--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to keep doing as much work as I…" description: "\"I want to keep doing as much work as I can, and I want to keep the level high. I'm wondering if something is going to happen to me to screw it up.\" — H..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/harvey-pekar-4945_doing_i-want-to-keep-doing-as-much-work-as-i-c_787689.jpg" --- # I want to keep doing as much work as I can, and I want to… ![“I want to keep doing as much work as I can, and I want to keep the level high. I'm wondering if something is going to happen to me to screw it up.” quote by Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/harvey-pekar-4945_doing_i-want-to-keep-doing-as-much-work-as-i-c_787689.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/harvey-pekar-4945_doing_i-want-to-keep-doing-as-much-work-as-i-c_787689.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/harvey-pekar-4945_doing_i-want-to-keep-doing-as-much-work-as-i-c_787689.jpg) > “I want to keep doing as much work as I can, and I want to keep the level high. I'm wondering if something is going to happen to me to screw it up.” [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pekar expresses desire to maintain high productivity while fearing unforeseen setbacks could derail his efforts. **In simple terms:** He wants to work hard but worries about unexpected problems. Key Takeaway Plan for obstacles while pursuing goals. Themes work ethic anxiety productivity Mood determined anxious Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - project deadlines - creative endeavors - health issues Key Concepts risk management self‑efficacy career longevity Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can protect your work? - How can you balance ambition with realistic risk? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on fear may hinder performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-work/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happen/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High Wondering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-wondering-6056653/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Keep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep/) [Level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level/) [Level High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level-high-1660628/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Screw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screw/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-level-835531/) [Wondering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondering/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-want/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I would go home from work and just stare at the wall for a couple of hours. But, I can't complain. Whatever knocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-rabe/sometimes-i-would-go-home-from-work-and-just-stare-at-the-wall-for-a/) [Lily Rabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-rabe/) > [“You have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have, and you have to start doing the work you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/you-have-to-dress-for-the-job-you-want-not-the-job-you-have-and-you/) [Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/) > [I want there to be a level of respect between everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/i-want-there-to-be-a-level-of-respect-between-everybody/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [I constantly want to see what level of fitness I am at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milind-soman/i-constantly-want-to-see-what-level-of-fitness-i-am-at/) [Milind Soman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milind-soman/) > [I know I want to be at the top level one day when I am prepared for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-makelele/i-know-i-want-to-be-at-the-top-level-one-day-when-i-am-prepared-for-it/) [Claude Makelele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-makelele/) > [We all want to be at the top level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-bellerin/we-all-want-to-be-at-the-top-level/) [Hector Bellerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-bellerin/) > [My sensitivity level is high, but I think that's one of my assets as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-turturro/my-sensitivity-level-is-high-but-i-think-that-s-one-of-my-assets-as/) [John Turturro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-turturro/) > [Once you get that addiction of realizing what you can do, you want to take that to the next level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-carano/once-you-get-that-addiction-of-realizing-what-you-can-do-you-want-to/) [Gina Carano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-carano/) > [If your power level gets low enough, you will die. You will get in a car accident. You will pick up a disease. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-your-power-level-gets-low-enough-you-will-die-you-will-get-in-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It's really satisfying to get to be a part of something where the standard level is high, and you're working with the best in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-barbaro/it-s-really-satisfying-to-get-to-be-a-part-of-something-where-the/) [Monica Barbaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-barbaro/) > [Always look for a way to elevate your thinking. Go to the next level. Take the High Road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-look-for-a-way-to-elevate-your-thinking-go-to-the-next-level/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know where I want to be and the level I want to reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-luque/i-know-where-i-want-to-be-and-the-level-i-want-to-reach/) [Vicente Luque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-luque/) > [Being able to play at club level at a high level and then getting called into the national team, it's amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-pulisic/being-able-to-play-at-club-level-at-a-high-level-and-then-getting/) [Christian Pulisic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-pulisic/) > [“My skill level is so high I do things I don’t even try to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/my-skill-level-is-so-high-i-do-things-i-don-t-even-try-to-do/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I just want to get to the level where I can say that that's my level, just try to play well, get up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-capriati/i-just-want-to-get-to-the-level-where-i-can-say-that-that-s-my-level/) [Jennifer Capriati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-capriati/) ## More by Harvey Pekar > [Every ethnic group thinks they are the chosen ones. