Skip to content

Entrepreneurship Quote by Bruce Sterling

“Gavin did not enjoy his hard work. The optimistic startup guys sending in these crazy proposals were guys who enjoyed their work. Gavin had the solid, old-fashioned idea that work should be painful, so that people would pay you for doing it. If the “work” was fulfilling, then work was a form of…” quote by Bruce Sterling
Download Open image
““«Gavin did not enjoy his hard work. The optimistic startup guys sending in these crazy proposals were guys who enjoyed their work. Gavin had the solid, old-fashioned idea that work should be painful, so that people would pay you for doing it. If the “work” was fulfilling, then work was a form of entertainment. The workers should be paying people for being entertained.»””

Bruce Sterling

About This Quote

Source Short story: “The Gernsback Continuum”, 1995

Work seen as painful is contrasted with the idea that fulfilling work should be entertaining and compensated.

In simple terms: Painful work vs. entertaining work.

Key Takeaway

Reevaluate how work is valued.

Themes

work economics culture motivation entertainment

Mood

thought‑provoking satirical

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • career planning
  • entrepreneurship
  • HR policy
  • personal fulfillment

Key Concepts

labor theory value perception creative economy

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can work be both productive and entertaining?
  • What are the limits of paying for entertainment?
A Different Perspective

Not all work can be entertaining; some tasks require discipline.

2.2 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by Bruce Sterling

Explore all 126 Bruce Sterling quotes

More Entrepreneurship quotes

Browse all 1,736 Entrepreneurship quotes