103 Gloriously Motivating Work Ethic Quotes

Work ethic quotes are a fun source of inspiration for the workplace or schoolroom. It's important to work on improving yourself as an individual, outside of the office or class — as well as inside — so you can focus on your work when the time comes. Grab some of these enlightening, entertaining and above all, motivating work ethic quotes to get you started on your journey to becoming a better worker!

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• Positive Work Ethic Quotes
• Funny Work Ethic Quotes
• Work Ethic Quotes for Employees
• Work Ethic Quotes for Students
• Team Work Ethic Quotes

Positive Work Ethic Quotes

A study published in the Journal of Business Ethics proposes that the term “work ethic” may need an evolving definition for modern times since current conceptions of what makes a work ethic “good” have become contradictory and flawed. Whatever you or your team define as a good work ethic, we can definitely understand how to get the team going with a few positive work ethic quotes.

Short Inspirational Work Quotes

When you're looking for something delightful that you can enjoy in one slice of wisdom, this is where to look. Here are some brief morsels of wisdom in the form of short inspirational work quotes. Singers, writers, athletes and more comprise the professionals from whom this list of wisdom is derived. Take your motivational work ethic quotes to your morning cuppa Joe and get to work!

1. “Work transforms talents into genius.” - Anna Pavlova

2. “Inspiration comes of working every day.” - Charles Baudelaire

3. “Everyone's dream can come true if you just stick to it and work hard.” - Serena Williams

4. “What I like to do is try to make a difference with the work I do.” - David Bowie

5. “The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.” - Emile Zola

6. “You only do good work when you're taking risks and pushing yourself.” - Sally Hawkins

7. “Take your work seriously and yourself lightly.” - Bob Nelson

8. “I get angry about things, then go on and work.” - Toni Morrison

9. “Having a second chance makes you want to work even harder.” - Tia Mowry

10. “No one has a greater asset for their business than a [person]'s pride in their work.” - Hosea Ballou

11. “Miracles sometimes occur, but one has to work terribly hard for them.” - Chaim Weizmann

12. “One must work and dare if one really wants to live.” - Vincent Van Gogh

Good Work Ethic Quotes

Good work ethic quotes can be short, sweet and simple, yet life-changing. Read these good work ethic quotes to inspire happiness. This list of commonly used work ethic quotes has some lovely tidbits of advice and nuggets of wisdom.

13. “By shifting your mindset, making aligned decisions, and developing supportive habits, you can bridge the gap between your current reality and your desired future.” - Kathrin Zenkina

14. “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” - Theodore Roosevelt

15. “My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

16. “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” - Saint Augustine

17. “Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and, above all, don't let anyone limit your dreams.” - Donovan Bailey

18. “The fruit of your own hard work is the sweetest.” - Deepika Padukone

19. “Tell the truth. Sing with passion. Work with laughter. Love with heart. 'Cause that's all that matters in the end.” - Kris Kristofferson

20. “Education and work are the levers to uplift a people.” - W.E.B. Du Bois

21. “Work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed.” - Vaclav Havel

22. “I work hard, like I'm sure everyone else does, and I'm very honest with the work I do.” - Shah Rukh Khan

23. “Everyone has their own style. When you have found it, you should stick to it.” - Audrey Hepburn

24. “The most important relationship you have in life is the one you have with yourself. And then after that, I'd say once you have that, it may be hard work, but you can actually design your life.” - Diane von Furstenberg

Funny Work Ethic Quotes

Funny Phrasing, True at Heart

Although the words of these speakers and writers may make you chuckle, their words come from a solid foundation and vast experience. Start with silliness, then dig deeper to find the wisdom that will lead you to a happier, healthier work life through these funny work ethic quotes. Laughter truly is the best medicine, after all.

25. “The best way to enjoy your job is to imagine yourself without one.” - Oscar Wilde

26. “Take your work seriously, but never yourself.” - Margot Fonteyn

27. “I love it when people doubt me. It makes me work harder to prove them wrong.” - Derek Jeter

28. “There is nothing better than work. Work is also play; children know that.” - Mary Oliver

29. “You must be prepared to work always without applause.” - Ernest Hemingway

30. “Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it.” - Madeleine L'Engle

31. “Hard work keeps the wrinkles out of the mind and spirit.” - Helena Rubinstein

32. “An energetic [person] will succeed where an indolent one would vegetate and inevitably perish.” - Jules Verne

33. “We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” - Kurt Vonnegut

Silly and Salty

Sometimes, quotes about work ethic are just plain funny. They may not have a deeper meaning or purpose but they can still inspire. These silly work ethic quotes are motivational while being educational — at the very least, they're entertaining. Enjoy your work ethic quotes of all flavors.

