Quotes about work
220 quotes from 151 people
Doris Lessing1919–2013The Golden Notebook (1962), Anna Wulf, in “Free Women: 2”
Michael Faraday1791–1867Letter to John Tyndall (19 April 1851), The Correspondence of Michael Faraday, letter 2411
Walter Scott1771–1832The Antiquary (1816), Volume I, Ch. 11.
Nassim Nicholas Talebborn 1960The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms (2010), p. 8You must either make a tool of the creature, or a man of him.
John Ruskin1819–1900The Stones of Venice (1853), Volume II, chapter VI, section 12Love yields to business. If you seek a way out of love, be busy; you’ll be safe then.
Ovid43 BC–AD 17Remedia Amoris (The Cure for Love), Lines 143–144- MMuhammad571–632Riyadh-Us-Saleheen, Chapter 59, hadith 540
David Graeber1961–2020“Bullshit Jobs,” August 2013
Edward Bulwer-Lytton1803–1873Lucretia (1846), Part II, Chapter XIIAnytime you have to rely upon your enemy for a job you’re in bad shape.
Malcolm X1925–1965Speech in Detroit, Michigan (12 April 1964)I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.
Jonas Salk1914–1995On receiving the Congressional Medal for Distinguished Civilian Achievement (23 April 1956)One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.
Marie Curie1867–1934Letter to her brother (1894)Constant practice devoted to one subject often prevails over both ability and skill.
Cicero107–43 BCPro Balbo, section 45
Benjamin Harrison1833–1901Speech in Rutland, Vermont (28 August 1891) as reported in The New York Times (29 August 1891), p. 5The blessed work of helping the world forward, happily does not wait to be done by perfect men.
George Eliot1819–1880“Janet’s Repentance” Ch. 10 in Scenes of Clerical Life (1858)