---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is like commission, only get what…"
description: "\"Life is like commission, only get what you earn.\" — James Merrow"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/james-merrow-2327_life_life-is-like-commission-only-get-what-yo_1190268.jpg"
---

#  Life is like commission, only get what you earn.

![“Life is like commission, only get what you earn.” quote by James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/james-merrow-2327_life_life-is-like-commission-only-get-what-yo_1190268.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/james-merrow-2327_life_life-is-like-commission-only-get-what-yo_1190268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/james-merrow-2327_life_life-is-like-commission-only-get-what-yo_1190268.jpg)

> “Life is like commission, only get what you earn.”

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

## 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 determines rewards; effort directly yields earnings.

**In simple terms:** Earned rewards come from effort.

Key Takeaway

Focus on productive work.

Themes

work effort reward justice

Mood

determined reflective

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- career
- business
- personal finance

Key Concepts

meritocracy fairness

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you measure effort vs outcome?
- What obstacles affect earning potential?

A Different Perspective

Hard work may not guarantee success due to external factors.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Commission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commission/) [Commission Earn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commission-earn-3530016/) [Earn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earn/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-like/) [Like Commission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-commission-3530017/)

## Related quotes

> [Life is like working out. You have to burn in order to earn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/life-is-like-working-out-you-have-to-burn-in-order-to-earn/)

[Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/)

> [Lies can be verbal or nonverbal, kindhearted or self-serving, devious or bald-faced; they can be lies of omission or lies of commission; they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/lies-can-be-verbal-or-nonverbal-kindhearted-or-self-serving-devious/)

[Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/)

> [I still do not know where the notes will come from when I accept a commission for a new work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-foss/i-still-do-not-know-where-the-notes-will-come-from-when-i-accept-a/)

[Lukas Foss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-foss/)

> [If I get a commission, it's like a flood of creative thought and energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-peck/if-i-get-a-commission-it-s-like-a-flood-of-creative-thought-and-energy/)

[Justin Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-peck/)

> [The 9/11 Commission recently released their report, citing important changes which need to be made to improve our nation's homeland security. I voiced my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-boswell/the-9-11-commission-recently-released-their-report-citing-important/)

[Leonard Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-boswell/)

> [Ive been in photography for over 20 years now, and I dont think people commission me because of my name. At some point, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccartney/ive-been-in-photography-for-over-20-years-now-and-i-dont-think-people/)

[Mary McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccartney/)

> [In aristocratic societies, rich people used to commission exquisite paintings for their walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-holland/in-aristocratic-societies-rich-people-used-to-commission-exquisite/)

[Brad Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-holland/)

> [The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and EPA, et cetera, had worked out what allowable releases are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-scranton/the-nuclear-regulatory-commission-and-epa-et-cetera-had-worked-out/)

[William Scranton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-scranton/)

> [Now the interesting thing about the movie is that many of the questions it raised about the Warren Commission and its investigation were all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-stokes/now-the-interesting-thing-about-the-movie-is-that-many-of-the/)

[Louis Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-stokes/)

> [Governance has been at the heart of the work of the Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations and is a clear focus in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/governance-has-been-at-the-heart-of-the-work-of-the-oxford-martin/)

[Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/)

> [“Unless some people are commissioned for the task, there will be no gospel preachers; unless the gospel is preached, sinners will not hear Christ’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/unless-some-people-are-commissioned-for-the-task-there-will-be-no/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [The SEC got more than 100 rules to write under Dodd-Frank, the lion's share of all the agencies. And we've moved, I think, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/the-sec-got-more-than-100-rules-to-write-under-dodd-frank-the-lion-s/)

[Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/)

> [Electricity transmission operates on a frequency between 49.7 Hertz and 50.2 Hertz. What I have done is petitioned the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jyotiraditya-madhavrao-scindia/electricity-transmission-operates-on-a-frequency-between-49-7-hertz/)

[Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jyotiraditya-madhavrao-scindia/)

> [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/)

[Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/)

