--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never work just to work. It's some…" description: "\"I never work just to work. It's some combination of laziness and self-respect.\" — Harold Ramis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/harold-ramis-4057_career_i-never-work-just-to-work-it-s-some-comb_1651375.png" --- # I never work just to work. It's some combination of… ![“I never work just to work. It's some combination of laziness and self-respect.” quote by Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/harold-ramis-4057_career_i-never-work-just-to-work-it-s-some-comb_1651375.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/harold-ramis-4057_career_i-never-work-just-to-work-it-s-some-comb_1651375.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/harold-ramis-4057_career_i-never-work-just-to-work-it-s-some-comb_1651375.png) > “I never work just to work. It's some combination of laziness and self-respect.” [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work should align with personal values, balancing effort with self‑respect and avoiding pointless labor. **In simple terms:** Work should serve purpose, not just effort. Key Takeaway Align work with values. Themes work ethic self‑respect balance Mood reflective pragmatic Type philosophical career When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - life balance Key Concepts motivation productivity Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you beyond pay? - How do you define meaningful work? A Different Perspective Risk of under‑productivity if too lax. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Laziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-respect/) ## Related quotes > [The biggest challenge you have is to challenge your own self doubt and your laziness. It is your self doubt and your laziness that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-biggest-challenge-you-have-is-to-challenge-your-own-self-doubt/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [It's inspiring just to work on something and just kind of keep the creative juices flowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lipnicki/it-s-inspiring-just-to-work-on-something-and-just-kind-of-keep-the/) [Jonathan Lipnicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lipnicki/) > [I don't have to work just to work anymore. More interesting parts come my way, so I can afford to say, 'I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-kruger/i-don-t-have-to-work-just-to-work-anymore-more-interesting-parts-come/) [Diane Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-kruger/) > [You just work through it. You just hang in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/you-just-work-through-it-you-just-hang-in-there/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [I just have work to do; I just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/i-just-have-work-to-do-i-just-do-it/) [Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/) > [Faith doesn't mean you don't have to do the work; it just means you're absolutely certain the work will pay off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/faith-doesn-t-mean-you-don-t-have-to-do-the-work-it-just-means-you-re/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [If we fix a goal and work towards it, then we are never just passing time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-neagle/if-we-fix-a-goal-and-work-towards-it-then-we-are-never-just-passing/) [Anna Neagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-neagle/) > [There's not anyone in particular I'd like to work with. I just want to continue doing work that I have a passion for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tye-sheridan/there-s-not-anyone-in-particular-i-d-like-to-work-with-i-just-want-to/) [Tye Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tye-sheridan/) > [I don't want to do random work, just for the sake of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-kapoor/i-don-t-want-to-do-random-work-just-for-the-sake-of-it/) [Kunal Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-kapoor/) > [I've always just operated with the attitude that if I work just as hard as I can, everything will be fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/i-ve-always-just-operated-with-the-attitude-that-if-i-work-just-as/) [Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/) > [If you live in America, you don't have to work. You can just drift along in the smiling and nodding racket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/if-you-live-in-america-you-don-t-have-to-work-you-can-just-drift/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [It's a pleasure to work with someone who is just as strong as you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/it-s-a-pleasure-to-work-with-someone-who-is-just-as-strong-as-you-are/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [It's thought of as an eccentric thing for an actor to really try to maintain quality control through the whole career. Most people think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/it-s-thought-of-as-an-eccentric-thing-for-an-actor-to-really-try-to/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [I don't care where I have to go for work. I just care that it's a good project. That's what I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-del-castillo/i-don-t-care-where-i-have-to-go-for-work-i-just-care-that-it-s-a-good/) [Kate del Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-del-castillo/) > [Nobody drives to work------------there is just to much traffic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nobody-drives-to-work-there-is-just-to-much-traffic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Harold Ramis > [Somebody once told me that if you laugh at a George Bush joke, or you send an email cartoon to your friends that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/somebody-once-told-me-that-if-you-laugh-at-a-george-bush-joke-or-you/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [I've always thought that comedy was just another dramatic expression. I try to measure the amount of truth in a work rather than just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/i-ve-always-thought-that-comedy-was-just-another-dramatic-expression/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [You can perceive life as tragic, or you can laugh at the tragedy of it and that turns it into comedy. It doesn't change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/you-can-perceive-life-as-tragic-or-you-can-laugh-at-the-tragedy-of-it/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [I'm terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/i-m-terrified-beyond-the-capacity-for-rational-thought/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [You can't not have feelings about country clubs, whichever side you're on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/you-can-t-not-have-feelings-about-country-clubs-whichever-side-you-re/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [That's one of the great things about DVD: In addition to reaching people who didn't catch the movie in theaters, you get to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/that-s-one-of-the-great-things-about-dvd-in-addition-to-reaching/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [It doesn't take any longer to improvise 10 takes than it takes to shoot 10 takes of the same thing. It turns out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/it-doesn-t-take-any-longer-to-improvise-10-takes-than-it-takes-to/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [As much as I liked acting for its playfulness and the reward of hearing big laughs wash over you on a stage, I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/as-much-as-i-liked-acting-for-its-playfulness-and-the-reward-of/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [I've never taken a script to the stage or to principal photography and said, "This is perfect. This is as good as it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/i-ve-never-taken-a-script-to-the-stage-or-to-principal-photography/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [I realized that my righteous indignation was a form of entertainment for me. I loved getting pissed off at injustice. I didn't do anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/i-realized-that-my-righteous-indignation-was-a-form-of-entertainment/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [My characters aren't losers. They're rebels. They win by their refusal to play by everyone else's rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/my-characters-aren-t-losers-they-re-rebels-they-win-by-their-refusal/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [I made a handshake agreement with my best friend in college, Michael Shamberg, who is now a movie producer. We used to write shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/i-made-a-handshake-agreement-with-my-best-friend-in-college-michael/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [The trick with sequels is, you have to give people what they liked before, yet be innovative enough so they don't feel like they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/the-trick-with-sequels-is-you-have-to-give-people-what-they-liked/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [Life doesn't care about your vision. You just gotta roll with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/life-doesn-t-care-about-your-vision-you-just-gotta-roll-with-it/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [I look for the meaning in what's funny, and I look for what's funny about things that are meaningful to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/i-look-for-the-meaning-in-what-s-funny-and-i-look-for-what-s-funny/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) [Explore all 117 Harold Ramis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. 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