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!
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Quotes to read when you’re fed up with work: tough yet warm words (1–10)
It’s a blessing to be able to work so much that there’s no time to even feel the passage of time.NEW!Kimi Onoda
These are the words she offered in response to a kind remark from a reporter, spoken as Kimi Onoda has continued working tirelessly since becoming a minister.
When she said it feels like she’s working longer than the official hours, you can really sense how hard she’s been pushing herself.
Describing such a grueling workload as something she’s grateful for also conveys that she moves through each day feeling a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and responsibility.
It’s a straightforward expression of gratitude for being able to work, and it also carries a determination to keep giving her all.
The attitude of refusing to listen to any criticism is wrong, but so is getting depressed when you hear it.NEW!Tarō Asō
This message clearly conveys the difficult theme of how to face criticism.
If you shut your ears, you lose chances to grow; if you take everything to heart, your spirit will break.
It argues for the importance of avoiding those extremes: maintaining your own center while taking in only the feedback you need.
Especially in today’s world, where we’re easily swayed by ratings and noise, it urges us to be calm and strong.
It teaches the sense of distance needed to protect yourself while moving forward.
A practical quote that teaches mental resilience.
Regardless of the circumstances, when a decision must be made, I believe the best course is to stand firmly by my convictions.NEW!Yoshihide Suga
Cabinet secretaries and prime ministers are sometimes called upon to make important decisions; these are the words of Yoshihide Suga that express the criteria for such judgments.
He emphasizes that the final decision is his own, and conveys the idea that one should make decisions in accordance with one’s convictions after gathering opinions.
It doesn’t mean deciding alone; rather, it suggests using whether something conflicts with one’s convictions as material for judgment.
You can also sense a resolve to always make decisions responsibly, regardless of the scale of the matter.
An indecisive leader can even be harmful.NEW!Yoshihide Suga
As prime minister, Yoshihide Suga pledged one million vaccinations a day and devoted his efforts to bringing COVID under control.
He declared he would practice politics for the people and was always someone who thought and acted on his own.
This statement truly reflects who he was.
When something goes wrong, the pressure on a leader who bears full responsibility is undoubtedly heavy.
But postponing decisions will not solve problems—if anything, it may create new ones.
What a leader must do is make decisions that no one else can.
This quote, I believe, expresses that firm resolve.
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.
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.