> [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

## More by James Merrow

> [I hte it whn peple talk like this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/i-hte-it-whn-peple-talk-like-this/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [21stcentury-- dyslexic glue sniffing cybersluts with homicidal minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/21stcentury-dyslexic-glue-sniffing-cybersluts-with-homicidal-minds/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [Is it just you or am I fucking crazy? I swear to god, I wish that I could photoshop the scars off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/is-it-just-you-or-am-i-fucking-crazy-i-swear-to-god-i-wish-that-i/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [Some good things fall apart so better things can fall together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/some-good-things-fall-apart-so-better-things-can-fall-together/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [I love the people that can make me laugh even when I don't feel like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/i-love-the-people-that-can-make-me-laugh-even-when-i-don-t-feel-like/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [I cant move on... I cant live on, without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/i-cant-move-on-i-cant-live-on-without-you/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [The only tears that she should ever cry are tears of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/the-only-tears-that-she-should-ever-cry-are-tears-of-happiness/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [My life is a circus and I am tripping down the tightrope, there is nothing to save me now so I will not look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/my-life-is-a-circus-and-i-am-tripping-down-the-tightrope-there-is/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [I just made this background xD witch one is the best???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/i-just-made-this-background-xd-witch-one-is-the-best/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [Sometimes when you listen to the lyrics of a song it feels like they were written just for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/sometimes-when-you-listen-to-the-lyrics-of-a-song-it-feels-like-they/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [I know that I can't take back all of the mistakes, but I will try (:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/i-know-that-i-can-t-take-back-all-of-the-mistakes-but-i-will-try/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [The world will never know you like I do. &lt; 3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/the-world-will-never-know-you-like-i-do-3/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [Everyone is changing, there's no one left that's real. To make up your own ending, and let me know just how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/everyone-is-changing-there-s-no-one-left-that-s-real-to-make-up-your/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [If you want to leave her, leave her breathless. If you want to lie, lie next to her. If you want to let go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/if-you-want-to-leave-her-leave-her-breathless-if-you-want-to-lie-lie/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [To lead yourself use your head; to lead others use your hart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/to-lead-yourself-use-your-head-to-lead-others-use-your-hart/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

[Explore all 166 James Merrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

## More Commission quotes

> [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/)

[Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/)

> [Electricity transmission operates on a frequency between 49.7 Hertz and 50.2 Hertz. What I have done is petitioned the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jyotiraditya-madhavrao-scindia/electricity-transmission-operates-on-a-frequency-between-49-7-hertz/)

[Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jyotiraditya-madhavrao-scindia/)

> [The SEC got more than 100 rules to write under Dodd-Frank, the lion's share of all the agencies. And we've moved, I think, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/the-sec-got-more-than-100-rules-to-write-under-dodd-frank-the-lion-s/)

[Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/)

> [“Unless some people are commissioned for the task, there will be no gospel preachers; unless the gospel is preached, sinners will not hear Christ’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/unless-some-people-are-commissioned-for-the-task-there-will-be-no/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [Governance has been at the heart of the work of the Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations and is a clear focus in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/governance-has-been-at-the-heart-of-the-work-of-the-oxford-martin/)

[Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/)

> [Now the interesting thing about the movie is that many of the questions it raised about the Warren Commission and its investigation were all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-stokes/now-the-interesting-thing-about-the-movie-is-that-many-of-the/)

[Louis Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-stokes/)

> [The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and EPA, et cetera, had worked out what allowable releases are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-scranton/the-nuclear-regulatory-commission-and-epa-et-cetera-had-worked-out/)

[William Scranton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-scranton/)

> [In aristocratic societies, rich people used to commission exquisite paintings for their walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-holland/in-aristocratic-societies-rich-people-used-to-commission-exquisite/)

[Brad Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-holland/)

> [Ive been in photography for over 20 years now, and I dont think people commission me because of my name. At some point, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccartney/ive-been-in-photography-for-over-20-years-now-and-i-dont-think-people/)

[Mary McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccartney/)

> [The 9/11 Commission recently released their report, citing important changes which need to be made to improve our nation's homeland security. I voiced my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-boswell/the-9-11-commission-recently-released-their-report-citing-important/)

[Leonard Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-boswell/)

> [If I get a commission, it's like a flood of creative thought and energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-peck/if-i-get-a-commission-it-s-like-a-flood-of-creative-thought-and-energy/)

[Justin Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-peck/)

> [I still do not know where the notes will come from when I accept a commission for a new work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-foss/i-still-do-not-know-where-the-notes-will-come-from-when-i-accept-a/)

[Lukas Foss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-foss/)

> [Lies can be verbal or nonverbal, kindhearted or self-serving, devious or bald-faced; they can be lies of omission or lies of commission; they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/lies-can-be-verbal-or-nonverbal-kindhearted-or-self-serving-devious/)

[Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/)

> [Often in companies, you'll see tensions between sales and marketing. Sales people will want to give discounts to clients because they often get paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/often-in-companies-you-ll-see-tensions-between-sales-and-marketing/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

[Browse all 131 Commission quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commission/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Life is like commission, only get what you earn.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Merrow"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/life-is-like-commission-only-get-what-you-earn/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Commission"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/life-is-like-commission-only-get-what-you-earn/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/james-merrow-2327_life_life-is-like-commission-only-get-what-yo_1190268.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/james-merrow-2327_life_life-is-like-commission-only-get-what-yo_1190268.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/james-merrow-2327_life_life-is-like-commission-only-get-what-yo_1190268.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Life is like commission, only get what you earn.” — James Merrow",
                "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": "James Merrow",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Life is like commission, only get...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/life-is-like-commission-only-get-what-you-earn/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/life-is-like-commission-only-get-what-you-earn/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
