--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is that what they call a vocation, what…" description: "\"Is that what they call a vocation, what you do with joy as if you had fire in your heart, the devil in your body?\" — Josephine Baker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/josephine-baker-12508_body_is-that-what-they-call-a-vocation-what-y_892739.png" --- # Is that what they call a vocation, what you do with joy as… ![“Is that what they call a vocation, what you do with joy as if you had fire in your heart, the devil in your body?” quote by Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/josephine-baker-12508_body_is-that-what-they-call-a-vocation-what-y_892739.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/josephine-baker-12508_body_is-that-what-they-call-a-vocation-what-y_892739.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/josephine-baker-12508_body_is-that-what-they-call-a-vocation-what-y_892739.png) > “Is that what they call a vocation, what you do with joy as if you had fire in your heart, the devil in your body?” [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questions whether true vocation is driven by joy and passion, or by darker, perhaps compulsive forces. **In simple terms:** Joyful passion vs. inner conflict. Key Takeaway Identify true motivations. Themes purpose passion inner conflict Mood inspirational introspective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career counseling - personal reflection - artistic pursuits - life coaching Key Concepts psychology career identity Questions to Reflect On - What fuels your vocation? - How do you distinguish joy from compulsion? A Different Perspective May romanticize struggle. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation/) ## Related quotes > [You will know your vocation by the joy that it brings you. You will know. You will know when it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/you-will-know-your-vocation-by-the-joy-that-it-brings-you-you-will/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [Our Vocation is full of joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mcauley/our-vocation-is-full-of-joy-and-peace-in-the-holy-spirit/) [Catherine McAuley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mcauley/) > [“a saint with the heart of a devil, or a fiend with the soul of a saint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-eraly/a-saint-with-the-heart-of-a-devil-or-a-fiend-with-the-soul-of-a-saint/) [Abraham Eraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-eraly/) > [I've got the blues in my heart, and the devil in my fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/i-ve-got-the-blues-in-my-heart-and-the-devil-in-my-fingers/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [In every man's heart there is a devil, but we do not know the man as bad until the devil is roused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oliver-curwood/in-every-man-s-heart-there-is-a-devil-but-we-do-not-know-the-man-as/) [James Oliver Curwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oliver-curwood/) > [“The sixth gift is Joy. May it keep your heart open and filled with light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlene-costanzo/the-sixth-gift-is-joy-may-it-keep-your-heart-open-and-filled-with/) [Charlene Costanzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlene-costanzo/) > [Peter Noever is a pain in the ass and a joy in the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-sagmeister/peter-noever-is-a-pain-in-the-ass-and-a-joy-in-the-heart/) [Stefan Sagmeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-sagmeister/) > [To serve is beautiful, but only if it is done with joy and a whole heart and a free mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/to-serve-is-beautiful-but-only-if-it-is-done-with-joy-and-a-whole/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [I need to learn. Joy is at the heart of God's plan for human beings. The reason for this is worth pondering awhile: Joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/i-need-to-learn-joy-is-at-the-heart-of-god-s-plan-for-human-beings/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Many roads to take some to joy some to heart ache](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/many-roads-to-take-some-to-joy-some-to-heart-ache/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [This work is a torture on the rump but a joy to the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/this-work-is-a-torture-on-the-rump-but-a-joy-to-the-heart/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [O name of Mary! Joy in the heart, honey in the mouth, melody to the ear of Her devout clients!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-of-padua/o-name-of-mary-joy-in-the-heart-honey-in-the-mouth-melody-to-the-ear/) [Anthony of Padua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-of-padua/) > [“Joy is your heart's housekeeper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-wray/joy-is-your-heart-s-housekeeper/) Gayle Wray > [When you have His joy in your heart, it doesn't necessarily mean your pain or hurt will be taken away. It means you'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/when-you-have-his-joy-in-your-heart-it-doesn-t-necessarily-mean-your/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [When you smile my love, it brings joy to my heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine/when-you-smile-my-love-it-brings-joy-to-my-heart/) [Josephine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine/) ## More by Josephine Baker > [Americans, the eyes of the world are upon you. How can you expect the world to believe in you and respect your preaching of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/americans-the-eyes-of-the-world-are-upon-you-how-can-you-expect-the/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [Oh, you young people act like old men. You have no fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/oh-you-young-people-act-like-old-men-you-have-no-fun/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [I think they must mix blood, otherwise the human race is bound to degenerate. Mixing blood is marvelous. It makes strong and intelligent men.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/i-think-they-must-mix-blood-otherwise-the-human-race-is-bound-to/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/surely-the-day-will-come-when-color-means-nothing-more-than-the-skin/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [I have two loves: my country and Paris.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/i-have-two-loves-my-country-and-paris/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [I remember when Lindbergh arrived in Paris, I was one of the first persons to know about his landing, because as the French people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/i-remember-when-lindbergh-arrived-in-paris-i-was-one-of-the-first/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [One day I realized I was living in a country where I was afraid to be black. It was only a country for white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/one-day-i-realized-i-was-living-in-a-country-where-i-was-afraid-to-be/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [I wasn't really naked. I simply didn't have any clothes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/i-wasn-t-really-naked-i-simply-didn-t-have-any-clothes-on/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [I believe in prayer. It's the best way we have to draw strength from heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/i-believe-in-prayer-it-s-the-best-way-we-have-to-draw-strength-from/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [The hate directed against the colored people here in St. Louis has always given me a sad feeling... How can you expect the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/the-hate-directed-against-the-colored-people-here-in-st-louis-has/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [The hate directed against the colored people here in St. Louis has always given me a sad feeling because when I was a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/the-hate-directed-against-the-colored-people-here-in-st-louis-has-2/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [I believe in prayer. It's the best...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/i-believe-in-prayer-it-s-the-best/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [I was learning the importance of names - having them, making them - but at the same time I sensed the dangers. Recognition was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/i-was-learning-the-importance-of-names-having-them-making-them-but-at/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [We must change the system of education and instruction. Unfortunately, history has shown us that brotherhood must be learned, when it should be natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/we-must-change-the-system-of-education-and-instruction-unfortunately/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) > [You are on the eve of a complete victory. You can't go wrong. The world is behind you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/you-are-on-the-eve-of-a-complete-victory-you-can-t-go-wrong-the-world/) [Josephine Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) [Explore all 54 Josephine Baker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Is that what they call a vocation, what you do with joy as if you had fire in your heart, the devil in your body?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josephine Baker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/is-that-what-they-call-a-vocation-what-you-do-with-joy-as-if-you-had/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/is-that-what-they-call-a-vocation-what-you-do-with-joy-as-if-you-had/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/josephine-baker-12508_body_is-that-what-they-call-a-vocation-what-y_892739.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/josephine-baker-12508_body_is-that-what-they-call-a-vocation-what-y_892739.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/josephine-baker-12508_body_is-that-what-they-call-a-vocation-what-y_892739.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Is that what they call a vocation, what you do with joy as if you had fire in your heart, the devil in your…” — Josephine Baker", "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": "Josephine Baker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-baker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Is that what they call a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/is-that-what-they-call-a-vocation-what-you-do-with-joy-as-if-you-had/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-baker/is-that-what-they-call-a-vocation-what-you-do-with-joy-as-if-you-had/#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 } } ] } ```