---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't want to work to make money. I…"
description: "\"I don't want to work to make money. I want to work to work.\" — Hugh Prather"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/hugh-prather-3404_make_i-don-t-want-to-work-to-make-money-i-wan_1216203.png"
---

#  I don't want to work to make money. I want to work to work.

![“I don't want to work to make money. I want to work to work.” quote by Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/hugh-prather-3404_make_i-don-t-want-to-work-to-make-money-i-wan_1216203.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/hugh-prather-3404_make_i-don-t-want-to-work-to-make-money-i-wan_1216203.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/hugh-prather-3404_make_i-don-t-want-to-work-to-make-money-i-wan_1216203.png)

> “I don't want to work to make money. I want to work to work.”

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

## 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 be pursued for its intrinsic value, not merely as a means to earn money.

**In simple terms:** Work for love of work, not just money.

Key Takeaway

Find purpose beyond financial gain.

Themes

purpose intrinsic motivation work ethic values

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- volunteering
- creative projects
- personal fulfillment

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology career development

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives you to work beyond pay?
- How can you align work with personal values?

A Different Perspective

Financial necessity may override purpose.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [I work a lot and I like to get out and work but the work I do to make the other work work I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-work-a-lot-and-i-like-to-get-out-and-work-but-the-work-i-do-to-make/)

[David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/)

> [You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/you-must-work-we-must-all-work-to-make-the-world-worthy-of-its/)

[Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/)

> [I want my work to make news and not my personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/i-want-my-work-to-make-news-and-not-my-personal-life/)

[Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/)

> [I'm a Detroit kid who grew up with that assembly line mentality: You go to work to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nash/i-m-a-detroit-kid-who-grew-up-with-that-assembly-line-mentality-you/)

[Kevin Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nash/)

> [When I work for someone else, I always make money for them. When I back my own ideas, I am bound to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-w-griffith/when-i-work-for-someone-else-i-always-make-money-for-them-when-i-back/)

[D. W. Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-w-griffith/)

> [I don't want to make money; I want to make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-don-t-want-to-make-money-i-want-to-make-a-difference/)

[Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/)

> [As far as money goes, there's a saying in Denmark: 'Your last suit doesn't have any pockets.' You can't take it with you. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/as-far-as-money-goes-there-s-a-saying-in-denmark-your-last-suit-doesn/)

[Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/)

> [So I felt, well, I'll make the money and, with the money, do what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-cooper/so-i-felt-well-i-ll-make-the-money-and-with-the-money-do-what-i-want/)

[Jackie Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-cooper/)

> [I work because I want to work. Work keeps me going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-work-because-i-want-to-work-work-keeps-me-going/)

[Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/)

> [Sometimes I take a movie that I know is not great; it's not great on the page, but I need to work. Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-hunter/sometimes-i-take-a-movie-that-i-know-is-not-great-it-s-not-great-on/)

[Holly Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-hunter/)

> [Part of me says that no life will work if I can't make this one right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/part-of-me-says-that-no-life-will-work-if-i-can-t-make-this-one-right/)

[Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/)

> [Visualize your ultimate goal and then do the work to make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-somers/visualize-your-ultimate-goal-and-then-do-the-work-to-make-it-happen/)

[Suzanne Somers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-somers/)

> [So many missionaries, intent on doing something, forget that His main work is to make something of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/so-many-missionaries-intent-on-doing-something-forget-that-his-main/)

[Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/)

> [I'm glad if my work can make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-m-glad-if-my-work-can-make-a-difference/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [“If you can't get something to work. Make a face and try again LOL I works!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-penland/if-you-can-t-get-something-to-work-make-a-face-and-try-again-lol-i/)

[Amanda Penland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-penland/)

