Great Work Quotes

In a world where motivation and inspiration are invaluable assets, the words of great minds can serve as guiding beacons, illuminating our paths toward success and fulfillment. Whether you’re seeking a boost of productivity, a dose of encouragement, or simply a moment of reflection, these quotes encapsulate the essence of dedication, passion, and the pursuit of excellence in the realm of work.

From renowned leaders and visionaries to celebrated authors and entrepreneurs, the quotes gathered here offer timeless wisdom and profound insights into the nature of work and its significance in our lives. Whether you’re embarking on a new venture, navigating challenges in your career, or simply seeking inspiration to fuel your endeavors, these words are sure to resonate with you. So, without further ado, delve into the wisdom of the ages and let these great work quotes ignite your passion and drive for success!

I always felt that Bette Davis was one of the great screen actresses who never really got her due – she won two Oscars, but the last was in 1938, and that was really before all the great work that she did. Robert Osborne

I never thought I was doing any great work. I never thought I would last. In the beginning, I was terrible. I never used to speak to people. I used to start crying. I was extra sensitive. I would run away home and feel miserable. I didn’t know how to behave then. I was touchy. People interpreted it as arrogance. Tabu

I’ve written some great things. That’s a gift, but there’s consequences. Yeah, you get this great work, but you suffer. You really, really suffer. Frank Ocean

There’s definitely a wave of Brits doing great work on American television, and I wouldn’t mind being one of them! Rob James-Collier

I feel like the thing we can do is celebrate people doing great work and create more cultural momentum and awareness that this is an important thing in the world. So when the next economic crisis hits and people are talking about where to cut from the budget, science isn’t the thing. Mark Zuckerberg

If you look through history, all of the great work we’ve done in Congress has been around a table of compromise, when it comes to the most difficult problems. Claire McCaskill

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. Steve Jobs

I tend to gravitate toward people who are a bit more eccentric and creative and artistic in some ways. And I like bringing disparate kinds of creative people together to create some great work, even to share points of view on a new direction. Mark Parker

Finally, I also come in recognition of the great work that has been undertaken by the NGOs and UN agencies that have been active for many years here, especially through the local staff and international staff here in Somaliland and in Somalia at large. Jan Egeland

I have a great work ethic – from watching Lucille Ball, not necessarily my own family. Jenny Lewis

I guess maybe another gift I have is a great work ethic. Vince McMahon

What I look for are guys that work hard, have a great work ethic and embrace that underdog mentality a little bit. And certainly there is no substitute for toughness. Sean McDermott

Ministers of God’s choosing are engaged in a great work. They are warring not merely against men, but Satan and his angels. Ellen G. White

I have a great work ethic because I’ve watched my parents work super hard. Mirai Nagasu

Great work is done by people who are not afraid to be great. Fernando Flores

I think it’s a shame when you come across young actors and musicians who haven’t had the time to learn their craft. It doesn’t matter if it’s acting or music; you really have to learn how to do it from the bottom up because unless you have a great work ethic… fame is a terrible thing to have. Denis Leary

There is great work to be done, and the women will lead us. So I say, Astonish us with your genius. Inspire us with your creation. Work with one another. Endure the tribulations. Caterina Fake

A good leader should focus on making sure everyone is being given the tools to do their job, not just expecting – poof! – that they’re going to produce great work. Anne Sweeney

I think trust is the most important thing. If the actors and the director and the crew trust each other and you set up perimeters and boundaries, you give everyone space to do great work. Sam Heughan

Some of my best friends are Venture Capitalists, but let’s face it, a hamster with Alzheimer’s could make those kind of numbers. It’s great work if you can get it. Scott Adams

I would love to do really great work and for women who are marginalised to see me as an inspiration. Viola Davis

You need lofty goals. Then cement it with a great work ethic. Jerry West

A lot of my energy is going to Code for America, Jen Pahlka’s non-profit startup. We’re doing a lot of great work teaching government how to apply technology and changing the culture of government. Tim O’Reilly

