national tonic or instant cure.

Quotes by Joy Reid

I started - well, in England it works a little bit differently. You have to do Fringe theatre, which is basically free theatre. You do it in pubs and small theaters and village halls across the country, and you work...

Quotes by Joshua Sasse

The moment we believe that success is determined by an ingrained level of ability as opposed to resilience and hard work, we will be brittle in the face of adversity.

Quotes by Joshua Waitzkin

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.