## More by Hugh Prather

> [Ultimately, my character is defined by the quality of my sensitivity to other people. I exist in equilibrium. I am here to the degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/ultimately-my-character-is-defined-by-the-quality-of-my-sensitivity/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [“I wish" assumes that I know what is the opposite of my present experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-wish-assumes-that-i-know-what-is-the-opposite-of-my-present/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [Sometimes when I generalize, I am saying, 'Let's pretend I am God,' and of course the other person argues that point endlessly. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/sometimes-when-i-generalize-i-am-saying-let-s-pretend-i-am-god-and-of/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [If the ocean was pure mind and I was a wave, I would be in terror if Itried to distinguish myself fromthe water that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/if-the-ocean-was-pure-mind-and-i-was-a-wave-i-would-be-in-terror-if/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [I don't need a "reason" to be happy. I don't have to consult the future to know how happy I feel now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-don-t-need-a-reason-to-be-happy-i-don-t-have-to-consult-the-future/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [“In order to see, I have to be willing to be seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/in-order-to-see-i-have-to-be-willing-to-be-seen/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [No matter what we talk about, we are talking about ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/no-matter-what-we-talk-about-we-are-talking-about-ourselves/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [Love itself is not an act of will, but sometimes I need the force of my volition to break with my habitual responses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/love-itself-is-not-an-act-of-will-but-sometimes-i-need-the-force-of/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [I can not 'make my mark' for all time - those concepts are mutually exclusive. 'Lasting effect' is a self-contradictory term. Meaning does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-can-not-make-my-mark-for-all-time-those-concepts-are-mutually/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [Today I don't want to live for, I want to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/today-i-don-t-want-to-live-for-i-want-to-live/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [Love, the magician, knows this little trick whereby two people walk in different directions yet always remain side by side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/love-the-magician-knows-this-little-trick-whereby-two-people-walk-in/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [Books seek us out. They slip themselves into our hands just at the time we are ready for a new self-concept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/books-seek-us-out-they-slip-themselves-into-our-hands-just-at-the/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [If I work toward an end, meantime I am confined to a process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/if-i-work-toward-an-end-meantime-i-am-confined-to-a-process/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [Happiness is gentleness, peace, concentration, simplicity, forgiveness, humor, fearlessness, trust, and now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/happiness-is-gentleness-peace-concentration-simplicity-forgiveness/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [One element of maturity is the realization that we don't get away with anything. Any advantage gained or convenience taken, any private procrastination or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/one-element-of-maturity-is-the-realization-that-we-don-t-get-away/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

[Explore all 130 Hugh Prather quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

## More Make quotes

> [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/)

[Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/)

> [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/)

[Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/)

[Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/)

> [You gotta make sacrifices sometimes. It's just the life that we live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shelton/you-gotta-make-sacrifices-sometimes-it-s-just-the-life-that-we-live/)

[Ben Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shelton/)

> [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/)

[Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/)

> [If you've got some to say to Ric Flair, you come say it to me, and I'll make the translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/if-you-ve-got-some-to-say-to-ric-flair-you-come-say-it-to-me-and-i-ll/)

[Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [There is a broad range of reaction to the work, as there is a broad range of work I make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hodges/there-is-a-broad-range-of-reaction-to-the-work-as-there-is-a-broad/)

[Jim Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hodges/)

> [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/)

[Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/)

> [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/)

[Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/)

> [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/)

> [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/)

[LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/)

> [You don't want to fix things that aren't broken, so that kind of stops you from make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/you-don-t-want-to-fix-things-that-aren-t-broken-so-that-kind-of-stops/)

[Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/)

Browse all 16,612 Make quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't want to work to make money. I want to work to work.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Hugh Prather"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-don-t-want-to-work-to-make-money-i-want-to-work-to-work/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Make"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-don-t-want-to-work-to-make-money-i-want-to-work-to-work/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/hugh-prather-3404_make_i-don-t-want-to-work-to-make-money-i-wan_1216203.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/hugh-prather-3404_make_i-don-t-want-to-work-to-make-money-i-wan_1216203.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/hugh-prather-3404_make_i-don-t-want-to-work-to-make-money-i-wan_1216203.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't want to work to make money. I want to work to work.” — Hugh Prather",
                "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": "Hugh Prather",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't want to work to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-don-t-want-to-work-to-make-money-i-want-to-work-to-work/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-don-t-want-to-work-to-make-money-i-want-to-work-to-work/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
