--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of burning the midnight oil, you…" description: "\"“Instead of burning the midnight oil, you should try selling it.”\" — Jarod Kintz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/jarod-kintz-2_selling_instead-of-burning-the-midnight-oil-you_2309327.jpg" --- # Instead of burning the midnight oil, you should try… ![“Instead of burning the midnight oil, you should try selling it.” quote by Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/jarod-kintz-2_selling_instead-of-burning-the-midnight-oil-you_2309327.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/jarod-kintz-2_selling_instead-of-burning-the-midnight-oil-you_2309327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/jarod-kintz-2_selling_instead-of-burning-the-midnight-oil-you_2309327.jpg) > ““Instead of burning the midnight oil, you should try selling it.”” [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests replacing late‑night work with selling the “midnight oil,” a metaphor for monetizing time rather than exhausting it. **In simple terms:** Sell time instead of overworking. Key Takeaway Find profitable ways to use time. Themes productivity economics time management humor Mood pragmatic witty Type motivational humorous When to use this quote - freelance gigs - consulting - side hustles Key Concepts Entrepreneurship value creation Practical Applications - Not all “oil” can be sold - some work is essential. Questions to Reflect On - How to balance effort and reward? A Different Perspective What tasks truly add value? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) ## Related quotes > [“He wondered briefly what it was like to dream. He never did. Possibly because he so seldom slept. He was obsessed with obtaining all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/he-wondered-briefly-what-it-was-like-to-dream-he-never-did-possibly/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [Instead of burning a guy at the stake, what about burning him at the STILTS It probably lasts longer, plus it moves around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/instead-of-burning-a-guy-at-the-stake-what-about-burning-him-at-the/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [No one's playing records anymore, so find your favorite and frame it, then get rid of the rest - try selling or donating them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niecy-nash/no-one-s-playing-records-anymore-so-find-your-favorite-and-frame-it/) [Niecy Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niecy-nash/) > [Its like sunlight burning at midnight Making my life something so Beautiful, beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-like-sunlight-burning-at-midnight-making-my-life-something-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Try selling your EGO on OLX.com ..you will realize its not worth even a penny¦](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka/try-selling-your-ego-on-olx-com-you-will-realize-its-not-worth-even-a/) [Priyanka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka/) > [Human beings will line up for miles to buy a bucket of catastrophes, but don't try selling sunshine and light - you'll go broke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/human-beings-will-line-up-for-miles-to-buy-a-bucket-of-catastrophes/) [Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/) > [“My search for professional/personal harmony led me down the path of asking the wrong question. The question isn’t, “What can I give up today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trong-nguyen/my-search-for-professional-personal-harmony-led-me-down-the-path-of/) Trong Nguyen > [If you think this is a free country, try selling something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kantor/if-you-think-this-is-a-free-country-try-selling-something/) Andrew Kantor > [If you believe that happiness can be bought, then why don't you try selling some of yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/if-you-believe-that-happiness-can-be-bought-then-why-don-t-you-try/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [The advertising man who spares the midnight oil will not get very far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-c-hopkins/the-advertising-man-who-spares-the-midnight-oil-will-not-get-very-far/) [Claude C. Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-c-hopkins/) > [The advertising man who spares the midnight oil will never get very far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-c-hopkins/the-advertising-man-who-spares-the-midnight-oil-will-never-get-very/) [Claude C. Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-c-hopkins/) > [Stay up and really burn the midnight oil. There are no compromises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leontyne-price/stay-up-and-really-burn-the-midnight-oil-there-are-no-compromises/) [Leontyne Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leontyne-price/) > [“There is no night porter wandering about in King's. The authorities pay you the compliment, ugly gate-crasher, of treating you as a grown-up. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whipplesnaith/there-is-no-night-porter-wandering-about-in-king-s-the-authorities/) [Whipplesnaith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whipplesnaith/) > [“We burned the midnight oil making love, even if it was just kissing and touching, for hours. It could be a single candle, Fourth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-witt/we-burned-the-midnight-oil-making-love-even-if-it-was-just-kissing/) [L.A. Witt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-witt/) > [Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil O'er books consumed the midnight oil?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/whence-is-thy-learning-hath-thy-toil-o-er-books-consumed-the-midnight/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) ## More by Jarod Kintz > [“I notice when you’re gone. Or do I? How can I observe something that isn’t there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-notice-when-you-re-gone-or-do-i-how-can-i-observe-something-that/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“I wouldn’t love you if you were the last Sodomite in Gomorrah.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wouldn-t-love-you-if-you-were-the-last-sodomite-in-gomorrah/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“A blanket could be used to make sweet, sweet music with the love of your life. Hopefully that person is me, because I’ve been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-to-make-sweet-sweet-music-with-the-love-of/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“A brick could be used to slow down time. Sort of like a camel in a wheelchair pushed by a thirsty Arab. Hey, Khalid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-to-slow-down-time-sort-of-like-a-camel-in-a/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“We have a love so pure that it makes snow seem yellow. (Don’t eat it!)