--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What interests me, personally, is work…" description: "\"“What interests me, personally, is work which in some way, speaks the truth to power…I don’t think we speak the truth to power for power’s ear, but for..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/irvine-welsh-843_ethics_what-interests-me-personally-is-work-whi_2300464.png" --- # What interests me, personally, is work which in some way… ![“What interests me, personally, is work which in some way, speaks the truth to power…I don’t think we speak the truth to power for power’s ear, but for the ear and the imagination of future generations, who would seek to live in a world free from the malign and self-serving influence of those who…” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/irvine-welsh-843_ethics_what-interests-me-personally-is-work-whi_2300464.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/irvine-welsh-843_ethics_what-interests-me-personally-is-work-whi_2300464.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/irvine-welsh-843_ethics_what-interests-me-personally-is-work-whi_2300464.png) > ““What interests me, personally, is work which in some way, speaks the truth to power…I don’t think we speak the truth to power for power’s ear, but for the ear and the imagination of future generations, who would seek to live in a world free from the malign and self-serving influence of those who wield it.”” [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speaking truth to power should aim at future generations’ imagination, not merely appeasing current authority. **In simple terms:** Truth should inspire future minds, not just please current rulers. Key Takeaway Share honest insights for lasting impact. Themes truth power future generations Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational political When to use this quote - political activism - writing - education Key Concepts ethical responsibility social critique Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your truth endures? - Who will carry your ideas forward? A Different Perspective Powerful voices can be suppressed, limiting reach. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Interests Personally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interests-personally-5436713/) [Personally Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personally-work-1447017/) [Political-commentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-commentary/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Posterity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posterity/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance/) [Social-commentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-commentary/) [Speak the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-the-truth/) [Speak Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-truth/) [Speaks Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaks-truth/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-power/) ## Related quotes > [“One just has to look at the thing from a perspective that interests you personally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/one-just-has-to-look-at-the-thing-from-a-perspective-that-interests/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [We know that when a woman speaks truth to power, there will be attempts to put her down... I'm not going to go anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/we-know-that-when-a-woman-speaks-truth-to-power-there-will-be/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [I think the biggest thing is just making sure that you do the work that you connect with, personally, and that you do work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-white/i-think-the-biggest-thing-is-just-making-sure-that-you-do-the-work/) [Susanna White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-white/) > [I personally, only work with people in my business who show excellence. I have a business, the business of enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-personally-only-work-with-people-in-my-business-who-show-excellence/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The way I personally work is I like to write what I know, what I feel, and also where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-kelley/the-way-i-personally-work-is-i-like-to-write-what-i-know-what-i-feel/) [David E. Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-kelley/) > [Personally, I have nothing against work, particularly when performed, quietly and unobtrusively, by someone else. I just don't happen to think it's an appropriate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/personally-i-have-nothing-against-work-particularly-when-performed/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [I think, personally for me I always work on the next goal and wanna figure out how to achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-max/i-think-personally-for-me-i-always-work-on-the-next-goal-and-wanna/) [Ava Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-max/) > [“The Delores tank rolled on inexorably, “You get a mortgage to buy a house, a larger mortgage than the previous owner because the price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-d-ellis/the-delores-tank-rolled-on-inexorably-you-get-a-mortgage-to-buy-a/) [Arun D. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun-d-ellis/) > [“Under democracy one party always devotes it's chief energies to prove that the other party is unfit to rule-- and both commonly succeed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/under-democracy-one-party-always-devotes-it-s-chief-energies-to-prove/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [“American thought and American politics will be largely at the mercy of those who operate these stations, for publicity is the most powerful weapon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/american-thought-and-american-politics-will-be-largely-at-the-mercy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If it takes us 10 years to get into the shit, it will take us 20 to get out. And the journey starts NOW.