The great work must inevitably be obscure, except to the very few, to those who like the author himself are initiated into the mysteries. Communication then is secondary: it is perpetuation which is important. For this only one good reader is necessary. Henry Miller

The biggest barrier we’ve seen to student progress is this: School policies and practices often prevent good teachers from doing great work and even dissuade some talented Americans from entering the profession. This needs to change. Eli Broad

It was my great good fortune, while I was still a student at college, to have possessed a copy of an English translation of his great work ‘The Sensations of Tone.’ As is well known, this was one of Helmholtz’s masterpieces. C. V. Raman

I was so grateful to work on ‘Bunheads.’ We had so much material, and everything was so rapid-fire, and I developed – through theater too, I developed a really great work ethic. I think preparing for both of them is just that – you come to set ready to go, ready to play. You know your lines. You’re ready to work. Sutton Foster

If it is the mark of the artist to love art before everything, to renounce everything for its sake, to think all the sweet human things of life well lost if only he may attain something, do some good, great work – then I was never an artist. Ellen Terry

All questions of process require an answer that begins with a very important sentence, and the sentence is: ‘Everybody is different.’ Whatever way of working you name – methodical, haphazard, gets up early in the morning, sleeps all day, works at night, revises immensely, never revises at all – someone has made great work with that way. Robert Pinsky

The thing about TV is that it’s great work for directors because the responsibility is not ours at all. In a movie, you choose a movie, and everybody points his or her finger at you afterward. It doesn’t matter how much influence you had on the script, how much decision you had, or the fact that you didn’t have final cut. Lexi Alexander

I think Don Cheadle has always done great work. Mahershala Ali

The team architecture means setting up an organization that helps people produce that great work in teams. Jay Chiat

I think there are more Australians making it in Hollywood… we have a fantastic reputation for having a great work ethic. Rebecca Breeds

NFL cheerleading is harder than most people think. They train up to six hours every day with games on Sundays. They gave me a great work ethic. Sarah Shahi

The mythology is that from chaos comes great work. I actually used to think that when I was younger, and I no longer think that anymore. Sarah Paulson

I just want to do great work: work that inspires people… To know that you are given this gift in life and that you can gift other people with it, that’s the most rewarding thing for me. Tammy Blanchard

In consequence of our limited ideas of the sufferings of Christ, we place a low estimate upon the great work of the atonement. The glorious plan of man’s salvation was brought about through the infinite love of God the Father. In this divine plan is seen the most marvelous manifestation of the love of God to the fallen race. Ellen G. White

I love Hunch, the awesome team, my brilliant cofounders – we’re doing great work and building a great company. Caterina Fake

The experiences you gain by doing something solo – you have such a great work effort there as well, one we all have now – we can all bring it back to the group. Kirstin Maldonado

I want my whole life to be a great work of art, not just my art. And that means paying attention to my entire life and trying to make sure my whole life is balanced. Jewel

I am a great fan of Marathi cinema because they have been doing great work. Satish Kaushik

I assumed that, if I put my head down and did great work, what I deserved would come to me. What you deserve will not come to you. It is only in advocating for yourself that you will receive what you deserve. Caroline Ghosn

What matters is that you do great work, and you will definitely be remembered for that for years to come. Armaan Malik

You never believe your own hype. As quick as somebody can be ‘the guy’ in Hollywood, he can be gone the next minute. For me, it’s about doing great work. And then hopefully you keep working forever. Scott Eastwood

I’ve worked in many companies, and I think that, number one, if you are going to have a great environment, you produce great work… If people are happy, that’s what’s important. Life is short. Tory Burch

Hackathons are an amazing way to engage the team, foster collaboration, and knock out great work. Neil Blumenthal

I’ve always had a great work ethic, even when I was washing dishes. Leon Bridges

When I was in acting classes early on, there were so many people in these classes who were doing great work, and you’d just look at them and say, ‘Wow, I hope to someday be like that.’ And yet these people never worked. You never saw them. Mark Harmon

Seek the lofty by reading, hearing and seeing great work at some moment every day. Thornton Wilder

