---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you work for a man, in heavens name…"
description: "\"If you work for a man, in heavens name work for him! If he pays you wages that supply you your bread and butter, work for him speak well of him, think ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/elbert-hubbard-510_bread_if-you-work-for-a-man-in-heavens-name-wo_2817251.jpg"
---

#  If you work for a man, in heavens name work for him! If he…

![“If you work for a man, in heavens name work for him! If he pays you wages that supply you your bread and butter, work for him speak well of him, think well of him, stand by him and stand by the institution he represents. I think if I worked for a man I would work for him. I would not work for him…” quote by Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/elbert-hubbard-510_bread_if-you-work-for-a-man-in-heavens-name-wo_2817251.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/elbert-hubbard-510_bread_if-you-work-for-a-man-in-heavens-name-wo_2817251.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/elbert-hubbard-510_bread_if-you-work-for-a-man-in-heavens-name-wo_2817251.jpg)

> “If you work for a man, in heavens name work for him! If he pays you wages that supply you your bread and butter, work for him speak well of him, think well of him, stand by him and stand by the institution he represents. I think if I worked for a man I would work for him. I would not work for him a part of the time, and the rest of the time work against him. I would give an undivided service or none. If put to the pinch, an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness.”

[Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Loyalty to an employer is valued above cleverness; consistent service outweighs occasional brilliance.

**In simple terms:** Loyalty beats cleverness.

Key Takeaway

Give undivided service.

Themes

loyalty work ethic integrity service employment

Mood

reflective serious

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- job interview
- career decision
- employee evaluation
- leadership training

Key Concepts

Moral philosophy pragmatism social contract

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you prioritize loyalty over personal growth?
- How can you balance service with self‑respect?

A Different Perspective

Loyalty may be exploited by abusive bosses.

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[Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wages/)

## Related quotes

> [When put to the test, an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/when-put-to-the-test-an-ounce-of-loyalty-is-worth-a-pound-of/)

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[David James Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-elliott/)

> [If you work for a man, in heaven's name work for him, speak well of him, and stand by the institution he represents. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-you-work-for-a-man-in-heaven-s-name-work-for-him-speak-well-of-him/)

[Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/)

> [If one man has a dollar he didn't work for, some other man worked for a dollar he didn't get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-one-man-has-a-dollar-he-didn-t-work-for-some-other-man-worked-for/)

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> [“There is no competition in work. Many a man wants glory but fails to work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-is-no-competition-in-work-many-a-man-wants-glory-but-fails-to/)

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> [God's work is not man working for God; it is God's own work, though often wrought through man's hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/god-s-work-is-not-man-working-for-god-it-is-god-s-own-work-though/)

[Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/)

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[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

## More by Elbert Hubbard

> [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/)

[Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/)

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> [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/)

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[Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/)

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## More Bread quotes

> [French women don't eat Wonder Bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-guiliano/french-women-don-t-eat-wonder-bread/)

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