--- 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... your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/ira-glass-2464_ambition_it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of_2676994.jpg" --- # It is only by going through a volume of work that... your… ![“It is only by going through a volume of work that... your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I've ever met. It's gonna take awhile. It's normal to take awhile. You've just gotta fight your way through.” quote by Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/ira-glass-2464_ambition_it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of_2676994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/ira-glass-2464_ambition_it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of_2676994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/ira-glass-2464_ambition_it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of_2676994.jpg) > “It is only by going through a volume of work that... your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I've ever met. It's gonna take awhile. It's normal to take awhile. You've just gotta fight your way through.” [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. Success requires sustained effort; progress is gradual and normal, demanding perseverance through challenges. **In simple terms:** Hard work and patience lead to achieving ambitions. Key Takeaway Persist despite setbacks. Themes perseverance effort growth patience Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - creative projects - skill mastery - entrepreneurship - academic research Key Concepts Grit long‑term development self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What long‑term goal feels overwhelming? - How can you sustain motivation over time? A Different Perspective Results may be delayed, and burnout can occur without balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitions/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Good Ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ambitions-2548564/) [Good taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-taste/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Took Longer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-longer-271441/) [Volume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volume/) [Volume Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volume-work-2548565/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Work Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-work-302068/) ## Related quotes > [It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/it-is-only-by-going-through-a-volume-of-work-that-you-will-close-that/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [It's the first time I've ever done anything like that. It took longer than I expected. I've gotten a lot of E-mail since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-barksdale/it-s-the-first-time-i-ve-ever-done-anything-like-that-it-took-longer/) [Jim Barksdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-barksdale/) > [Take modern courtships! They resulted in the same thing as under George the Second, but took longer to reach it, owing to the motor-cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/take-modern-courtships-they-resulted-in-the-same-thing-as-under/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [I was fine with numbers, but it took me a longer time to grasp simple things like spellings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/i-was-fine-with-numbers-but-it-took-me-a-longer-time-to-grasp-simple/) [James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/) > [“Life took longer to reassemble than it did to blow apart,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/life-took-longer-to-reassemble-than-it-did-to-blow-apart/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [ The recording process \[ for 'Dirty Work'\] took longer than anticipated, because we kept going on tour in between the recording process to make… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-barakat/the-recording-process-for-dirty-work-took-longer-than-anticipated/) [Jack Barakat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-barakat/) > [It took me longer to get through this site, than to get outside at Waimea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-noll/it-took-me-longer-to-get-through-this-site-than-to-get-outside-at/) [Greg Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-noll/) > [“When he died, I think she did, too, it just took longer time for her body to realize her heart and mind were already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasinda-wilder/when-he-died-i-think-she-did-too-it-just-took-longer-time-for-her/) [Jasinda Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasinda-wilder/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/all-of-us-who-do-creative-work-we-get-into-it-because-we-have-good/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [“We are often more a piece of work than a work of art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-grunewald/we-are-often-more-a-piece-of-work-than-a-work-of-art/) [R.J. Grunewald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-grunewald/) > [“Not enough hours to work? Or not enough work in the hours?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saad-ireland/not-enough-hours-to-work-or-not-enough-work-in-the-hours/) [Saad Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saad-ireland/) > [We honor life when we work. The type of work is not important: the fact of work is. All work feeds the soul if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/we-honor-life-when-we-work-the-type-of-work-is-not-important-the-fact/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) ## 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... your work will be as good as your ambitions. 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