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/every-ethnic-group-thinks-they-are-the-chosen-ones/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [Since about 1980 Kenny Werner has been one of jazz’s unsung heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/since-about-1980-kenny-werner-has-been-one-of-jazz-s-unsung-heroes/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I think that the so-called average person often exhibits a great deal of heroism in getting through an ordinary day . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-think-that-the-so-called-average-person-often-exhibits-a-great-deal/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [It's real easy for me to write a lot of stories. I just go and I live through something, and I go home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/it-s-real-easy-for-me-to-write-a-lot-of-stories-i-just-go-and-i-live/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I've just been writing stuff down as it comes to me. I haven't thought, 'Let me write some major opus here.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-ve-just-been-writing-stuff-down-as-it-comes-to-me-i-haven-t-thought/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I'm always shook up and nervous and I've got the hospital record to prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-m-always-shook-up-and-nervous-and-i-ve-got-the-hospital-record-to/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I'm a guy that likes to sit in one place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-m-a-guy-that-likes-to-sit-in-one-place/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [People who are readers of fiction aren't particularly interested in comic books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/people-who-are-readers-of-fiction-aren-t-particularly-interested-in/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [When you're dead, it robs life of many of it's pleasures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/when-you-re-dead-it-robs-life-of-many-of-it-s-pleasures/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [My parents' work ethic amazed me. How could they put in such long hours, day after day? Part of the reason was to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/my-parents-work-ethic-amazed-me-how-could-they-put-in-such-long-hours/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I think you can find all the elements that you can find in great literature in mundane experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-think-you-can-find-all-the-elements-that-you-can-find-in-great/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [Life is about women, gigs, an' bein' creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/life-is-about-women-gigs-an-bein-creative/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [The film's success so far involves winning a couple of prizes at Cannes and Sundance, and getting some very nice reviews in newspapers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/the-film-s-success-so-far-involves-winning-a-couple-of-prizes-at/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I just continue to be kind of disappointed that people don't realize that and try and diversify the kind of work they are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-just-continue-to-be-kind-of-disappointed-that-people-don-t-realize/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I don't think I made any really big mistakes; it's just that I chose something difficult to do. Looking back, I suppose I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-don-t-think-i-made-any-really-big-mistakes-it-s-just-that-i-chose/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) [Explore all 104 Harvey Pekar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) ## More Doing quotes > [I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm damn well gonna do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-but-i-m-damn-well-gonna-do-it/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [I was in high school and I had an independent album out, and we kept sending that out, and I was doing shows. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-had-an-independent-album-out-and-we-kept/) [Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/) > [If I'm not thinking about you then I am texting you , if I am not texting you then I am on the phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-m-not-thinking-about-you-then-i-am-texting-you-if-i-am-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [.\*. why u hate me..Bitches be doing the most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty/why-u-hate-me-bitches-be-doing-the-most/) [Kitty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I really can't live without my In-N-Out burgers. Honestly, I can't. Even when I'm doing the whole no-carb thing occasionally, I make an exception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-really-can-t-live-without-my-in-n-out-burgers-honestly-i-can-t-even/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [You can't drain the swamp, as President Trump has touted doing, without getting rid of Mitch McConnell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/you-can-t-drain-the-swamp-as-president-trump-has-touted-doing-without/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) [Browse all 10,133 Doing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I want to keep doing as much work as I can, and I want to keep the level high. I'm wondering if something is going to happen to me to screw it up.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harvey Pekar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-want-to-keep-doing-as-much-work-as-i-can-and-i-want-to-keep-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-want-to-keep-doing-as-much-work-as-i-can-and-i-want-to-keep-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/harvey-pekar-4945_doing_i-want-to-keep-doing-as-much-work-as-i-c_787689.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/harvey-pekar-4945_doing_i-want-to-keep-doing-as-much-work-as-i-c_787689.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/harvey-pekar-4945_doing_i-want-to-keep-doing-as-much-work-as-i-c_787689.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I want to keep doing as much work as I can, and I want to keep the level high. I'm wondering if something is…” — Harvey Pekar", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Harvey Pekar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I want to keep doing as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-want-to-keep-doing-as-much-work-as-i-can-and-i-want-to-keep-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-want-to-keep-doing-as-much-work-as-i-can-and-i-want-to-keep-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```