Quotes about work
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“I do not know anyone who has gotten to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but it will get you pretty near.”

Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British stateswoman and politician

“It could have been like a fairy tale. But fairy tales aren't real. Things don't work like that. There's a price for everything.”

Maureen Johnson (1973) writer from the USA

Source: Girl at Sea

“But art is not simply works of art; it is the spirit that knows Beauty, that has music in its being and the color of sunsets in its headkerchiefs; that can dance on a flaming world and make the world dance, too.”

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868–1963) American sociologist, historian, activist and writer

World, Beauty, Art, Music

“So are we going to continue glaring angrily at each other while we pose in our tough stances? Or use our time to work out a plan that hopefully doesn’t end with our mutual deaths? (Acheron)”

Sherrilyn Kenyon (1965) Novelist

Source: One Silent Night

Death, Time

“Don't you notice that there are particular moments when you are naturally inspired to introspection? Work with them gently, for these are the moments when you can go through a powerful experience, and your whole worldview can change quickly.”

Sogyal Rinpoche (1947–2019) Tibetan Dzogchen lama of the Nyingma tradition

Nature, Change

“There are more valid facts and details in works of art than there are in history books.”

Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977) British comic actor and filmmaker

Books, Art, History

“so who's more adult- somebody who works like mad to avoid a problem or somebody who works like mad to solve it?”

Janet Kagan book Uhura's Song

Source: Uhura's Song

Problem, Madness

“You know, when it works, love is amazing. It's not overrated.”

Sarah Dessen book This Lullaby

Variant: You know, when it works, love is pretty amazing. It's not overrated. There's a reason for all those songs.
Source: This Lullaby

Love

“Chuckling to herself, Nancy said aloud, "Romance and detective work won't mix tonight!”

Carolyn Keene book The Bungalow Mystery

Source: The Bungalow Mystery

“A work of art really is above all an adventure of the mind.”

Eugéne Ionesco (1909–1994) Romanian playwright

Art

“Love is dangerous, if you know it's dangerous, that makes you treasure it, and you'll work harder to keep it.”

Candace Bushnell book Sex and the City

Source: Sex and the City

Love

“There are no secrets to success: don’t waste time looking for them. Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those for whom you work, and persistence.”

Colin Powell (1937) Former U.S. Secretary of State and retired four-star general

Secret, Failure, Learning, Time

“If you remember the why, the how will work itself out.”

Richard Paul Evans (1962) American writer

Source: Hunt for Jade Dragon

“Ancient astronauts didn't build the pyramids. Human beings built the pyramids, because they're clever and they work hard.”

Gene Roddenberry (1921–1991) American television screenwriter and producer

Variant: No, ancient astronauts did not build the pyramids - human beings built them because they're clever and they work hard. And 'Star Trek' is about those things.

“I don't like work--no man does--but I like what is in the work--the chance to find yourself. Your own reality--for yourself not for others--what no other man can ever know. They can only see the mere show, and never can tell what it really means.”

Joseph Conrad book Heart of Darkness

Source: Heart of Darkness

Reality, Chance

“Shallan, weren't you supposed to be reading?”
“I… had trouble concentrating.”
“So you came up on deck,” Jasnah said, “to sketch pictures of young men working without their shirts on. You expected this toyour concentration?”

Brandon Sanderson book Words of Radiance

Source: Words of Radiance

Men, Reading

“What worked yesterday doesn't always work today.”

Elizabeth Gilbert book Eat, Pray, Love

Source: Eat, Pray, Love

“Do you give up?" Shezmu bellowed.
"No!" I yelled. "No, we don't give up. We will name you. Just… Gosh, you're quite well muscled, arn't you? Do you work out?”

Rick Riordan book The Red Pyramid

Source: The Red Pyramid

“Oh God, what's wrong with me? Why does nothing ever work out?”

Helen Fielding book Bridget Jones's Diary

Source: Bridget Jones's Diary

God

“… All artists’ work is autobiographical. Any writer’s work is a map of their psyche. You can really see what their concerns are, what their obsessions are, and what interests them.”

Kim Addonizio (1954) Poet, novelist

“know what you want, work to get it, then value it once you have it.”

Nora Roberts (1950) American romance writer

Source: Morrigan's Cross

“If you want to write a negative review, don't tickle me gently with your aesthetic displeasure about my work. Unleash the goddamn Kraken."

[on, July 17, 2012]”

Scott Lynch (1978) American writer

“Running down a dream…
working on a mystery…
going wherever it leads…”

Tom Petty (1950–2017) American musician

Dreams

“Words cannot always do the work we need them to. Music is there for when words fail us.”

Patrick Rothfuss book The Wise Man's Fear

Source: The Wise Man's Fear

Music

“Is there some kind of rule for when Sam should be a boy and when he's a Wolf?"
"A Wolf lifts his leg and yellows up the snow. A boy has to use the toilet."
"And that will work?"
"Only if he needs to pee.”

Anne Bishop book Written in Red

Source: Written in Red

Boy, Wolf

“Writing is the hardest work in the world. I have been a bricklayer and a truck driver, and I tell you – as if you haven't been told a million times ALREADY – that writing is harder. Lonelier. And nobler and more enriching.”

Harlan Ellison (1934–2018) American writer

As quoted in Quit Your Day Job!: How to Sleep Late, Do What You Enjoy, and Make a Ton of ... (2004) by James D. Denney, p. 124 https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1884956041

World, Time, Loneliness

“Sometimes grace works like water wings when you feel you are sinking.”

Anne Lamott (1954) Novelist, essayist, memoirist, activist

Source: Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith

Feeling, Water

“When the work takes over, then the artist is enabled to get out of the way, not to interfere. When the work takes over, then the artist listens.”

