--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Properly speaking, such work is never…" description: "\"Properly speaking, such work is never finished; one must declare it so when, according to time and circumstances, one has done one's best.\" — Johann Wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_properly-speaking-such-work-is-never-fin_2345946.jpg" --- # Properly speaking, such work is never finished; one must… ![“Properly speaking, such work is never finished; one must declare it so when, according to time and circumstances, one has done one's best.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_properly-speaking-such-work-is-never-fin_2345946.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_properly-speaking-such-work-is-never-fin_2345946.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_properly-speaking-such-work-is-never-fin_2345946.jpg) > “Properly speaking, such work is never finished; one must declare it so when, according to time and circumstances, one has done one's best.” [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work is never truly complete; one should acknowledge effort as sufficient given time and circumstances. **In simple terms:** Accept that work may be unfinished but effort matters. Key Takeaway Recognize and accept your best effort. Themes acceptance effort imperfection philosophy time circumstances Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - project deadlines - creative writing - research - home improvement - learning Key Concepts existentialism ethics productivity Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to stop? - How do you define “best” in varying contexts? A Different Perspective Risk of complacency if “best” is misjudged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [According Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/according-time-751950/) [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Declare According](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declare-according-5694990/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Properly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/properly/) [Speaking Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-work-2096990/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work Finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-finished-478998/) ## Related quotes > [“Only Jesus’ work is a finished work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/only-jesus-work-is-a-finished-work/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [When I do the permanent projects or the big projects, when a work is finished, that's the beginning of its life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-goldsworthy/when-i-do-the-permanent-projects-or-the-big-projects-when-a-work-is/) [Andy Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-goldsworthy/) > [The fact is I am growing old too fast, alas! I feel it, and yet work I will, and may God grant me life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/the-fact-is-i-am-growing-old-too-fast-alas-i-feel-it-and-yet-work-i/) [John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/) > [“Speaking about work isn’t working.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/speaking-about-work-isn-t-working/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I feel much more comfortable and enthused speaking about the work than I am good at speaking about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-d-arcy/i-feel-much-more-comfortable-and-enthused-speaking-about-the-work/) [Emma D'Arcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-d-arcy/) > [For me, speaking is work. It's not like when you breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milos-forman/for-me-speaking-is-work-it-s-not-like-when-you-breathe/) [Milos Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milos-forman/) > [My attitude when I'm in Mexico is I wake up in the morning with nothing to do and I go to bed half done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/my-attitude-when-i-m-in-mexico-is-i-wake-up-in-the-morning-with/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [How long till our powers are back? (Kat) A few hours according to last time. (Sin) Sweet, and we have how long till the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/how-long-till-our-powers-are-back-kat-a-few-hours-according-to-last/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Actions may be judged according to time and place, and their values may change; but style, language (apart from content) are crystallized at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-mann/actions-may-be-judged-according-to-time-and-place-and-their-values/) [Erika Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-mann/) > [Our judgements about things vary according to the time left us to live -that we think is left us to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/our-judgements-about-things-vary-according-to-the-time-left-us-to/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [What is right and what is wrong keeps changing according to time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/what-is-right-and-what-is-wrong-keeps-changing-according-to-time/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [There are times when you feel like you give a great effort, you have prepared properly, and you got less than what you wanted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehman/there-are-times-when-you-feel-like-you-give-a-great-effort-you-have/) [Tom Lehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehman/) > [Conservation is a cause that has no end. There is no point at which we will say our work is finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/conservation-is-a-cause-that-has-no-end-there-is-no-point-at-which-we/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [“A work is finished when we can no longer improve it, though we know it to be inadequate and incomplete. We are so overtaxed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-m-cioran/a-work-is-finished-when-we-can-no-longer-improve-it-though-we-know-it/) [Emil M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-m-cioran/) > [“Is your work finished or is it just due?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ruby/is-your-work-finished-or-is-it-just-due/) [Laura Ruby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ruby/) ## More by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Explore all 2,052 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Properly speaking, such work is never finished; one must declare it so when, according to time and circumstances, one has done one's best.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/properly-speaking-such-work-is-never-finished-one-must-declare-it-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circumstances" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/properly-speaking-such-work-is-never-finished-one-must-declare-it-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_properly-speaking-such-work-is-never-fin_2345946.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_properly-speaking-such-work-is-never-fin_2345946.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_circumstances_properly-speaking-such-work-is-never-fin_2345946.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Properly speaking, such work is never finished; one must declare it so when, according to time and…” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "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": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Properly speaking, such work is never...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/properly-speaking-such-work-is-never-finished-one-must-declare-it-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/properly-speaking-such-work-is-never-finished-one-must-declare-it-so/#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 } } ] } ```