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-have-a-love-so-pure-that-it-makes-snow-seem-yellow-don-t-eat-it/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“I hid Mrs. Frozenwater’s body in the ice cube trays in my freezer. Better to keep her there than let her memory thaw out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-hid-mrs-frozenwater-s-body-in-the-ice-cube-trays-in-my-freezer/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Two similar words might lead to two similar ideas. They might also lead to the basement, which I recently converted into a dungeon/torture chamber.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/two-similar-words-might-lead-to-two-similar-ideas-they-might-also/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Nothing is and isn’t; nothing is and isn’t—nothing itself is, and at the same time, nothing isn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/nothing-is-and-isn-t-nothing-is-and-isn-t-nothing-itself-is-and-at/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Embossed letters represent the topography of typography.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/embossed-letters-represent-the-topography-of-typography/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“There’s only one piece of clothing I could eat fast, and that’s a scarf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/there-s-only-one-piece-of-clothing-i-could-eat-fast-and-that-s-a-scarf/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Dora J. Arod is to Jarod Ora, as yes is to yes. Yes is also the correct answer to “Will you marry me?” Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/dora-j-arod-is-to-jarod-ora-as-yes-is-to-yes-yes-is-also-the-correct/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“The best part about being kidnapped is being blindfolded and getting kicked into the trunk of a car. Boy, normally I have to beg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-best-part-about-being-kidnapped-is-being-blindfolded-and-getting/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Orafoura once told me that if I were a car, I’d be a Ferrari. One that was scratched smashed, rusted, and stolen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/orafoura-once-told-me-that-if-i-were-a-car-i-d-be-a-ferrari-one-that/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“What makes a good leader? I ask myself this every day, and then as I begin to list off characteristics I realize I’m describing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/what-makes-a-good-leader-i-ask-myself-this-every-day-and-then-as-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“I’d like to file a missing person’s report—on my clone. It’s nearly 2012. He should have been here by now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-d-like-to-file-a-missing-person-s-report-on-my-clone-it-s-nearly/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) [Explore all 6,921 Jarod Kintz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More Selling quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Life is pain...anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/life-is-pain-anyone-who-tells-you-otherwise-is-selling-something/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > [There's nothing like getting feedback that's positive and supportive. That's what I'm all about. I'm really just genuinely doing good music. I'm not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/there-s-nothing-like-getting-feedback-that-s-positive-and-supportive/) [Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When I paint, I never think of selling. People simply fail to understand that we paint in order to experiment and to develop ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edvard-munch/when-i-paint-i-never-think-of-selling-people-simply-fail-to/) [Edvard Munch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edvard-munch/) > [I hadn't known anything else, other than being an artist, and I needed to be a person for a while, really get to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-styrke/i-hadn-t-known-anything-else-other-than-being-an-artist-and-i-needed/) [Tove Styrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-styrke/) > [...I have to tell you that I'm not all that comfortable with the idea of spending the rest of my life sleeping next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/i-have-to-tell-you-that-i-m-not-all-that-comfortable-with-the-idea-of/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I have always been selling. I always had something going on. That was just my nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-have-always-been-selling-i-always-had-something-going-on-that-was/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [I began writing early - very, very early... I was already writing short stories for the radio and selling poems to poetry and art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/i-began-writing-early-very-very-early-i-was-already-writing-short/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [I admire Mark Zuckerberg... for not selling out, for wanting to make a company. I admire that a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-admire-mark-zuckerberg-for-not-selling-out-for-wanting-to-make-a/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The Roman Catholic Church is an institution for whose gains the phrase "ill-gotten" might have been specially invented. And of all its money-making rip-offs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-roman-catholic-church-is-an-institution-for-whose-gains-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The impresario function is about intervening with the company's more administrative management structure. It is about trying to establish a sense of boundaries and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-impresario-function-is-about-intervening-with-the-company-s-more/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/) Will Advise [Browse all 1,925 Selling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Instead of burning the midnight oil, you should try selling it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jarod Kintz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/instead-of-burning-the-midnight-oil-you-should-try-selling-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Selling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/instead-of-burning-the-midnight-oil-you-should-try-selling-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/jarod-kintz-2_selling_instead-of-burning-the-midnight-oil-you_2309327.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/jarod-kintz-2_selling_instead-of-burning-the-midnight-oil-you_2309327.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/jarod-kintz-2_selling_instead-of-burning-the-midnight-oil-you_2309327.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Instead of burning the midnight oil, you should try selling it.” — Jarod Kintz", "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": "Jarod Kintz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Instead of burning the midnight oil,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/instead-of-burning-the-midnight-oil-you-should-try-selling-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/instead-of-burning-the-midnight-oil-you-should-try-selling-it/#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 } } ] } ```