--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is only by going through a volume of…" description: "\"It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions.\" — Ira Glass" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/ira-glass-2464_ambition_it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of_2019248.png" --- # It is only by going through a volume of work that you will… ![“It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions.” quote by Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/ira-glass-2464_ambition_it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of_2019248.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/ira-glass-2464_ambition_it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of_2019248.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/ira-glass-2464_ambition_it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of_2019248.png) > “It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions.” [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work bridges ambition and achievement; effort determines quality. **In simple terms:** Work hard to meet ambitions. Key Takeaway Commit to consistent effort. Themes ambition hard work achievement Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career development - creative projects - academic research - skill mastery Key Concepts goal setting productivity Questions to Reflect On - What habits sustain long‑term productivity? - How do we measure progress realistically? A Different Perspective May ignore external barriers to success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Good taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-taste/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [It is only by going through a volume of work that... your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of-work-that-your-work-will-be/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [What nobody tells people who are beginners… is that all of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/what-nobody-tells-people-who-are-beginners-is-that-all-of-us-who-do/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/nobody-tells-this-to-people-who-are-beginners-i-wish-someone-told-me/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [Breaks always create a gap in work and on it, if you take unneccessary breaks others will push you miles back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/breaks-always-create-a-gap-in-work-and-on-it-if-you-take-unneccessary/) Senoraroy > [“It is the reader who comes to complete the work and to close, albeit temporarily, the world that it opens, and the reader does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bayard/it-is-the-reader-who-comes-to-complete-the-work-and-to-close-albeit/) [Pierre Bayard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bayard/) > [“Education is about finding out what form of work for you is close to being play—work you do so easily that it restores you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-edmundson/education-is-about-finding-out-what-form-of-work-for-you-is-close-to/) [Mark Edmundson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-edmundson/) > [“to your work, then he will close the deal. To”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/to-your-work-then-he-will-close-the-deal-to/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [I like the opportunity to travel the world and work in close company with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/i-like-the-opportunity-to-travel-the-world-and-work-in-close-company/) [Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/) > [“The drive to close the gap between near-perfect and perfect is the difference between great and unstoppable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-s-grover/the-drive-to-close-the-gap-between-near-perfect-and-perfect-is-the/) [Tim S. Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-s-grover/) > [Mastery is in constantly wanting to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/mastery-is-in-constantly-wanting-to-close-the-gap-between-where-you/) [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) > [The skills gap is a reflection of what we value. To close the gap, we need to change the way the country feels about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/the-skills-gap-is-a-reflection-of-what-we-value-to-close-the-gap-we/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [“When comparing 100 years of experience to 1, there is a way to close the gap. One must simply understand the choices that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/when-comparing-100-years-of-experience-to-1-there-is-a-way-to-close/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) > [Hey, look, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. We have enough secrets between us to close the gap in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-storm/hey-look-you-don-t-have-to-tell-me-if-you-don-t-want-to-we-have/) Blake Storm > [Nobody tells people who are beginners - and I really wish somebody had told this to me - that all of us who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/nobody-tells-people-who-are-beginners-and-i-really-wish-somebody-had/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I would just like say to you with all my heart is that most everybody I know who does interesting creative work, they went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-would-just-like-say-to-you-with-all-my-heart-is-that-most-everybody/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) ## More by Ira Glass > [I think the most famous person I've ever met is Brad Pitt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-think-the-most-famous-person-i-ve-ever-met-is-brad-pitt/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I'm a big Penn & Teller fan. But I myself was never very good; I was a teenage magician who performed at kids' parties.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-m-a-big-penn-teller-fan-but-i-myself-was-never-very-good-i-was-a/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I'm in production year round. I work long hours. I have a dog and a wife. There's not a lot of available time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-m-in-production-year-round-i-work-long-hours-i-have-a-dog-and-a/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I think the thing that I wish somebody would ask me is just to ask about the business side of the radio show. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-think-the-thing-that-i-wish-somebody-would-ask-me-is-just-to-ask/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [Many times I see you as a portrait of torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/many-times-i-see-you-as-a-portrait-of-torture/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [It's tricky, performing the show live. Because when you're in a big auditorium, in front of 700 people, the natural tendency is to want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/it-s-tricky-performing-the-show-live-because-when-you-re-in-a-big/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [When you're working in public radio, you don't have any money to advertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/when-you-re-working-in-public-radio-you-don-t-have-any-money-to/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I suppose I shouldn't go around admitting I speak untruths on the radio. When I say something untrue on the air, I mean for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-suppose-i-shouldn-t-go-around-admitting-i-speak-untruths-on-the/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [But you can make good radio, interesting radio, great radio even, without an urgent question, a burning issue at stake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/but-you-can-make-good-radio-interesting-radio-great-radio-even/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I'm a cliche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-m-a-cliche/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I dont know how to read. I get all my news from Jon Stewart every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-dont-know-how-to-read-i-get-all-my-news-from-jon-stewart-every-day/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I am such a do-goody, people-pleasing kid - or I was - I don't think I've ever been fired, not even from an ice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-am-such-a-do-goody-people-pleasing-kid-or-i-was-i-don-t-think-i-ve/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [In some theoretical way I know that a half-million people hear the show. But in a day-to-day way, there's not much evidence of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/in-some-theoretical-way-i-know-that-a-half-million-people-hear-the/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I'll meet listeners who tell me what a great voice I have. But I don't have a great voice for radio. My voice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-ll-meet-listeners-who-tell-me-what-a-great-voice-i-have-but-i-don-t/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [ I remember clearly that when I was little it was explained to me \[that\] the way that babies were made was that God put… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-remember-clearly-that-when-i-was-little-it-was-explained-to-me-that/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) [Explore all 165 Ira Glass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [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/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ira Glass" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of-work-that-you-will-close-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of-work-that-you-will-close-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/ira-glass-2464_ambition_it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of_2019248.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/ira-glass-2464_ambition_it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of_2019248.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/ira-glass-2464_ambition_it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of_2019248.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as…” — Ira Glass", "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": "Ira Glass", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is only by going through...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of-work-that-you-will-close-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of-work-that-you-will-close-that/#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 } } ] } ```