I talk to all the creative directors today, and they take me aside, and they say, ‘You know, it must have been great back in those days when you could do anything you wanted.’ I say, ‘Huh? Excuse me?’ I mean, we fought. In the ’60s and ’70s, you fought wars with clients, and you have to continue fighting wars to do great work. George Lois

I want to be respected by my peers and do really great work, even if it gets panned, even if I get raked across the coals. Gavin Creel

I look up to a strong woman; maybe that’s why I fell for Gaga. She works incredibly hard and is very strong and inspirational like Mom, with a great work ethic. Taylor Kinney

I think it’s important to do great work. Kyra Sedgwick

By the time I got to be director of product management at Thomas-Conrad, I was in a better negotiating position, as I had accumulated more accomplishments and gained a reputation for having a great work ethic. Maynard Webb

At Netflix, we think you have to build a sense of responsibility where people care about the enterprise. Hard work, like long hours at the office, doesn’t matter as much to us. We care about great work. Reed Hastings

All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen. Sidney Lumet

I’m trying to reestablish my career and do great work and give my kids the life they deserve. Tom Sizemore

I’m kind of a Midwestern snob. I think we’re just nice people and have a great work ethic. Carol Bartz

When I wrote ‘Noughts and Crosses’, I was halfway through it when I realised this was very like ‘Romeo and Juliet’… as long as you make it your own, and put your own spin on it, I think it’s brilliant to use other great work to find your own voice. Malorie Blackman

It is my greatest joy to live a really good part, even though it imposes great strain. An artist is tired but proud when he has created a great work of art. So it is with the actor who really lives a great role and is proud of the part he played. Conrad Veidt

You work really hard on something, and you know you can’t always make great work. It just doesn’t happen like that, I don’t think, at least not for most people, anyways. Andrew Haigh

You pull anyone from an alien planet down to Earth, and you want to show them great work, show them Tywin Lannister on ‘Game of Thrones.’ I mean, it’s just as good as it gets. Alex Graves

I really think that everybody would like to be an actor. Why wouldn’t they? It’s great work if you can get it. The one thing that prevents most people from saying, ‘I’m just gonna go to Hollywood!’ is that it seems unrealistic. Ben Affleck

When I was ten years old, I had great pride in myself, which sometimes even took the form of boasting and self-praise; although I myself did not want to, I used to assume the air of someone undertaking some great work and mighty act of heroism. Said Nursi

I’m proud of my hard work. Working hard won’t always lead to the exact things we desire. There are many things I’ve wanted that I haven’t always gotten. But, I have a great satisfaction in the blessings from my mother and father, who instilled a great work ethic in me both personally and professionally. Tamron Hall

I remember the great work that Norman Lear did. That was an incredible heyday to be a black actor. Sterling K. Brown

Don’t focus on reaching the C-Suite. Focus on doing great work and serving your customers and community. That’s how you can find the right opportunities and get the skills and experience to get to the top in your career. Bobby Kotick

The moment you think you understand a great work of art, it’s dead for you. Oscar Wilde

I’m particularly proud of my work with the Starkey Hearing Foundation for whom I raised a million dollars in one day on ‘Celebrity Apprentice.’ They do great work around the world helping deaf children in developing countries get proper attention and free hearing aids. Marlee Matlin

Futurism today is led by science-fiction writers, by sociologists, by historians. Now, I have nothing against them. I’m sure they do great work. But they’re not scientists. They’re clueless. Michio Kaku

I guess something people wouldn’t expect me to listen to are artists like Alicia Keys. But she is so incredibly talented. She has this huge voice and great work ethic, which I really respect in an artist. She is also very humble and gracious and devoted to her skill. Zola Jesus

We have about 360,000 employees in the VA health care system. It’s the largest health care system in the country. And the negative attention that’s been put on VA has hurt the morale of our workforce. And so what we’re trying to do is to get people to understand that we’re doing great work every day. David Shulkin

Irvin Kershner, no matter what anyone says, has done some great work. ‘Eyes of Laura Mars’ is an incredible movie. Laura Dern

I want to continue to do some great work. I’m nowhere close to where I want to be. I’m a diverse person who’s trying to use his art to make the world better. Michael Jai White

The science shows that the best way to use money is to take the issue of money off the people. Pay people enough so that money isn’t an issue, and they can focus on doing great work. Daniel H. Pink

Our Heavenly Father expects the best from each of us. We must believe in ourselves. Don’t give in when the going gets rough. You are laying the foundation of a great work, and that great work is your life. Jon Huntsman, Sr.

