--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People will always work harder if they're…" description: "\"People will always work harder if they're getting well paid and if they're afraid of losing a job which they know will be hard to equal. As is well kno..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/armand-hammer-30533_equal_people-will-always-work-harder-if-they-r_2008306.png" --- # People will always work harder if they're getting well… ![“People will always work harder if they're getting well paid and if they're afraid of losing a job which they know will be hard to equal. As is well known, if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.” quote by Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/armand-hammer-30533_equal_people-will-always-work-harder-if-they-r_2008306.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/armand-hammer-30533_equal_people-will-always-work-harder-if-they-r_2008306.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/armand-hammer-30533_equal_people-will-always-work-harder-if-they-r_2008306.png) > “People will always work harder if they're getting well paid and if they're afraid of losing a job which they know will be hard to equal. As is well known, if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.” [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Low wages attract low effort; fair compensation is essential to motivate quality work and retain talent. **In simple terms:** Pay well, get good work. Key Takeaway Offer competitive pay to boost performance. Themes economics motivation labor market Mood analytical pragmatic Type business strategic When to use this quote - business management - HR policies - contract negotiations - team leadership Key Concepts incentive theory human capital fairness Questions to Reflect On - How can you align compensation with employee values? - What non‑monetary incentives complement pay? A Different Perspective Higher pay alone may not guarantee loyalty; culture matters too. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Get well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-well/) [Getting Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-paid-370315/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Harder Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder-getting-1307681/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Monkeys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monkeys/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Paid Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid-afraid-3572620/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Pay Peanuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-peanuts-2333246/) [Payment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/payment/) [Peanuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peanuts/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Well known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-known/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Work harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-harder/) ## Related quotes > [If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/if-you-pay-peanuts-you-get-monkeys/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [If you pay peanuts, you wind up hiring monkeys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal/if-you-pay-peanuts-you-wind-up-hiring-monkeys/) [Hannibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal/) > [The only thing harder than getting a new idea into the military mind is to get an old one out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-only-thing-harder-than-getting-a-new-idea-into-the-military-mind/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [“The Clique… the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisi-harrison/the-clique-the-only-thing-harder-than-getting-in-is-staying-in/) [Lisi Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisi-harrison/) > [The Clique: The only thing harder then getting in is staying in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisi-harrison/the-clique-the-only-thing-harder-then-getting-in-is-staying-in/) [Lisi Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisi-harrison/) > [Last year no one in Los Angeles, for all practical purposes, could watch our show, so it was much harder getting good guests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-danza/last-year-no-one-in-los-angeles-for-all-practical-purposes-could/) [Tony Danza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-danza/) > [You always have to think in the back of your mind that someone's working harder than you, someone's getting better than you. That's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/you-always-have-to-think-in-the-back-of-your-mind-that-someone-s/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [I doubt if you get another Wu-Tang Clan. That might be harder than getting the new Jackson Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-doubt-if-you-get-another-wu-tang-clan-that-might-be-harder-than/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [For everyday diners in Manhattan, cracking the waiting list at Nobu is said to be harder than getting courtside tickets for the Knicks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/for-everyday-diners-in-manhattan-cracking-the-waiting-list-at-nobu-is/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [“The Clique… the only thing harder than getting in is saying goodbye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-clique-the-only-thing-harder-than-getting-in-is-saying-goodbye/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work. The natural healing force within each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/everyone-has-a-doctor-in-him-or-her-we-just-have-to-help-it-in-its/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [I am convinced that nine out of every ten persons seeing a psychiatrist do not need one. They need someone who will love them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tournier/i-am-convinced-that-nine-out-of-every-ten-persons-seeing-a/) [Paul Tournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tournier/) > [“Our body is a sacred temple A place to connect with people. As we aren't staying any younger We might as well keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-claudia-antunes/our-body-is-a-sacred-temple-a-place-to-connect-with-people-as-we-aren/) [Ana Claudia Antunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-claudia-antunes/) > [Everybody's got money for vacation time. Look at how much we all spend just to get - well, I get sick on the loop-the-loop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/everybody-s-got-money-for-vacation-time-look-at-how-much-we-all-spend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I was very lucky to get well known much later in life. You need to have flopped quite a few times to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-was-very-lucky-to-get-well-known-much-later-in-life-you-need-to/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) ## More by Armand Hammer > [“I am first and foremost a catalist; I put people and situations together. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/i-am-first-and-foremost-a-catalist-i-put-people-and-situations/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [Just think of something that would be "wonderful" if it were only "possible". Then set out to make it possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/just-think-of-something-that-would-be-wonderful-if-it-were-only/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [When I see everyone rushing in one direction, I know it's time to move the other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/when-i-see-everyone-rushing-in-one-direction-i-know-it-s-time-to-move/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [Obviously the current approach on steroids both in professional sports and amateur sports is not working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/obviously-the-current-approach-on-steroids-both-in-professional/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [My batting average has been good, so people ask how much luck is involved. I tell them when I work 14 hours a day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/my-batting-average-has-been-good-so-people-ask-how-much-luck-is/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [People I meet today, especially journalists who interview me, are astonished to hear that Lenin told me, in effect, that Communism was not working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/people-i-meet-today-especially-journalists-who-interview-me-are/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [When I work fourteen hours a day, seven days a week, I get lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/when-i-work-fourteen-hours-a-day-seven-days-a-week-i-get-lucky/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [I can't think of anything better to do with a life than to wear it out in efforts to be useful to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/i-can-t-think-of-anything-better-to-do-with-a-life-than-to-wear-it/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [Raking over the past and sifting its dust is an occupation for the idle or the elderly retired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/raking-over-the-past-and-sifting-its-dust-is-an-occupation-for-the/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [I believe in the power of great art to transcend geographical boundaries, political differences and even the restrictions of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/i-believe-in-the-power-of-great-art-to-transcend-geographical/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [Regrets and recriminations only hurt your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/regrets-and-recriminations-only-hurt-your-soul/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [Seize opportunity by the forelock and see where it leads you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/seize-opportunity-by-the-forelock-and-see-where-it-leads-you/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [Food shortage will be to the 1990's what oil shortage was to the 1970's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/food-shortage-will-be-to-the-1990-s-what-oil-shortage-was-to-the-1970/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [One of my father's most precious legacies to me was spiritual. I learned from him the value of courage and the strength of will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/one-of-my-father-s-most-precious-legacies-to-me-was-spiritual-i/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) > [The art world is a jungle echoing to the calls of vicious jealousies and ruthless combat between dealers and collectors; but I have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armand-hammer/the-art-world-is-a-jungle-echoing-to-the-calls-of-vicious-jealousies/) [Armand Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) [Explore all 17 Armand Hammer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armand-hammer/) ## More Equal quotes > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. 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Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers; Unfaith is aught is want of faith in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/faith-and-unfaith-can-ne-er-be-equal-powers-unfaith-is-aught-is-want/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [If it is true that there is always more than one way of construing a text, it is not true that all interpretations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/if-it-is-true-that-there-is-always-more-than-one-way-of-construing-a/) [Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/) > [There is usually no dreamer so unworldly as the anthologist. 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