--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't understand people who like to…" description: "\"I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of goddamn duty. Doing nothing feels like floating on warm water to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/ava-gardner-8168_quote_i-don-t-understand-people-who-like-to-wo_1868771.jpg" --- # I don't understand people who like to work and talk about… ![“I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of goddamn duty. Doing nothing feels like floating on warm water to me. Delightful, perfect.” quote by Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/ava-gardner-8168_quote_i-don-t-understand-people-who-like-to-wo_1868771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/ava-gardner-8168_quote_i-don-t-understand-people-who-like-to-wo_1868771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/ava-gardner-8168_quote_i-don-t-understand-people-who-like-to-wo_1868771.jpg) > “I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of goddamn duty. Doing nothing feels like floating on warm water to me. Delightful, perfect.” [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She sees work as a duty, while idleness feels blissful and effortless to her. **In simple terms:** Work feels like duty; idleness feels blissful. Key Takeaway Balance duty with enjoyment. Themes work ethic idleness personal values balance Mood reflective contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - creative pursuits - personal downtime Key Concepts Existentialism pleasure vs responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What tasks feel like a duty versus a joy? - How can you make work feel more rewarding? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on work can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Floating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floating/) [Floating Warm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floating-warm-1326234/) [Like Floating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-floating-816210/) [Like Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-work/) [Water Delightful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water-delightful-1326235/) ## Related quotes > [Doing nothing feels like floating on warm water to me. Delightful, perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/doing-nothing-feels-like-floating-on-warm-water-to-me-delightful/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I have observed, on board a steamer, how men and women easily give way to their instinct for flirtation, because water has the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/i-have-observed-on-board-a-steamer-how-men-and-women-easily-give-way/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Puberty for a girl is like floating down a broadening river into an open sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/puberty-for-a-girl-is-like-floating-down-a-broadening-river-into-an/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [When you freefall for 7,000 feet it doesn't feel like you're falling: it feels like you're floating, a bit like scuba diving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/when-you-freefall-for-7-000-feet-it-doesn-t-feel-like-you-re-falling/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [LIVE LIKE A FLOATING LEAF...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepa-rana/live-like-a-floating-leaf/) [DEEPA RANA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepa-rana/) > [It's an abnormal world I live in. I don't belong anywhere. It's like I'm floating down the middle. I'm never quite sure where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/it-s-an-abnormal-world-i-live-in-i-don-t-belong-anywhere-it-s-like-i/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [“Death will be like floating on your back in the cleanest water you can think of beneath a hot sun. Nothing to worry about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-harian/death-will-be-like-floating-on-your-back-in-the-cleanest-water-you/) [Sarah Harian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-harian/) > [“It is not enough if you just live life as it comes to you like a floating leaf in a pond. Make use of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/it-is-not-enough-if-you-just-live-life-as-it-comes-to-you-like-a/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“Living is like being chained at the bottom of a shallow pond with my eyes open and no air. I can see distorted images…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/living-is-like-being-chained-at-the-bottom-of-a-shallow-pond-with-my-2/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) > [“I was feeling like I was floating two inches above the sidewalk every step of the way. Feeling, almost, a magnetic pull back towards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-avon/i-was-feeling-like-i-was-floating-two-inches-above-the-sidewalk-every/) [Barbara Avon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-avon/) > [ “How am I?" \[...\] "Sometimes it's a rush, like skydiving and other times it's just a smooth ride, like floating in the middle of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/how-am-i-sometimes-it-s-a-rush-like-skydiving-and-other-times-it-s/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [“Sometimes I feel like I'm floating alone in the ocean. Other times I feel like the ocean's in a paper cup.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/sometimes-i-feel-like-i-m-floating-alone-in-the-ocean-other-times-i/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [I want you to feel in 'Riversong' like you're floating down a river on your back, and you're looking at the stars, and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-want-you-to-feel-in-riversong-like-you-re-floating-down-a-river-on/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [“Love is such a magic thing. It can make you feel like you're floating in the clouds without a trouble in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-gladys-leppard/love-is-such-a-magic-thing-it-can-make-you-feel-like-you-re-floating/) [Lois Gladys Leppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-gladys-leppard/) > [I like people to look like they're floating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-like-people-to-look-like-they-re-floating/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) ## More by Ava Gardner > [It's a shame that it didn't work out with Mick. I was hopelessly in love with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/it-s-a-shame-that-it-didn-t-work-out-with-mick-i-was-hopelessly-in/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Then, aided by the booze, like a fool I tossed off one of those throwaway lines that would have been better thrown away. "Ah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/then-aided-by-the-booze-like-a-fool-i-tossed-off-one-of-those/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Great idea," I said. "Call the police. Call the fucking police.