34. “If you don't want to work, you have to work to earn enough money so that you won't have to work.” - Ogden Nash

35. “If you must have motivation, think of your paycheck on Friday.” - Noel Coward

36. “Nobody ever drowned in [their] own sweat.” - Ann Landers

37. “Being a chef would be too much hard work.” - Sophie Ellis-Bextor

38. “The world is full of willing people; some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.” - Robert Frost

39. “I don't need the money, dear. I work for art.” - Maria Callas

Work Ethic Quotes for Employees

Day-to-Day Advice

While you're chugging along the work train, check out these motivational ideas to keep you on the right track. The main themes include personal pride in your work, enthusiasm and continued education. If you're struggling to push through your daily tasks, enjoy some of these work ethic quotes to reduce your burdens. Remember: You can do this!

40. “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

41. “Nothing ever comes to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.” - Booker T. Washington

42. “The greatest teacher I know is the job itself.” - James Cash Penney

43. “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” Alexander Graham Bell

44. “Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” - Ralph Marston

45. “Take pride in your work at all times. Remember, respect for an umpire is created off the field as well as on.” - Ford Frick

46. “Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks.” - James Baldwin

47. “I do not need to hear how I am judged by others. I know by myself if I can be satisfied or not with my work.” - Gianluigi Buffon

48. “I ask myself, who do I have to become and show up as every single day of my life to walk towards this mission?” - KC Volard

49. “Don't work for recognition, but do work worthy of recognition.” - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

50. “It's not about working anymore, it's about doing work I can be proud of.” - Paul Walker

51. “Everything worth having is worth working for, and the harder you work, the more you appreciate what you achieve.” - Ben Wallace

Moving Up the Ladder

Are you looking to improve your career, obtain a promotion or start your own venture? Getting ahead in business or starting your own one are never easy tasks, so if you're looking for advice on how to get there, these work ethic quotes are for you. These work ethic quotes are focused on moving to the next level, rather than staying where you are. Here are some things to think about on your way to the top.

52. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” - Agatha Christie

53. “It's never too late to go after your dreams. All it takes is believing and hard work.” - Vitor Belfort

54. “It's a stretch, it's growth, it's expansion, it's all of it. But your next level isn't something that you strive for. It's something that you become with every cell of your being.” - KC Volard

55. “What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” - Stephen King

56. “Without hard work and discipline, it is difficult to be a top professional.” - Jahangir Khan

57. “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.” - Jim Rohn

58. “Your life must be a progression towards ownership – first mentally of your independence, and then physically of your work, owning what you produce.” - Robert Greene

59. “Everyone should try to realize their full potential.” - Barack Obama

60. “I'm proud of my work and how far I've come, and I'm proud of the way that I did it.” - Bebe Rexha

61. “For every two minutes of glamour, there are eight hours of hard work.” - Jessica Savitch

62. “It's a great feeling to be recognized for all the hard work that I've put in.” - Maya Moore

63. “Progress is accomplished by the [person] who does things.” - Theodore Roosevelt

Work Ethic Quotes for Students

Making It Through Academia

Sometimes, slogging through schoolwork can seem dreary and unending. That's normal, but it's also not the way it has to be. Motivational work ethic quotes are superb for getting your work done at quality levels and on time. It's easy to feel overwhelmed, but applying yourself to your studies helps to improve your future, so keep on keeping on. These work ethic quotes will provide a little advice to help you keep your head up and your pen moving.

64. “Nothing will work unless you do.” - Maya Angelou

65. “Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction.” - Anne Frank

66. “There is no substitute for hard work.” - Thomas A. Edison

67. “Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan.” - Margaret Thatcher

68. “The best way to learn is by doing. The only way to build a strong work ethic is getting your hands dirty.” - Alex Spanos

69. “You can get excited and feel unstoppable, but every week presents a new challenge. Each week, you have to work and get better.” - Antonio Brown

70. “I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” - Michael Jordan

71. “What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose.” - Margaret Thatcher

72. “If you believe in what you are doing, then let nothing hold you up in your work. Much of the best work in the world has been done against seeming impossibilities. The thing is to get the work done.” - Dale Carnegie

73. “My ability to concentrate and work toward that goal has been my greatest asset.” - Jack Nicklaus

Headed for the Workforce

Job searching is one of the hardest things to do, especially when you're just learning about the workforce. It's important to remember that everyone who is already part of this system had to go through the same types of processes that you're going through now, or are about to go through. So, they have some understanding of how you may be feeling. Nerves are to be expected. Stepping out into the Big Adult World is can be intimidating, so here is a compilation of work ethic quotes to keep you focused and help you to feel more relaxed during your journey into a new world.

