--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wanting to work is so rare a merit, that…" description: "\"Wanting to work is so rare a merit, that it should be encouraged.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/abraham-lincoln-88_be-encouraged_wanting-to-work-is-so-rare-a-merit-that_1390309.png" --- # Wanting to work is so rare a merit, that it should be… ![“Wanting to work is so rare a merit, that it should be encouraged.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/abraham-lincoln-88_be-encouraged_wanting-to-work-is-so-rare-a-merit-that_1390309.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/abraham-lincoln-88_be-encouraged_wanting-to-work-is-so-rare-a-merit-that_1390309.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/abraham-lincoln-88_be-encouraged_wanting-to-work-is-so-rare-a-merit-that_1390309.png) > “Wanting to work is so rare a merit, that it should be encouraged.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work ethic is a rare virtue that deserves encouragement and support. **In simple terms:** Work is rare and valuable. Key Takeaway Encourage work ethic. Themes ethics work merit encouragement Mood inspirational thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - employment programs - volunteer opportunities - community projects Key Concepts motivation social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can we support those unable to work? - What incentives promote work? A Different Perspective Not everyone can work due to barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be encouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-encouraged/) [Encouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouraged/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit/) [Merit Encouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit-encouraged-4843516/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rare Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rare-merit-1056838/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Wanting Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting-work-810174/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Rare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-rare-1061703/) ## Related quotes > [He possessed the rare merit of making a property of his time and not a burden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/he-possessed-the-rare-merit-of-making-a-property-of-his-time-and-not/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [I love rare books. Not that I own a lot of them, mind you. You couldn't quite call me a rare-book collector. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-love-rare-books-not-that-i-own-a-lot-of-them-mind-you-you-couldn-t/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [ Steve \[Jobs\] is unique. There aren't many clients that are like that. You have one guy that you really work for. That's very rare. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/steve-jobs-is-unique-there-aren-t-many-clients-that-are-like-that-you/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [A man should be encouraged to do what the Maker of him has intended by the making of him, according as the gifts have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/a-man-should-be-encouraged-to-do-what-the-maker-of-him-has-intended/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Brokenness is often the road to breakthrough. Be encouraged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/brokenness-is-often-the-road-to-breakthrough-be-encouraged/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [Life is a mixture of successes and failures. May you be encouraged by the successes and strengthened by the failures. As long as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/life-is-a-mixture-of-successes-and-failures-may-you-be-encouraged-by/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [A budding writer wants to be encouraged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/a-budding-writer-wants-to-be-encouraged/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [So be encouraged and dedicate yourself to your dream and if your dream should come my way one day then we will dance upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-vereen/so-be-encouraged-and-dedicate-yourself-to-your-dream-and-if-your/) [Ben Vereen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-vereen/) > [We can be encouraged knowing that our daily actions and words are declaring Christ to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/we-can-be-encouraged-knowing-that-our-daily-actions-and-words-are/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [If you're in a workplace you don't like right now, be encouraged because God will use it for your good. 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It's a spiritual art that everyone can learn. And mostly you learn by practicing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-briscoe/be-encouraged-to-be-an-encourager-it-s-a-spiritual-art-that-everyone/) [Jill Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-briscoe/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Be encouraged quotes > [What we need most right now, at this moment, is a kind of patriotic grace - a grace that takes the long view, apprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/what-we-need-most-right-now-at-this-moment-is-a-kind-of-patriotic/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [I noted about Cate Blanchett was her very positive lack of concern for how she turns out in Cinderella. She is happy to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/i-noted-about-cate-blanchett-was-her-very-positive-lack-of-concern/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) > [Stop…stop, that’s the next generation of fans… How dare you pass judgment on those 12-year-old girls who like vampires! They need to be encouraged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-smith/stop-stop-that-s-the-next-generation-of-fans-how-dare-you-pass/) [Kevin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-smith/) > [Whether it's in in livability, transportation, or the environment, Portland is always leading the country. We have more to do before we achieve our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-blumenauer/whether-it-s-in-in-livability-transportation-or-the-environment/) [Earl Blumenauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-blumenauer/) > [Curiosity in children ... is but an appetite after knowledge and therefore ought to be encouraged in them, not only as a good sign,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/curiosity-in-children-is-but-an-appetite-after-knowledge-and/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“As you struggle through whatever you are going through remember there is help somewhere, someone out there has solutions, and you will stumble upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/as-you-struggle-through-whatever-you-are-going-through-remember-there/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Any individual decisions can be badly thought through, and yet be successful, or exceedingly well thought through, but be unsuccessful, because the recognized possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rubin/any-individual-decisions-can-be-badly-thought-through-and-yet-be/) [Robert Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rubin/) > [Science is not formal logic-it needs the free play of the mind in as great a degree as any other creative art. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-born/science-is-not-formal-logic-it-needs-the-free-play-of-the-mind-in-as/) [Max Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-born/) > [I don't think people should be encouraged to look like Kate Moss; I think that's unreasonable. I think the normal human body should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-don-t-think-people-should-be-encouraged-to-look-like-kate-moss-i/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [Colonization was the idea that once slavery ended African-Americans should be encouraged - or required, in some people's view - required to leave the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-foner/colonization-was-the-idea-that-once-slavery-ended-african-americans/) [Eric Foner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-foner/) > [It is notable how little empathy is cultivated or valued in our society. I put this down to our traditional racism and obsessive sectarianism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-notable-how-little-empathy-is-cultivated-or-valued-in-our/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [You know as I started as a shy young conductor, I always wanted to cooperate. To build up the musicians. To help them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-masur/you-know-as-i-started-as-a-shy-young-conductor-i-always-wanted-to/) [Kurt Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-masur/) > [Young writers need to be encouraged to write - just write - with no restrictions on form, style or content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/young-writers-need-to-be-encouraged-to-write-just-write-with-no/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Be encouraged. Stay on your hustle. You can't fail until u quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/be-encouraged-stay-on-your-hustle-you-can-t-fail-until-u-quit/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Studies have shown that performance gets worse as group size increases ... If you have talented and motivated people, they should be encouraged to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/studies-have-shown-that-performance-gets-worse-as-group-size/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) [Browse all 120 Be encouraged quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-encouraged/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wanting to work is so rare a merit, that it should be encouraged.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/wanting-to-work-is-so-rare-a-merit-that-it-should-be-encouraged/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be encouraged" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/wanting-to-work-is-so-rare-a-merit-that-it-should-be-encouraged/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/abraham-lincoln-88_be-encouraged_wanting-to-work-is-so-rare-a-merit-that_1390309.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/abraham-lincoln-88_be-encouraged_wanting-to-work-is-so-rare-a-merit-that_1390309.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/abraham-lincoln-88_be-encouraged_wanting-to-work-is-so-rare-a-merit-that_1390309.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wanting to work is so rare a merit, that it should be encouraged.” — Abraham Lincoln", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abraham Lincoln", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Wanting to work is so rare...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/wanting-to-work-is-so-rare-a-merit-that-it-should-be-encouraged/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/wanting-to-work-is-so-rare-a-merit-that-it-should-be-encouraged/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```