--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there's a deadline, I work late. If…" description: "\"If there's a deadline, I work late. If not, I like to have normal hours, and get up early and work. When things are going well, I hate to quit. And the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/dave-brubeck-10370_deadline_if-there-s-a-deadline-i-work-late-if-not_561704.jpg" --- # If there's a deadline, I work late. If not, I like to have… ![“If there's a deadline, I work late. If not, I like to have normal hours, and get up early and work. When things are going well, I hate to quit. And then I'll work 'till exhausted.” quote by Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/dave-brubeck-10370_deadline_if-there-s-a-deadline-i-work-late-if-not_561704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/dave-brubeck-10370_deadline_if-there-s-a-deadline-i-work-late-if-not_561704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/dave-brubeck-10370_deadline_if-there-s-a-deadline-i-work-late-if-not_561704.jpg) > “If there's a deadline, I work late. If not, I like to have normal hours, and get up early and work. When things are going well, I hate to quit. And then I'll work 'till exhausted.” [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing deadlines and personal rhythm influences productivity; without pressure, prefers regular hours, but can overwork when motivated. **In simple terms:** Deadlines drive intensity; without them, normal schedule preferred, yet passion can cause exhaustion. Key Takeaway Set clear boundaries to avoid burnout. Themes productivity work habits balance motivation burnout Mood reflective cautious Type advice personal insight When to use this quote - project deadlines - remote work - creative pursuits - high‑energy tasks Key Concepts time management self‑regulation intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when passion becomes harmful? - What strategies keep you from overworking? A Different Perspective Risk of over‑committing when enthusiasm spikes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Be able to meet any deadline, even if your work is done less well than it would be if you had all the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/be-able-to-meet-any-deadline-even-if-your-work-is-done-less-well-than/) [Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/) > [Work your vein till it is exhausted, or conducts you to a broader one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/work-your-vein-till-it-is-exhausted-or-conducts-you-to-a-broader-one/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our yesterday's to-morrow now is gone, And still a new to-morrow does come on. 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As a child in California I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/my-mother-elizabeth-ivey-brubeck-was-a-pianist-who-studied-with-dame/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [That's the beauty of music. You can take a theme from a Bach sacred chorale and improvise. 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If you are in a field where life and death, or having a job or not having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry/nothing-focuses-attention-like-a-real-deadline-if-you-are-in-a-field/) [John Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry/) > [“There is one surefire way to produce bad writing: submit to the slavery of a deadline.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavia-id/there-is-one-surefire-way-to-produce-bad-writing-submit-to-the/) Flavia Idà > [I think setting goals is critical; having deadlines for ourselves- how much by when? 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The Americans tie yellow ribbons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betool-khedairi/the-deadline-is-at-midnight-in-america-dawn-5-a-m-in-england-and-8-00/) Betool Khedairi Browse all 405 Deadline quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there's a deadline, I work late. If not, I like to have normal hours, and get up early and work. When things are going well, I hate to quit. 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