Quotes to read when you’re fed up with work: tough yet warm words.
There are times when you just can’t stand your job—because you failed at something, don’t get along with coworkers or your boss, don’t feel any sense of fulfillment, or simply for no particular reason.
In this article, we introduce quotes you should read when you feel that way about work.
We’ve gathered quotes that offer hints for escaping those feelings of dislike, ones that encourage you by saying you’ve still got this, and ones that nudge you toward your next challenge—words that can help lighten your heart.
When work becomes unbearable, please give these a read!
Quotes to read when you’re fed up with work: tough yet warm words (1–10)
If you don’t praise and acknowledge yourself, you won’t be saved.Akihiro Miwa
Akihiro Miwa is active across a wide range of fields, including as a singer, voice actor, and actor.
Miwa’s words encourage us, when work becomes difficult, to first be kind to ourselves.
There are many reasons we can come to dislike our jobs, and at times we wear ourselves down and spiral into thinking everything is our own fault.
But as these words suggest, if you yourself don’t treat yourself with care, you may lose the ability to truly recover.
It’s likely a warm message from Miwa: precisely when things are hard, at the very least, be your own ally.
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.Thomas Edison
Here are some famous quotes by Thomas Edison, known as the “Wizard of Menlo Park” for his inventions such as the phonograph, the light bulb, and the motion picture projector.
It is said that during his lifetime, Edison experienced countless failures.
Even so, by continually taking on challenges without being discouraged by failure, he was able to achieve success.
Many of us have probably thought, “I could have done a little better,” in our daily lives.
If we hadn’t given up, something might have changed, but it’s hard to know for sure.
These words encourage us to accept that things won’t always go as planned and to keep a positive outlook.
It’s not about how good a job you did, but how much heart you put into it.Mother Teresa
When we’re swamped with work every day, just scrambling to get through whatever’s in front of us, I think everyone has moments when they suddenly wonder, “Is this really okay?” At times like that, these are the words I want to remember and cherish.
They’re from Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun, who said that putting your heart into your work is what matters most.
The busier you are, the harder that may feel, but if you’re looking to break out of that cycle, why not start by gradually trying to put your heart into what you do?
If you hate it, quit! But have you really tried it enough to truly hate it?Masao Horiba
Masao Horiba was a Japanese entrepreneur and the founder of HORIBA, Ltd.
Speaking of HORIBA, it’s a unique company known for its corporate motto, “Joy and Fun.” Here is a memorable quote to recall when you feel, “I hate this! I don’t want to do it anymore!” Ask yourself: if you can’t clearly say you’ve given it your all, why not try just a little more? As you keep going, you may start to see a way to tackle it, and what you’re not good at might turn into something you excel at.
Suffering is a byproduct born from growth. It never ends with just that.Iris Murdoch
Let me share a quote by the philosopher Iris Murdoch.
I think many of us have, to a greater or lesser extent, run into a wall at some point.
These are words I hope you’ll remember in times like that.
Try to believe that what feels hard now will one day become your strength.
If you imagine the person you’ll become and trust that what you gain from overcoming hardships will surely help you, you might be able to get through what’s difficult now.
Let’s stay positive, believe that good things follow the bad, and keep doing our best!
To get 4,000 hits, based on my numbers, I’ve had to go through more than 8,000 frustrating at-bats.Ichiro (Suzuki Ichiro)
Have you ever wondered how much effort and hardship lie behind the great achievements of famous figures and stars? Here are the words of Ichiro, who holds the record of 4,000 hits combined in Japan and the U.S., talking about the reality behind that glory.
He said that behind those 4,000 hits, he experienced the frustration of failing more than 8,000 times.
Even Ichiro, who seemed to be performing so brilliantly and steadily, endured more than twice as many struggles as his results suggest.
Hearing this makes you realize that when you face difficulties at work, you can’t let yourself be easily defeated or give up—it’s a reminder to steel yourself and keep going.
So what if you failed? Learn from the failure and try again.Walt Disney
Walt Disney, who created theme parks like Disneyland and characters such as Mickey Mouse, had a tremendous impact on entertainment for generations to come.
This is a famous quote from that great entertainer, expressing how to face and overcome failure.
It tells us that what matters most about failure is learning from it, and that experience leads to new challenges and the successes that follow.
These are words to remember especially when you’re stopped in your tracks by failure—words that give you the courage to look ahead and keep moving forward.
