--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The test of a first-rate work, and a test…" description: "\"The test of a first-rate work, and a test of your sincerity in calling it a first-rate work, is that you finish it.\" — Arnold Bennett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/arnold-bennett-3325_calling_the-test-of-a-first-rate-work-and-a-test_2860936.png" --- # The test of a first-rate work, and a test of your… ![“The test of a first-rate work, and a test of your sincerity in calling it a first-rate work, is that you finish it.” quote by Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/arnold-bennett-3325_calling_the-test-of-a-first-rate-work-and-a-test_2860936.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/arnold-bennett-3325_calling_the-test-of-a-first-rate-work-and-a-test_2860936.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/arnold-bennett-3325_calling_the-test-of-a-first-rate-work-and-a-test_2860936.png) > “The test of a first-rate work, and a test of your sincerity in calling it a first-rate work, is that you finish it.” [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The true test of a work’s quality and the creator’s honesty is whether they finish it. **In simple terms:** Finishing a work proves its quality and sincerity. Key Takeaway Commit to completion. Themes creativity integrity completion Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing - software development - construction Key Concepts artistic process project management Questions to Reflect On - What unfinished projects linger? - How can you overcome fear of completion? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) [Finish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finish/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rate/) [Rate Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rate-work-1831833/) [Sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerity/) [Test Sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test-sincerity-2296915/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Work Finish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-finish-1365814/) [Work Test](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-test-3861238/) ## Related quotes > [The test of sincerity of one's prayer is the willingness to labor on its behalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/the-test-of-sincerity-of-one-s-prayer-is-the-willingness-to-labor-on/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Technique is the test of sincerity. If a thing isn't worth getting the technique to say, it is of inferior value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/technique-is-the-test-of-sincerity-if-a-thing-isn-t-worth-getting-the/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [There is no room in the world, as you say, for second rate work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-finzi/there-is-no-room-in-the-world-as-you-say-for-second-rate-work/) [Gerald Finzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-finzi/) > [Work, finish, publish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-faraday/work-finish-publish/) [Michael Faraday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-faraday/) > [When you know you have a certain amount of work to finish, you just don't allow yourself to get sick again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/when-you-know-you-have-a-certain-amount-of-work-to-finish-you-just/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [It is better to begin a great work than to finish a small one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-erskine-stuart/it-is-better-to-begin-a-great-work-than-to-finish-a-small-one/) [Janet Erskine Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-erskine-stuart/) > [Technique is the test of sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/technique-is-the-test-of-sincerity/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [You cannot be really first-rate at your work if your work is all you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/you-cannot-be-really-first-rate-at-your-work-if-your-work-is-all-you/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it to the earnestness of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-am-not-commanding-you-but-i-want-to-test-the-sincerity-of-your-love/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [My music has always been the same. It's the same kinda music but of a better quality. For me nothing really changes just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wretch-32/my-music-has-always-been-the-same-it-s-the-same-kinda-music-but-of-a/) [Wretch 32](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wretch-32/) > [“I’d rate his work at four stars. Of course, he is a general, so maybe I could pin my rating on his lapel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-d-rate-his-work-at-four-stars-of-course-he-is-a-general-so-maybe-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I'm glad that, despite everything, I was able to get work done and finish something. I never finish anything. So just being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-cole-smith/i-m-glad-that-despite-everything-i-was-able-to-get-work-done-and/) [Zachary Cole Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-cole-smith/) > [“Teach honesty by all means - you do know what it is, don't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/teach-honesty-by-all-means-you-do-know-what-it-is-don-t-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [When you really need help, people will respond. Sincerity means dropping the image facade and showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Tell it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-you-really-need-help-people-will-respond-sincerity-means/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More by Arnold Bennett > [The chances are that you have already come to believe that happiness is unattainable. But men have attained it. And they have attained it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-chances-are-that-you-have-already-come-to-believe-that-happiness/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Good taste is better than bad taste, but bad taste is better than no taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/good-taste-is-better-than-bad-taste-but-bad-taste-is-better-than-no/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [To write is to make oneself the echo of what cannot cease speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/to-write-is-to-make-oneself-the-echo-of-what-cannot-cease-speaking/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [The parents exist to teach the child, but also they must learn what the child has to teach them; and the child has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-parents-exist-to-teach-the-child-but-also-they-must-learn-what/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-gain-in-self-confidence-of-having-accomplished-a-tiresome-labour/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [A man of sixty has spent twenty years in bed and over three years in eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/a-man-of-sixty-has-spent-twenty-years-in-bed-and-over-three-years-in/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [“What then? Are we only to buy the books that we read? The question has merely to be thus bluntly put, and it answers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/what-then-are-we-only-to-buy-the-books-that-we-read-the-question-has/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [The most important preliminary to the task of arranging one's life so that one may live fully and comfortably within one's daily budget of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-most-important-preliminary-to-the-task-of-arranging-one-s-life-so/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [You are not in charge of the universe; you are in charge of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/you-are-not-in-charge-of-the-universe-you-are-in-charge-of-yourself/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [“When one has thoroughly got imbued into one's head the leading truth that nothing happens without a cause, one grows not only large-minded, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/when-one-has-thoroughly-got-imbued-into-one-s-head-the-leading-truth/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/any-change-even-a-change-for-the-better-is-always-accompanied-by/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [“The public is a great actuality, like war. If you are a creative and creating artist, you cannot ignore it, though it can ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-public-is-a-great-actuality-like-war-if-you-are-a-creative-and/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [“Good clothes, when put to the test, survive a change in fortune, as a Roman arch survives the luxury of departed empire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/good-clothes-when-put-to-the-test-survive-a-change-in-fortune-as-a/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Ninety percent of the friction of daily life is caused by tone of voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/ninety-percent-of-the-friction-of-daily-life-is-caused-by-tone-of/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [During a long and varied career as a bachelor, I have noticed that marriage is the death of politeness between a man and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/during-a-long-and-varied-career-as-a-bachelor-i-have-noticed-that/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) [Explore all 133 Arnold Bennett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) ## More Calling quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [NBC is making a movie about Martha Stewart that will cover the recent stock scandal. They are thinking of calling it 'The Road To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nbc-is-making-a-movie-about-martha-stewart-that-will-cover-the-recent/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [When I was a little boy, I was reading Dante and I was saying to myself 'Bravo, Dante, Bravo.' It's so beautiful, the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-benigni/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-was-reading-dante-and-i-was-saying-to/) [Roberto Benigni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-benigni/) > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [\*Calling someone I don't want to answer\* \*Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail..\* Hello? -\_\_\_-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/calling-someone-i-don-t-want-to-answer-please-go-to-voice-mail-please/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Sometimes you hear a voice through the door calling you... This turning toward what you deeply love saves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sometimes-you-hear-a-voice-through-the-door-calling-you-this-turning/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) [Browse all 3,811 Calling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The test of a first-rate work, and a test of your sincerity in calling it a first-rate work, is that you finish it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arnold Bennett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-test-of-a-first-rate-work-and-a-test-of-your-sincerity-in-calling/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Calling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-test-of-a-first-rate-work-and-a-test-of-your-sincerity-in-calling/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/arnold-bennett-3325_calling_the-test-of-a-first-rate-work-and-a-test_2860936.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/arnold-bennett-3325_calling_the-test-of-a-first-rate-work-and-a-test_2860936.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/arnold-bennett-3325_calling_the-test-of-a-first-rate-work-and-a-test_2860936.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The test of a first-rate work, and a test of your sincerity in calling it a first-rate work, is that you…” — Arnold Bennett", "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": "Arnold Bennett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The test of a first-rate work,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-test-of-a-first-rate-work-and-a-test-of-your-sincerity-in-calling/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-test-of-a-first-rate-work-and-a-test-of-your-sincerity-in-calling/#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 } } ] } ```