Holly Hunter has been doing great work forever. Patricia Clarkson

My parents had a great work ethic. Charlie Rose

It’s not some great work of beauty and love to be a rock-and-roll singer. Robert Plant

Theory did a great work pant, and everyone was doing denim. But no one was making a trouser sexy, or the focus of an outfit… So, that’s what I set out to do. Stacey Bendet

Great work, professional relationships, and learning experiences compound over time, much the way money does – investing $100 today creates much more value than investing $100 a decade from now. Clara Shih

It’s not about my career now. It’s just about finding great work and having a good time. Melanie Griffith

In the 1970s and 1980s, I got to do some great work. The Oscars are really nice, but the best part is that I had the opportunity to do that kind of work. Sally Field

I’m not against digital photography. It’s great for newspapers. And there are photographers doing great work digitally. When they use Photoshop as a darkroom tool, that’s fine, too. But at this point of my life, after so many years, I don’t really want to change, and I still love film. Mary Ellen Mark

I think all the knowledge and all the travels that I’ve done, I’m going to do a lot of great work in the future. Chris Tucker

‘All My Children’ taught me a great work ethic; you work so hard on a soap opera! Eva LaRue

I do my work and do the best I can. I’m quite happy with my anonymity. All I can ever hope for is that I continue to do great work that will be remembered, and I leave my imprint so that my son can say proudly, ‘That’s my dad!’ Eamonn Walker

No great work has ever been produced except after a long interval of still and musing meditation. Walter Bagehot

I did some great work with my Calvin Klein ads on the motorcycle. It was really groundbreaking because people hadn’t seen a woman actually riding a motorcycle before. Carre Otis

Working on ‘NYPD Blue’ and ’24’, those two series, I did full runs on those. It’s great work, but everything has to align. The producers have to want you; the network has to want you; there has to be great writing; and it’s not as easy as it may appear to the outsiders to make all those things align. Ricky Schroder

A great work is made out of a combination of obedience and liberty. Nadia Boulanger

I wanted to do something new and different. People expected me to do negative roles. I wanted to break the norm, and because of that, I lost on some great work as well. Harshvardhan Rane

Every great work of art has two faces, one toward its own time and one toward the future, toward eternity. Lester Bangs

After all, it is style alone by which posterity will judge of a great work, for an author can have nothing truly his own but his style. Isaac D’Israeli

Too often, women are waiting for someone to recognise their great work and tap them on the shoulder and say, ‘Here – this is the next thing we want you to do,’ and that may happen. But I feel you need to take more ownership of telling your story, advocating for yourself. You can do it in a way that’s positive and that your leaders will appreciate. Lynne Doughtie

Who’s to say I can’t find some great work when I’m 55 or 65? Andie MacDowell

As a species, we are most animated when our days and nights on Earth are touched by the natural world. We can find immeasurable joy in the birth of a child, a great work of art, or falling in love. Richard Louv

Remember Robin Williams’s great work as the voice of the genie in Disney’s ‘Aladdin’? Because he wanted to leave something wonderful behind for his kids, he said, he did the voice for a cut-rate fee of $75,000, far below his usual $8 million payday. But then something happened: The movie became a huge hit, raking in $504 million. Christopher Voss

It’s very important that we give a voice to the voiceless in terms of media; because media is a global phenom and it portrays you dependent upon what controls you have and the writers are doing great work. Bill Duke

I don’t have any ego about it, but I find there’s not a great work ethic in show business. A lot of people are in it to make money, and coming from stand-up, you have to work so hard because almost nothing works, and if you lose the audience for three minutes, you’re dead. Norm MacDonald