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/if-it-takes-us-10-years-to-get-into-the-shit-it-will-take-us-20-to/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“The nautical expression that “Rats leave a sinking ship” is an observed truth. Not only will they attempt to save themselves but they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/the-nautical-expression-that-rats-leave-a-sinking-ship-is-an-observed/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/) > [“He writes the worst English that I have ever encountered. It reminds me of a string of wet sponges; it reminds me of tattered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/he-writes-the-worst-english-that-i-have-ever-encountered-it-reminds/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [“Have you ever found yourself saying, "There ought to be a law against this," or, "Somebody should do something"? Well, here’s the good news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-stoklasa-ma/have-you-ever-found-yourself-saying-there-ought-to-be-a-law-against/) [Victoria Stoklasa MA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-stoklasa-ma/) > [“What's in a #firstlady title? The rest of their #bickeringbook, and look who's reading each other in proton-order? These kittens have taken off their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-bond/what-s-in-a-firstlady-title-the-rest-of-their-bickeringbook-and-look/) [Tracey Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-bond/) ## More by Irvine Welsh > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“Without this kickstart to my day, I'd be lost. A day without a morning run is a day you fumble through, rather than one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/without-this-kickstart-to-my-day-i-d-be-lost-a-day-without-a-morning/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“There's nae reasoning wi some cats. You say 'reason', they mew 'treason'. Ken?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nae-reasoning-wi-some-cats-you-say-reason-they-mew-treason-ken/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [It's crazy for somebody who's kind of empowered and wealthy like myself to say, "Oh, I don't need to be patronized by the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-crazy-for-somebody-who-s-kind-of-empowered-and-wealthy-like/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [When you go away, you see where you come from in a different light. I see Scotland, and the rest of Britain, as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/when-you-go-away-you-see-where-you-come-from-in-a-different-light-i/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If it's something that I feel uncomfortable with, that's a reason for me to write it. I kind of like to make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-it-s-something-that-i-feel-uncomfortable-with-that-s-a-reason-for/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [There's nothing worse than a violent beating from an unremarkable person. Physical violence with someone is too much like shagging them. Too much id…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-violent-beating-from-an-unremarkable/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If I stop working and publishing, and TV, and film and all that, I would be dead within a couple of weeks. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-i-stop-working-and-publishing-and-tv-and-film-and-all-that-i-would/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I can see why the Russians love Robert Burns, I think that Russians and Koreans have a very similar outlook to Scots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-why-the-russians-love-robert-burns-i-think-that-russians/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If you continue to transfer the wealth of the population of the planet to a very small amount of people, it becomes untenable at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-you-continue-to-transfer-the-wealth-of-the-population-of-the/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [Most middle-class people I know don't really live like me. Middle-class people worry a lot about money. They worry a lot about job security,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/most-middle-class-people-i-know-don-t-really-live-like-me-middle/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [As soon as you've written it, you're thinking about how it can move into different mediums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/as-soon-as-you-ve-written-it-you-re-thinking-about-how-it-can-move/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“Begbie doesnae even notice; he's in his element, particularly good at funerals in the way a lot ay psychopaths tend tae be. Ah suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/begbie-doesnae-even-notice-he-s-in-his-element-particularly-good-at/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I'm more of a warrior than you'll ever be. I believe in the class war. I believe in the battle of the sexes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-m-more-of-a-warrior-than-you-ll-ever-be-i-believe-in-the-class-war/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) [Explore all 348 Irvine Welsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## More Ethics quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theognis-of-megara/he-who-mistrusts-most-should-be-trusted-least/) [Theognis of Megara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theognis-of-megara/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ethics is not definable, is not implementable, because it is not conscious; it involves not only our thinking, but also our feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valdemar-w-setzer/ethics-is-not-definable-is-not-implementable-because-it-is-not/) [Valdemar W Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valdemar-w-setzer/) > [Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) [Browse all 4,548 Ethics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What interests me, personally, is work which in some way, speaks the truth to power…I don’t think we speak the truth to power for power’s ear, but for the ear and the imagination of future generations, who would seek to live in a world free from the malign and self-serving influence of those who wield it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irvine Welsh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/what-interests-me-personally-is-work-which-in-some-way-speaks-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ethics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/what-interests-me-personally-is-work-which-in-some-way-speaks-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/irvine-welsh-843_ethics_what-interests-me-personally-is-work-whi_2300464.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/irvine-welsh-843_ethics_what-interests-me-personally-is-work-whi_2300464.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/irvine-welsh-843_ethics_what-interests-me-personally-is-work-whi_2300464.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What interests me, personally, is work which in some way, speaks the truth to power…I don’t think we speak…” — Irvine Welsh", "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": "Irvine Welsh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What interests me, personally, is work...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/what-interests-me-personally-is-work-which-in-some-way-speaks-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/what-interests-me-personally-is-work-which-in-some-way-speaks-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 } } ] } ```