--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The work is a calling. It demands that…" description: "\"The work is a calling. It demands that type of obsession.\" — John Pomfret" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/john-pomfret-22608_calling_the-work-is-a-calling-it-demands-that-ty_2584168.jpg" --- # The work is a calling. It demands that type of obsession. ![“The work is a calling. It demands that type of obsession.” quote by John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/john-pomfret-22608_calling_the-work-is-a-calling-it-demands-that-ty_2584168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/john-pomfret-22608_calling_the-work-is-a-calling-it-demands-that-ty_2584168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/john-pomfret-22608_calling_the-work-is-a-calling-it-demands-that-ty_2584168.jpg) > “The work is a calling. It demands that type of obsession.” [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vocation requires deep, obsessive commitment beyond ordinary work. **In simple terms:** Calling demands obsession. Key Takeaway Pursue work that fuels passion. Themes calling obsession work ethic Mood motivational cautionary Type career personal development When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - art - science Key Concepts career development psychology Questions to Reflect On - Is obsession sustainable long‑term? - How to balance passion with wellbeing? A Different Perspective Obsessive focus can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) [Calling Demands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling-demands-1803991/) [Demands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demands/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-calling-535936/) ## Related quotes > [The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-more-scared-we-are-of-a-work-or-calling-the-more-sure-we-can-be/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [A job is something we do to get a paycheck and pay our bills. Jobs are legitimate, at times, but work is why we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/a-job-is-something-we-do-to-get-a-paycheck-and-pay-our-bills-jobs-are/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [ A writer, or any artist, can’t expect to be embraced by the people \[but\] you just keep doing your work - because you have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/a-writer-or-any-artist-can-t-expect-to-be-embraced-by-the-people-but/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“WORK RULES…FOR BUILDING A GREAT CULTURE Think of your work as a calling, with a mission that matters. Give people slightly more trust, freedom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laszlo-bock/work-rules-for-building-a-great-culture-think-of-your-work-as-a/) [Laszlo Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laszlo-bock/) > [A job is a vocation only if someone else calls you to do it for them rather than for yourself. And so our work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/a-job-is-a-vocation-only-if-someone-else-calls-you-to-do-it-for-them/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [God is not calling us to work for Him. He is calling us to walk with Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-vischer/god-is-not-calling-us-to-work-for-him-he-is-calling-us-to-walk-with/) [Phil Vischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-vischer/) > [Life beats down and crushes our souls and theatre reminds us that we have one. At least the type of theatre that I'm interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanford-meisner/life-beats-down-and-crushes-our-souls-and-theatre-reminds-us-that-we/) [Sanford Meisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanford-meisner/) > [Every actor demands different things. Every human being you come in contact with in your life, you have to deal with in slightly different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/every-actor-demands-different-things-every-human-being-you-come-in/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [Might does not make right, but right demands that those who hold to it should defend it with all their might.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alexander-leighton/might-does-not-make-right-but-right-demands-that-those-who-hold-to-it/) [Joseph Alexander Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alexander-leighton/) > [The thing about pain is that it demands to be felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-thing-about-pain-is-that-it-demands-to-be-felt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Patience is a most necessary qualification for business; many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request. One must seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/patience-is-a-most-necessary-qualification-for-business-many-a-man/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [“The vision of life is not a "discovery"; it's a "work" and whatever position you occupy demands work. Your life may not be built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-vision-of-life-is-not-a-discovery-it-s-a-work-and-whatever/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [She was seriously in love, but she never made demands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/she-was-seriously-in-love-but-she-never-made-demands/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The best are led to make greater demands upon themselves. As for those who succumb, they did not deserve to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-best-are-led-to-make-greater-demands-upon-themselves-as-for-those/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Politics only makes the difficult challenge of marriage even harder, with the demands of the job and the public spotlight it casts on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/politics-only-makes-the-difficult-challenge-of-marriage-even-harder/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) ## More by John Pomfret > [I was fourteen when Kissinger made his secret trip to China, and then there was subsequently Nixon's trip to China, and I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/i-was-fourteen-when-kissinger-made-his-secret-trip-to-china-and-then/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [Whereas with foreign coverage there's a much broader disconnect between you and your audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/whereas-with-foreign-coverage-there-s-a-much-broader-disconnect/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [In some