74. “The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.” - Elbert Hubbard

75. “The only way to enjoy anything in this life is to earn it first.” - Ginger Rogers

76. “A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” - Colin Powell

77. “Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work.” - H. L. Hunt

78. “Apply yourself at whatever you do, whether you're a janitor or taking your first summer job, because that work ethic will be reflected in everything you do in life.” - Tyler Perry

79. “The best work is not what is most difficult for you; it is what you do best.” - Jean-Paul Sartre

80. “Go after what you really love and find a way to make that work for you, and then you'll be a happy person.” - Tom Petty

81. “Live and work but do not forget to play, to have fun in life and really enjoy it.” - Eileen Caddy

82. “If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” - Michael Jordan

83. “We must live our lives from the deep truth and knowledge that we have intrinsic worth, independent of what we do. If we really know and believe that we matter, then the fruit of our lives will naturally flow out of that truth.” - Steven N. Adjei

84. “Never confuse movement with action.” - Ernest Hemingway

85. “I think success is the feeling you get from a job well done, and the key thing is to do the work.” - Peter Thiel

86. “Opportunities don't often come along. So, when they do, you have to grab them.” - Audrey Hepburn

Team Work Ethic Quotes

Individuals on a Team

When you're on a team, you have to work with other people. You also have to focus on being a good teammate, including being a good individual and the ability to form positive relationships with others. These are some work ethic quotes to help you figure it all out.

87. “Quality is everyone's responsibility.” - W. Edwards Deming

88. “The power of one, if fearless and focused, is formidable, but the power of many working together is better.” - Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

89. “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” - Vince Lombardi

90. “If you work in cooperation, forgetting the past, burying the hatchet, you are bound to succeed.” - Muhammad Ali Jinnah

91. “Effective networking isn't a result of luck – it requires hard work and persistence.” - Lewis Howes

92. “Diplomacy is listening to what the other [person] needs. Preserving your own position, but listening to the other [person]. You have to develop relationships with other people so when the tough times come, you can work together.” - Colin Powell

93. “Take full responsibility for your actions and decisions. Accountability shows that you are reliable and trustworthy.” – Kathy Caprino

94. “In almost every discipline, success comes from a combination of talent and grit.” - David Robson

Working Together

Teamwork makes any dream work, so gather your group and figure out how best to solve your differences and complete the challenges ahead of you. If you're searching for motivation to help your team bond, here are some work ethic quotes that will bring you closer together and help you continue on your way.

95. “Offer help and support to your team members and your colleagues, especially during challenging times.” - Kathy Caprino

96. “I'm lucky to be part of a team who help to make me look good, and they deserve as much of the credit for my success as I do for the hard work we have all put in on the training ground.” - Lionel Messi

97. “Good work has a snowball effect, it keeps leading to more good work.” - Richa Chadha

98. “You have to take the positive out of a defeat and go back to work. Improve to fail better.” - Stan Wawrinka

99. “If you hire people just because they can do a job, they'll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they'll work for you with blood, sweat, and tears.” - Simon Sinek

100. “Immigrants and Native Americans have made our country what it is today, and if we've learned anything through these hundreds of years – it should be that we can accomplish more when we work together.” - Deb Haaland

101. “To work for the common good is the greatest creed.” - Woodrow Wilson

102. “It's not about winning and losing; it's about everyday hard work and about thriving on a challenge.” - Summer Sanders

103. “For a diamond to be seen and appreciated, it needs to be cut, to be polished, to be cleaned.” - Steven N. Adjei

Hopefully, what you've learned from this list of work ethic quotes is that there are a variety of ways you can conceptualize and interpret the meaning of a “good” work ethic, but striving to improve yourself and become a happy person are skills that should not be taken for granted. Don't forget to keep an eye on those changing values and beliefs behind what makes a good work ethic – or better yet, a healthy work ethic.

Searching for further inspiration to hang on your walls or team building games to solidify your group's cohesion? You can find positive quotes for work and motivational quotes for work right here.

For even more motivating team-building activities, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!