Madeleine L'Engle (1918–2007) American writer

Source: Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art

Way

“What the society thinks is of no interest to me. All that's important is how I see myself. I know who who I am. I know the value of my work.”

Robin S. Sharma (1965) Canadian self help writer

Source: The Leader Who Had No Title: A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and in

Thinking

“It's only those who are persistent and willing to study things deeply, who achieve the master work.”

Paulo Coelho (1947) Brazilian lyricist and novelist

Study

“Writing is thinking and thinking is hard work.”

Lewis Black (1948) American stand-up comedian, author, playwright, social critic and actor

Thinking

“People are working harder than ever, but because they lack clarity and vision, they aren’t getting very far. They, in essence, are pushing a rope… with all of their might.”

Stephen R. Covey book The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

Source: The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

People

“Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.”

John Wooden (1910–2010) American basketball coach

Variant: Things turn out best for those who make best of how things turn out.

Way, Motivational

“Existence was not only absurd, it was plain hard work. Think of how many times you put on your underwear in a lifetime. It was appalling, it was disgusting, it was stupid.”

Charles Bukowski book Pulp

Source: Pulp

Stupidity, Thinking, Time

“It's crazy, how similar we are. Here's both of us, working through our stuff, trying to make something positive out of something really bad.”

Jenny Han (1980) American writer

Source: Fire with Fire

“If something doesn't work exactly right, or maybe needs some special treatment, you don't just throw it away. Everything can't be fully operational all the time. Sometimes, we need to have the patience to give something the little nudge it needs.”

Sarah Dessen book Keeping the Moon

Source: Keeping the Moon

Time, Patience

“My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.”

Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American author and poet

Courageous, Hope, Love, Hope

“Eleven out of twelve work fine. I'd say that's better chances than getting an orgasm with a blind date and women still try." He blinked and laughed softly. "I never know what you'll say next." "I don't either.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Magic Bites

Women, Chance

“Morality, it could be argued, represents the way that people would like the world to work, wheareas economics represents how it actually does work.”

Steven D. Levitt (1967) American economist

Source: Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

People, World, Way

“Police work wouldn't be possible without coffee," Wallander said.
"No work would be possible without coffee."
They pondered the importance of coffee in silence.”

Henning Mankell book One Step Behind

Source: One Step Behind

Coffee, Silence

“An affirmation to say everyday:

The healing power of God is working in me right now. Eveyr day I get better and better in every way.”

Joyce Meyer (1943) American author and speaker

God, Way

“Life, in her experience, had a kind of velvet luster. You looked at yourself from one perspective and all you saw was weirdness. Move your head a little bit, though, and everything looked reasonably normal. She believed she couldn't hurt anybody as long as she was only working.”

Jonathan Franzen book The Corrections

Source: The Corrections (2001)

Life, Hurt

“Everything people do that doesn’t work has to be somebody else’s fault. Next time you know, geezers’ll be suing the government for getting old and kids’ll be taking their mommies to court because they came out ugly.”

Lionel Shriver book We Need to Talk About Kevin

Source: We Need to Talk About Kevin

People, Time

“I worked in a health food store once. A guy asked me, 'If I melt dry ice, can I take a bath without getting wet?”

Steven Wright (1955) American actor and author

Health, Food, Guy

“All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good. Out of this situation only good will come. I am safe." It will work miracles in your life.”

Louise L. Hay (1926–2017) American writer

Life

“The perfect woman, you see [is] a working-woman; not an idler; not a fine lady; but one who [uses] her hands and her head and her heart for the good of others.”

Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) English novelist and poet

Heart, Perfection

“In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts: they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) American philosopher, essayist, and poet

1840s, Essays: First Series (1841), Self-Reliance
Context: A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his. In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts: they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.

Back To Work

“The Ibo people have a proverb that when a man says yes his chi says yes also. Okonkwo said yes very strongly, so his chi agreed. And not only his chi but his clan too, because it judged a man by the work of his hands.”

Chinua Achebe book Things Fall Apart

Source: Things Fall Apart (1958), Chapter 4 (p. 29)

People

“Intuition is the art, peculiar to the human mind, of working out the correct answer from data that is, in itself, incomplete or even, perhaps, misleading.”

Isaac Asimov book Forward the Foundation

Source: Forward the Foundation

Art

“Slaves are generally expected to sing as well as to work.”

Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman

Singing

“Caring about the quality of your work causes stress. Stress can kill you. Maintain good health by remembering that the stockholders are complete strangers who have never done anything for you.”

Scott Adams (1957) cartoonist, writer

Source: Dilbert's Guide to the Rest of Your Life: Dispatches from Cubicleland

Health

“I have work to do, and I am afraid not to do it.”

John O'Hara (1905–1970) American journalist

Forward http://books.google.com/books?id=pksdAAAAMAAJ&q=%22I+have+work+to+do+and+I+am+afraid+not+to+do+it%22&pg=PAvii#v=onepage to The Horse Knows the Way (1964).

“Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions and right actions produce work which will be a material reflection for others to see of the serenity at the center of it all.”

Robert M. Pirsig book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Source: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

Peace

“Your work should be an act of love, not a marriage of convenience.”

Haruki Murakami book Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman

Source: Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman

Love, Marriage

“Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves.”

Colin Powell (1937) Former U.S. Secretary of State and retired four-star general

People

“It may be that when we no longer know what to do,
we have come to our real work
and when we no longer know which way to go,
we have begun our real journey.

The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
The impeded stream is the one that sings.”

Wendell Berry (1934) author

Standing by Words: Essays (2011), Poetry and Marriage: The Use of Old Forms (1982)
Context: It may be, then, that form serves us best when it works as an obstruction to baffle us and deflect our intended course. It may be that when we no longer know what to do we have come to our real work and that when we no longer know which way to go we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.

Way, Singing