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/great-idea-i-said-call-the-police-call-the-fucking-police/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I was born with good health and a strong body and spent years abusing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-was-born-with-good-health-and-a-strong-body-and-spent-years-abusing/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Elizabeth Taylor is not beautiful, she is pretty—I was beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/elizabeth-taylor-is-not-beautiful-she-is-pretty-i-was-beautiful/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I either write the book or sell the jewels. And I'm kinda sentimental about the jewels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-either-write-the-book-or-sell-the-jewels-and-i-m-kinda-sentimental/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Mickey - the smallest husband I ever had and the biggest mistake I ever made - well, that year, it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/mickey-the-smallest-husband-i-ever-had-and-the-biggest-mistake-i-ever/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [God knows I've got so many frailties myself, I ought to be able to understand and forgive them in others. But I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/god-knows-i-ve-got-so-many-frailties-myself-i-ought-to-be-able-to/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Our phone bills were astronomical, and when I found the letters Frank wrote me the other day, the total could fill a suitcase. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/our-phone-bills-were-astronomical-and-when-i-found-the-letters-frank/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Maybe, in the final analysis, they saw me as something I wasn't and I tried to turn them into something they could never be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/maybe-in-the-final-analysis-they-saw-me-as-something-i-wasn-t-and-i/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [After my screen test, the director clapped his hands gleefully and yelled: “She can't talk! She can't act! She's sensational!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/after-my-screen-test-the-director-clapped-his-hands-gleefully-and/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Don't think for a minute that bad publicity and endless criticism don't leave their claw marks on everyone concerned. Your friends try to cheer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/don-t-think-for-a-minute-that-bad-publicity-and-endless-criticism-don/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I'm not saying my own looks don't give the game away. Nothing I can do about that anymore. A nip and tuck ain't gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-m-not-saying-my-own-looks-don-t-give-the-game-away-nothing-i-can-do/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I do owe Mickey one thing: he taught me how much I enjoyed sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-do-owe-mickey-one-thing-he-taught-me-how-much-i-enjoyed-sex/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“In one scene, when I was supposed to say, "In a pig's eye you are," what came out was, "In a pig's ass you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/in-one-scene-when-i-was-supposed-to-say-in-a-pig-s-eye-you-are-what/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) [Explore all 83 Ava Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) ## More Floating quotes > [Heaven? Floating about with everyone you ever knew for eternity? Me family does me 'ed in after one day at xmas, I'd rather be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/heaven-floating-about-with-everyone-you-ever-knew-for-eternity-me/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Floating in and out of consciousness...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/floating-in-and-out-of-consciousness/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [The floating world is the realm of the graphic designer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/the-floating-world-is-the-realm-of-the-graphic-designer/) [Aaron Betsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-betsky/) > [ There's a video that's been floating around on YouTube where \[Baz Luhrmann says\], "We were looking for a guy that sounded like a young… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quindon-tarver/there-s-a-video-that-s-been-floating-around-on-youtube-where-baz/) [Quindon Tarver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quindon-tarver/) > [Creation isn't forcing or commanding something into existence. It's more of a rolling over, a good stretch, blissing out, lying on the grass watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/creation-isn-t-forcing-or-commanding-something-into-existence-it-s/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [I elbowed my way into the grubby café, bought a pie that tasted of shoe polish and a pot of tea with cork crumbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-elbowed-my-way-into-the-grubby-caf-bought-a-pie-that-tasted-of-shoe/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Here undoubtedly lies the chief poetic energy: - in the force of imagination that pierces or exalts the solid fact, instead of floating among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/here-undoubtedly-lies-the-chief-poetic-energy-in-the-force-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'd say that golf is about 75% mental. If your state of mind gets out of kilter, you're worse off than a tomcat floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/i-d-say-that-golf-is-about-75-mental-if-your-state-of-mind-gets-out/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [If you can't imagine it, think clumsy silence. Think bits and pieces of floating despair. And drowning in a train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/if-you-can-t-imagine-it-think-clumsy-silence-think-bits-and-pieces-of/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“You're back where you swore yourself you wouldn't be The familiar shackles you can't tell from your own skin Your head's under water when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/you-re-back-where-you-swore-yourself-you-wouldn-t-be-the-familiar/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [And the Raven, never flitting, Still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas Just above my chamber door; And his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/and-the-raven-never-flitting-still-is-sitting-still-is-sitting-on-the/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [My mother has always been the point I calibrated myself against. In knowing where she was, I could always locate myself, as well. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/my-mother-has-always-been-the-point-i-calibrated-myself-against-in/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [When you have a time of crisis what happens depends on what ideas are floating around, and what ideas have been developed, and thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/when-you-have-a-time-of-crisis-what-happens-depends-on-what-ideas-are/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [So if big enough droplets fell far enough fast enough, someone floating right near the metallic hydrogen layer inside Jupiter maybe, just maybe, could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kean/so-if-big-enough-droplets-fell-far-enough-fast-enough-someone/) [Sam Kean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kean/) [Browse all 617 Floating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of goddamn duty. 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