--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ninety percent of paid work is…" description: "\"“Ninety percent of paid work is time-wasting crap. The world gets by on the other ten.”\" — John Derbyshire" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/john-derbyshire-20276_jobs_ninety-percent-of-paid-work-is-time-wast_929080.png" --- # Ninety percent of paid work is time-wasting crap. The… ![“Ninety percent of paid work is time-wasting crap. The world gets by on the other ten.” quote by John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/john-derbyshire-20276_jobs_ninety-percent-of-paid-work-is-time-wast_929080.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/john-derbyshire-20276_jobs_ninety-percent-of-paid-work-is-time-wast_929080.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/john-derbyshire-20276_jobs_ninety-percent-of-paid-work-is-time-wast_929080.png) > ““Ninety percent of paid work is time-wasting crap. The world gets by on the other ten.”” [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Most paid work is wasted time; only a small fraction is truly productive. **In simple terms:** Most work is wasted; little is productive. Key Takeaway Focus on high‑value tasks. Themes productivity time management workplace efficiency Mood critical reflective Type advice analytical When to use this quote - office tasks - freelance projects - meeting planning - personal productivity Key Concepts economics behavioral psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify the 10% that truly matters? - What habits waste your time? A Different Perspective Even productive work can be inefficient without proper tools. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crap World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crap-world-1499347/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Ninety percent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ninety-percent/) [Time Wasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-wasting/) [Wasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting/) [Wasting Crap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-crap-1499346/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working/) ## Related quotes > [Time-wasting is one of the worst things we have in Portugal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogo-jota/time-wasting-is-one-of-the-worst-things-we-have-in-portugal/) [Diogo Jota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogo-jota/) > [I'm not into fame. I'm not into making money, outside of financing my books. I'm not into status. My thing is basically about time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-m-not-into-fame-i-m-not-into-making-money-outside-of-financing-my/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [If you're wasting time, you're wasting money... and that's just sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-krabs/if-you-re-wasting-time-you-re-wasting-money-and-that-s-just-sick/) [Mr. Krabs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-krabs/) > [My thing about having another child was, time's-a-wasting!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katey-sagal/my-thing-about-having-another-child-was-time-s-a-wasting/) [Katey Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katey-sagal/) > [“If you're acting, you're wasting your time. If you're not, you're wasting mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mommie-dearest/if-you-re-acting-you-re-wasting-your-time-if-you-re-not-you-re/) [Mommie Dearest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mommie-dearest/) > [I don't have time to be wasting time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaihawkfly/i-don-t-have-time-to-be-wasting-time/) [JaiHawkFly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaihawkfly/) > [“It’s the time wasting that gets you somewhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/it-s-the-time-wasting-that-gets-you-somewhere/) [Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/) > [Saving time = wasting time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/saving-time-wasting-time/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [The older I got, the more aware I became of time and how I was wasting mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-older-i-got-the-more-aware-i-became-of-time-and-how-i-was-wasting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's no good way to waste your time. Wasting time is just wasting time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/there-s-no-good-way-to-waste-your-time-wasting-time-is-just-wasting/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [Sleeping is not time wasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-wilson/sleeping-is-not-time-wasting/) [Mike Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-wilson/) > [Not only are wasting my time... Your wasting YOURS…because IDGAF!! Simply as that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simplinae/not-only-are-wasting-my-time-your-wasting-yours-because-idgaf-simply/) [SimpliNae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simplinae/) > [“Nothing about art is a waste of time. "It's the time wasting that gets you somewhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/nothing-about-art-is-a-waste-of-time-it-s-the-time-wasting-that-gets/) [Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/) > [There is so much crap in the world, both in show and other businesses, that I try to be vulnerable myself, in the hopes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/there-is-so-much-crap-in-the-world-both-in-show-and-other-businesses/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [At every moment, you have the opportunity to crap out. The world will always tell you to play it safe and just be dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/at-every-moment-you-have-the-opportunity-to-crap-out-the-world-will/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by John Derbyshire > [Wherever there is a jackboot stomping on a human face there will be a well-heeled Western liberal to explain that the face does, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/wherever-there-is-a-jackboot-stomping-on-a-human-face-there-will-be-a/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [Conservatism is pessimistic, with a negative tendency - which we mostly resist - towards despair. Liberals are optimists, with a negative tendency, rarely resisted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/conservatism-is-pessimistic-with-a-negative-tendency-which-we-mostly/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [Nonmathematical people sometimes ask me, “You know math, huh? Tell me something I’ve always wondered, What is infinity divided by infinity?” I can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/nonmathematical-people-sometimes-ask-me-you-know-math-huh-tell-me/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [I tell you, with complex numbers you can do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/i-tell-you-with-complex-numbers-you-can-do-anything/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“The arts and humanities are not mere entertainment, to be turned to for relaxation after a busy day spent solving differential equations; they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/the-arts-and-humanities-are-not-mere-entertainment-to-be-turned-to/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [Biophobia is as much a part of a politician's basic equipment as a sharp suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/biophobia-is-as-much-a-part-of-a-politician-s-basic-equipment-as-a/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [In matters editorial, I am a believer in totalitarian despotism. Most writers are lazy, difficult, selfish, thoughtless, and unreliable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/in-matters-editorial-i-am-a-believer-in-totalitarian-despotism-most/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [I never ponder counterfactuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/i-never-ponder-counterfactuals/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [The job of conservatives is to keep the Republican Party driving on the right-hand side of the road. There are many ways we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/the-job-of-conservatives-is-to-keep-the-republican-party-driving-on/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [Education is a vast sea of lies, waste, corruption, crackpot theorizing, and careerist log-rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/education-is-a-vast-sea-of-lies-waste-corruption-crackpot-theorizing/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“A very civilized thing, glass—almost an index of civilization. When civilization retreats, it leaves behind broken glass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/a-very-civilized-thing-glass-almost-an-index-of-civilization-when/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“As a result of these news stories, millions of people must have become aware of "niggardly," who otherwise would never have heard it, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/as-a-result-of-these-news-stories-millions-of-people-must-have-become/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [ He \[Mencken\] was an autodidact, with all the misplaced confidence and all the astonishing gaps that characterize that breed. Not many of us would… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/he-mencken-was-an-autodidact-with-all-the-misplaced-confidence-and/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“Our political system is now run by the Big People for their own interests. If they ever deign to notice the Little People, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/our-political-system-is-now-run-by-the-big-people-for-their-own/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“Mathematicians call it “the arithmetic of congruences.” You can think of it as clock arithmetic. Temporarily replace the 12 on a clock face with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/mathematicians-call-it-the-arithmetic-of-congruences-you-can-think-of/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) [Explore all 31 John Derbyshire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) ## More Jobs quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [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/) > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Musicians talk of nothing but money and jobs. Give me businessmen every time. They really are interested in music and art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-sibelius/musicians-talk-of-nothing-but-money-and-jobs-give-me-businessmen/) [Jean Sibelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-sibelius/) > [We did an episode where she goes out to get a job and she gets fired because she's not good. They hire a babysitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/we-did-an-episode-where-she-goes-out-to-get-a-job-and-she-gets-fired/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [I've never believed unemployment numbers because the way that they calculate unemployment makes no sense whatsoever. It's not how many people are unemployed. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/i-ve-never-believed-unemployment-numbers-because-the-way-that-they/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [We're going to create factory jobs for recent immigrants, and Donald Trump is going to take care of them. That's why his numbers, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/we-re-going-to-create-factory-jobs-for-recent-immigrants-and-donald/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. 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