ways the domestic reporting is a lot easier because Americans will talk to you about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/in-some-ways-the-domestic-reporting-is-a-lot-easier-because-americans/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [But on the other hand, in the midst of the chaos, you find normal people. You find people who are willing to risk their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/but-on-the-other-hand-in-the-midst-of-the-chaos-you-find-normal/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [And then I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to go to China in 1980, which was quite early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/and-then-i-was-lucky-enough-to-get-the-opportunity-to-go-to-china-in/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [I was posted to China in the summer of 1988, which was the greatest time ever, I think, to have been in China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/i-was-posted-to-china-in-the-summer-of-1988-which-was-the-greatest/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [When I see somebody being mistreated, my eyes tear up and I want to stop it. And I believe that the best thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/when-i-see-somebody-being-mistreated-my-eyes-tear-up-and-i-want-to/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [I think some of the best reporters are the ones who can really illustrate the differences between societies, at the same time trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/i-think-some-of-the-best-reporters-are-the-ones-who-can-really/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [Working overseas is more difficult in that it's much more complicated to get people to open their hearts to you and to tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/working-overseas-is-more-difficult-in-that-it-s-much-more-complicated/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [I think to a certain extent in Bosnia and among the Hutus in Rwanda and also among the Tutsis in Rwanda who then took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/i-think-to-a-certain-extent-in-bosnia-and-among-the-hutus-in-rwanda/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [For me the much more significant question is what did the Americans do, if anything, to help the Croatian army, because they are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/for-me-the-much-more-significant-question-is-what-did-the-americans/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [Good journalism, I think, represents life and if you try to organize something too neatly it usually blows up in your face and doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/good-journalism-i-think-represents-life-and-if-you-try-to-organize/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [I had my life threatened by Bosnian Serbs on numerous occasions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/i-had-my-life-threatened-by-bosnian-serbs-on-numerous-occasions/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [And when they do spin out of control there are important ramifications that affect America, not just its direct national interest but its broader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/and-when-they-do-spin-out-of-control-there-are-important/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [The desire to become a journalist came really because I very much like living abroad, and like to travel, and wanted to be paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/the-desire-to-become-a-journalist-came-really-because-i-very-much/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) [Explore all 27 John Pomfret quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) ## More Calling quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [NBC is making a movie about Martha Stewart that will cover the recent stock scandal. They are thinking of calling it 'The Road To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nbc-is-making-a-movie-about-martha-stewart-that-will-cover-the-recent/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [When I was a little boy, I was reading Dante and I was saying to myself 'Bravo, Dante, Bravo.' It's so beautiful, the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-benigni/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-was-reading-dante-and-i-was-saying-to/) [Roberto Benigni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-benigni/) > [ 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/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [\*Calling someone I don't want to answer\* \*Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail..\* Hello? -\_\_\_-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/calling-someone-i-don-t-want-to-answer-please-go-to-voice-mail-please/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Sometimes you hear a voice through the door calling you... This turning toward what you deeply love saves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sometimes-you-hear-a-voice-through-the-door-calling-you-this-turning/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) [Browse all 3,811 Calling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The work is a calling. It demands that type of obsession.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Pomfret" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/the-work-is-a-calling-it-demands-that-type-of-obsession/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Calling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/the-work-is-a-calling-it-demands-that-type-of-obsession/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/john-pomfret-22608_calling_the-work-is-a-calling-it-demands-that-ty_2584168.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/john-pomfret-22608_calling_the-work-is-a-calling-it-demands-that-ty_2584168.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/john-pomfret-22608_calling_the-work-is-a-calling-it-demands-that-ty_2584168.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The work is a calling. It demands that type of obsession.” — John Pomfret", "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": "John Pomfret", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The work is a calling. It...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/the-work-is-a-calling-it-demands-that-type-of-obsession/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/the-work-is-a-calling-it-demands-that-type-of-obsession/#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 } } ] } ```