Logo - Feel The Words

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.

Work alone will efface the footsteps of work.

Quotes by James Whistler

I work incredibly hard - just like every other person in business and work. And aside from the fact of, yes, I am the brother of someone very important, I am, at the end of the day, just James.

Quotes by James William Middleton

When I read out loud in class, it was a joy for everyone else because I would mispronounce things so badly. I used to try to count how many people were in front of me and then work out which...

Quotes by James William Middleton

I often work 14-hour days, but the job is very fulfilling. I love being my own boss.

Quotes by James William Middleton

For Mum and Dad... work and home is family, so work is family and home is family. We grew up with that.

Quotes by James William Middleton

I started in theater. I would liken sitcom work more to theater work than I would, perhaps, to dramatic television. It's so quick. It kind of feels like the pace of a play.

Quotes by James Wolk

I always feel like hard work leads the way, and from there, I leave it up to the powers that be.

Quotes by James Wolk

During my third season of 'Zoo,' I was picked up by a car to go to work. We had this huge scene to shoot that day, but the traffic was just gridlock. My transportation guy got a call saying, 'Where...

Quotes by James Wolk

I believe that the best cameraman is one who recognizes the source, the story, as the basis of his work.

Quotes by James Wong Howe

We work in an environment where your options are to do, you know, Batman 10, so when you get to do a movie that's a really great film like this, people really step up to the plate and enjoy it.

Quotes by James Woods

Americans work a long away ahead of themselves because of the size of the place. To make any impact at all you have to promote yourself with live performances ages before a release.

Quotes by James Taylor

I feel my work is made for one being, one individual. You could say that's me, but that's not really true. It's for an idealized viewer.

Quotes by James Turrell

At Roden Crater, I was interested in taking the cultural artifice of art out into the natural surround. I wanted the work to be enfolded in nature in such a way that light from the sun, moon and stars empowered...

Quotes by James Turrell

I like to work with it so that you feel it physically, so you feel the presence of light inhabiting a space. My desire is to set up a situation to which I take you and let you see. It...

Quotes by James Turrell

I don't think my work is about the spiritual life, but it certainly touches on it.

Quotes by James Turrell

I hope that when you see my work, you are looking at yourself looking.

Quotes by James Turrell

You can't stop demographics. And show me a fence that ever worked. It didn't work at Hadrian's Wall. The Great Wall of China didn't work. The Berlin Wall.

Quotes by James Turrell

The less seriously you take yourself, the better work you're going to do.

Quotes by James Van Der Beek

I always show up to work and give it everything, and some things turn out better than others - and some things you can expect that it will come out better than others.

Quotes by James Van Der Beek

Ultimately, I'd love to be able to work in film.

Quotes by James Van Der Beek

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.