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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 think the black community has a lot to work on internally with what they deem successful.

Quotes by Janet Hubert

There are actors who have never gotten an Oscar and have done amazing work.

Quotes by Janet Hubert

The journalist must do his work in a kind of deliberately induced state of moral anarchy.

Quotes by Janet Malcolm

The journalist confines himself to the clean, gentlemanly work of exposing the griefs and shames of others.

Quotes by Janet Malcolm

I'm a very laboured writer. I hammer it out sentence by sentence, and it takes a long time. That's what the work is, right? To make the reader think it is not hard to do.

Quotes by Janet Malcolm

Writing is far too hard work to say what someone else wants me to. Serving it as a craft, using it as a way of growing in my own understanding, seems to me to be a beautiful way to live....

Quotes by Jane Rule

Before I write a novel, images float around in my head that work like icons - they are meaningless in themselves, but serve as reminders.

Quotes by Jane Smiley

Somehow, knowing that Alzheimer's is coming mocks all one's aspirations - to tell stories, to think through certain issues as only a novel can do, to be recognised for one's accomplishments and hard work - in a way that old...

Quotes by Jane Smiley

The brave view is that talking it out helps work it out. Maybe the realistic view is that talking it out inflames the issues further. But that is America, especially these days.

Quotes by Jane Smiley

Don't ever write just for a trend or fad, because it's a moving target, and by the time you get your work out there, the trend or fad is gone. Dig deep; don't be afraid to write fiercely. Expose your...

Quotes by Jane Yolen

I don't have a good work ethic. I have a real casual relationship with hours.

Quotes by Janeane Garofalo

It's been hard in entertainment as a 45-year-old woman to find jobs. They get fewer and far between if you're older, unless you're one of the few lucky ones who work constantly, like Meryl Streep.

Quotes by Janeane Garofalo

A busy schedule can be difficult, but I have the best husband on the planet. He supports my endeavors, and we work as a team.

Quotes by Jane Leeves

To be honest, there are so many things I learned in acting school beyond the method; it was a safe place to practice. So acting school was about exercising that acting muscle and doing it every single day - and...

Quotes by Jane Levy

I love print fiction, but sometimes when I'm reading a good graphic novel or manga, I find myself envying those who work in an illustrated format.

Quotes by Jane Lindskold

But now that I've matured, I've realized that - at the end of the day - what's really important is the work, not what people think of me.

Quotes by Jane Lynch

There I was as a kid: a closeted homosexual who wants to be an actress. I had no choice! Wanting to act was something I was wired with when I was born. I never thought I would have success or...

Quotes by Jane Lynch

There's nothing better than voicing a character. You don't have to worry about what you're wearing; you've got the script in front of you, and it doesn't involve your body: it's all about your voice, and it's really fast work.

Quotes by Jane Lynch

Trying to work out my schedule is hard but I'm lucky I have two great teams who take care of it all.

Quotes by Jane McDonald

I loved being at sea: the sights, the sounds, the food, the sunshine, the people, and the work.

Quotes by Jane McDonald

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.