A man at work, making something which he feels will exist because he is working at it and wills it, is exercising the energies of his mind and soul as well as of his body. Memory and imagination help him as he works.
William MorrisRead
It is right and necessary that all should have work to do which shall be worth doing and be of itself pleasant to do, and which should be done under such conditions as would make it neither over-wearisome nor over-anxious.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Work should be fulfilling and enjoyable, without excessive stress or fatigue.
In this quote, William Morris emphasizes the importance of meaningful work that not only contributes positively to society but also brings joy and satisfaction to the individual. He argues that work should be performed in an environment that balances productivity with well-being, preventing exhaustion and anxiety, and aligning with a deeper sense of purpose.
Themes
WorkPleasureWell-BeingMeaningfulSatisfaction
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a team meeting to emphasize the importance of enjoying work.
More from William Morris
All quotes →I pondered all these things, and how men fight and lose the battle, and the thing that they fought for comes about in spite of their defeat, and when it comes turns out not to be what they meant, and other men have to fight for what they meant under another name.
William MorrisRead
How often it consoles me to think of barbarism once more flooding the world, and real feelings and passions, however rudimentary, taking the place of our wretched hypocrisies.
William MorrisRead
With the arrogance of youth, I determined to do no less than to transform the world with Beauty. If I have succeeded in some small way, if only in one small corner of the world, amongst the men and women I love, then I shall count myself blessed, and blessed, and blessed, and the work goes on.
William MorrisRead
A good way to rid one's self of a sense of discomfort is to do something. That uneasy, dissatisfied feeling is actual force vibrating out of order; it may be turned to practical account by giving proper expression to its creative character.
William MorrisRead
Similar quotes
I love working if it's with people who are capable of having a good time. People with a little bit of enjoyment of what they do. If it's enormous pressure, and people feel that their lives are at stake, then it's agony. So I try to pick projects where I feel like I'm going to avoid those traps.
Alan ArkinRead
I get to go to work and come home with something interesting or enriching or astonishing.
Diane SawyerRead
I like the job. That's what I'll miss the most... I'm not sure anybody ever liked this as much as I've liked it.
William J. ClintonRead
Most of us have jobs that are too small for our spirits.
Studs TerkelRead
Thoughts on the Merits of Work The worst of work nowadays is what happens to people when they cease to work.
Gilbert K. ChestertonRead
Our jobs determine to a large extent what our lives are like. Is what you do for a living making you ill? Does it keep you from becoming a more fully realized person? Do you feel ashamed of what you have to do at work? All too often, the answer to such questions is yes. Yet it does not have to be like that. Work can be one of the most joyful, most fulfilling aspects of life. Whether it will be or not depends on the actions we collectively take.
Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiRead