--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Work may be your dominant thought, and…" description: "\"Work may be your dominant thought, and joy an afterthought. But joy is your true purpose, and work the afterthought.\" — Alan Cohen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/alan-cohen-1112_joy_work-may-be-your-dominant-thought-and-jo_580925.png" --- # Work may be your dominant thought, and joy an… ![“Work may be your dominant thought, and joy an afterthought. But joy is your true purpose, and work the afterthought.” quote by Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/alan-cohen-1112_joy_work-may-be-your-dominant-thought-and-jo_580925.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/alan-cohen-1112_joy_work-may-be-your-dominant-thought-and-jo_580925.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/alan-cohen-1112_joy_work-may-be-your-dominant-thought-and-jo_580925.png) > “Work may be your dominant thought, and joy an afterthought. But joy is your true purpose, and work the afterthought.” [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work often dominates thoughts, but true purpose lies in joy, with work becoming secondary. **In simple terms:** Joy should be the main focus, not work. Key Takeaway Prioritize joy over work. Themes purpose joy work balance mindset Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - daily routines - personal fulfillment - stress management Key Concepts meaningful living prioritization well‑being Questions to Reflect On - What small changes can increase daily joy? - How to balance joy and necessary work? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on joy may neglect responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“Her work was all she had or wanted. But there were times, like tonight, when she felt that sudden, peculiar emptiness, which was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn/her-work-was-all-she-had-or-wanted-but-there-were-times-like-tonight/) Ayn > [Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-the-animals-god-has-given-them-the-rudiments-of-thought-and-joy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had thought joy to be rather synonymous with happiness, but it seems now to be far less vulnerable than happiness. Joy seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/i-had-thought-joy-to-be-rather-synonymous-with-happiness-but-it-seems/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [The purpose of the whole (work) is to remove those who are living in this life from a state of wretchedness and lead them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/the-purpose-of-the-whole-work-is-to-remove-those-who-are-living-in/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [The purpose of a work of fiction is to appeal to the lingering after-effects in the reader's mind as differing from, say, the purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-purpose-of-a-work-of-fiction-is-to-appeal-to-the-lingering-after/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [When people look for and demand purpose in their work, it impacts businesses, communities, and the economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tae-yoo/when-people-look-for-and-demand-purpose-in-their-work-it-impacts/) [Tae Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tae-yoo/) > [It would scarcely be acceptable, for example, to ask in the course of an ordinary conversation what our society holds to be the purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/it-would-scarcely-be-acceptable-for-example-to-ask-in-the-course-of/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [The central purpose of the Work that Reconnects is to help people uncover and experience their innate connections with each other and with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/the-central-purpose-of-the-work-that-reconnects-is-to-help-people/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [The purpose of work is to give people a chance to utilize and develop their faculties; to enable them to overcome their ego-centeredness by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/the-purpose-of-work-is-to-give-people-a-chance-to-utilize-and-develop/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [“The purpose of work is to labor and invest time in your gift”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-purpose-of-work-is-to-labor-and-invest-time-in-your-gift/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [We must always bear in mind that the primary purpose of our work, is not to get persons to join the church or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-torrey/we-must-always-bear-in-mind-that-the-primary-purpose-of-our-work-is/) [R. A. Torrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-torrey/) > [No matter what our job is, we view it not as our purpose in life but rather as where God has sovereignly placed us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/no-matter-what-our-job-is-we-view-it-not-as-our-purpose-in-life-but/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [“it’s work with a purpose, work with meaning, work that constantly reminds you that you’re living the life you’ve dreamed of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-huling/it-s-work-with-a-purpose-work-with-meaning-work-that-constantly/) Jim Huling > [The purpose of work is not to make money. The purpose of work is to make the workers, whether working stiffs or top executives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/the-purpose-of-work-is-not-to-make-money-the-purpose-of-work-is-to/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [We must always bear in mind that the primary purpose of our work is not to get people to join a church, to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-torrey/we-must-always-bear-in-mind-that-the-primary-purpose-of-our-work-is-2/) [R. A. Torrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-torrey/) ## More by Alan Cohen > [When you protect yourself from pain, be sure you do not protect yourself from love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-you-protect-yourself-from-pain-be-sure-you-do-not-protect/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Anyone in a state of seeking can never be happy. Only those who are constantly finding are fulfilled. And finding is not something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/anyone-in-a-state-of-seeking-can-never-be-happy-only-those-who-are/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“You cannot be other than you are. Thank God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/you-cannot-be-other-than-you-are-thank-god/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Evaluate every act by whether it brings you greater life, or deadens you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/evaluate-every-act-by-whether-it-brings-you-greater-life-or-deadens/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Put aside ambition for public recognition, and simply do what you do because it feels good inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/put-aside-ambition-for-public-recognition-and-simply-do-what-you-do/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“When you finally give up striving, you will be left with what you have been striving for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-you-finally-give-up-striving-you-will-be-left-with-what-you-have/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“newspaper ads for lost pets and earthquakes that soon follow. Other studies indicate a higher rate of last-minute cancellations for airplane flights that crash.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/newspaper-ads-for-lost-pets-and-earthquakes-that-soon-follow-other/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“Quit using your creative power to formulate questions. You can just as easily—more easily— use it to formulate answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/quit-using-your-creative-power-to-formulate-questions-you-can-just-as/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > ['How can I be more like you?' she asked the guru. 'The best way to be more like me is to be more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/how-can-i-be-more-like-you-she-asked-the-guru-the-best-way-to-be-more/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Turmoil is a call for awakening. Every challenge, great or small, is moving you to look deeper and draw forth the highest in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/turmoil-is-a-call-for-awakening-every-challenge-great-or-small-is/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [The difficulties of life do not keep you from greatness. They show you to its door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/the-difficulties-of-life-do-not-keep-you-from-greatness-they-show-you/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [What a doctor or healer tells you is a reflection of the beliefs and expectations you hold. Change your beliefs and you change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/what-a-doctor-or-healer-tells-you-is-a-reflection-of-the-beliefs-and/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Quit planning your dream and start living it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/quit-planning-your-dream-and-start-living-it/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [The more you invest in your happiness, the more happiness will invest in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/the-more-you-invest-in-your-happiness-the-more-happiness-will-invest/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Joy is the wild card of life; it supersedes every other formula for success. If you can find a way to create joy, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/joy-is-the-wild-card-of-life-it-supersedes-every-other-formula-for/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) [Explore all 290 Alan Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## More Joy quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“When you finally realize your gifts and talents, joy and satisfaction come as you walk in your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-richards-ross/when-you-finally-realize-your-gifts-and-talents-joy-and-satisfaction/) [Sanya Richards-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-richards-ross/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Safin, in his way, is very talented. It is a joy to watch them play; it is tennis of a very high quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/safin-in-his-way-is-very-talented-it-is-a-joy-to-watch-them-play-it/) [Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [“Reverend Veronica Goines sums this up as, “Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/reverend-veronica-goines-sums-this-up-as-peace-is-joy-at-rest-and-joy/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) [Browse all 15,003 Joy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Work may be your dominant thought, and joy an afterthought. 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