--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't look at my work as an avenue for…" description: "\"I don't look at my work as an avenue for generating more work. For me, my work itself is sufficient.\" — Naseeruddin Shah" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/naseeruddin-shah-5603_itself_i-don-t-look-at-my-work-as-an-avenue-for_690026.jpg" --- # I don't look at my work as an avenue for generating more… ![“I don't look at my work as an avenue for generating more work. For me, my work itself is sufficient.” quote by Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/naseeruddin-shah-5603_itself_i-don-t-look-at-my-work-as-an-avenue-for_690026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/naseeruddin-shah-5603_itself_i-don-t-look-at-my-work-as-an-avenue-for_690026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/naseeruddin-shah-5603_itself_i-don-t-look-at-my-work-as-an-avenue-for_690026.jpg) > “I don't look at my work as an avenue for generating more work. For me, my work itself is sufficient.” [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work should be valued for its own merit, not merely as a stepping stone to more work. **In simple terms:** Work is enough on its own. Key Takeaway Focus on intrinsic value of work. Themes work ethic self‑worth creativity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - artistic projects - daily tasks Key Concepts philosophy of labor mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What makes your work feel sufficient? - How do you balance satisfaction with ambition? A Different Perspective May ignore practical need for growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [People talk about generating my own work, but I don't really know how to go about that. There are certainly some roles in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/people-talk-about-generating-my-own-work-but-i-don-t-really-know-how/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I'm interested in generating work for myself. I have trouble with this waiting-for-the-phone-to-ring lifestyle, especially after drama school, which was so creatively fulfilling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/i-m-interested-in-generating-work-for-myself-i-have-trouble-with-this/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The gallery is generating work for the masses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-weston/the-gallery-is-generating-work-for-the-masses/) [Kim Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-weston/) > [I doubt there's any government in the world that guides itself primarily by strategy or conceptual documents or worldview. Anybody who has the reins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/i-doubt-there-s-any-government-in-the-world-that-guides-itself/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [I want to be paid for my work, not work for my pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-want-to-be-paid-for-my-work-not-work-for-my-pay/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [Plan your work - work your plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/plan-your-work-work-your-plan/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [My work is my work. I take my work seriously but I don't take myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/my-work-is-my-work-i-take-my-work-seriously-but-i-don-t-take-myself/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I always interrupt work with other work, either in a small way or big way, so that's normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-always-interrupt-work-with-other-work-either-in-a-small-way-or-big/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [The secret to missionary work is work. Work, work, work!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-secret-to-missionary-work-is-work-work-work-work/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“Get in touch with your passion and put it to work at work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-suttle/get-in-touch-with-your-passion-and-put-it-to-work-at-work/) [Marilyn Suttle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-suttle/) > [The collection is a labor of love and devotion, and whenever I found free time from my journalism work, I'd work on one story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lam/the-collection-is-a-labor-of-love-and-devotion-and-whenever-i-found/) [Andrew Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lam/) > [I never look at a clock. When the work's done, the work's done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-thibodeau/i-never-look-at-a-clock-when-the-work-s-done-the-work-s-done/) [Tom Thibodeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-thibodeau/) > [“We are often more a piece of work than a work of art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-grunewald/we-are-often-more-a-piece-of-work-than-a-work-of-art/) R.J. Grunewald > [“Not enough hours to work? Or not enough work in the hours?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saad-ireland/not-enough-hours-to-work-or-not-enough-work-in-the-hours/) [Saad Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saad-ireland/) > [We honor life when we work. The type of work is not important: the fact of work is. All work feeds the soul if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/we-honor-life-when-we-work-the-type-of-work-is-not-important-the-fact/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) ## More by Naseeruddin Shah > [Hindi cinema has only one religion, and that's money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/hindi-cinema-has-only-one-religion-and-that-s-money/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [To me, the most important elements in a theatre are the actors and the texts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/to-me-the-most-important-elements-in-a-theatre-are-the-actors-and-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [Actors have to learn that they are as important to a movie as the camera is, as important as the sound is, and less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/actors-have-to-learn-that-they-are-as-important-to-a-movie-as-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I do what work I get. I'm disappointed half the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-do-what-work-i-get-i-m-disappointed-half-the-time/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [The film industry does not interest me greatly. The people, I don't mingle with them much. I meet them when I have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/the-film-industry-does-not-interest-me-greatly-the-people-i-don-t/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [When I was 14 and went on the stage for the first time, it stimulated me so much that I was convinced that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/when-i-was-14-and-went-on-the-stage-for-the-first-time-it-stimulated/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I don't want any memorials or a grave which my children would have to look after or feel guilty about. I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-don-t-want-any-memorials-or-a-grave-which-my-children-would-have-to/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I think our cinema has stayed in its adolescent stage largely because of our obsession with and our dependence upon stars to make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-think-our-cinema-has-stayed-in-its-adolescent-stage-largely-because/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I never go to film festivals. I am allergic to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-never-go-to-film-festivals-i-am-allergic-to-them/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [It was the '70s when mediocrity came in Hindi films. That's when the actor called Rajesh Khanna joined the industry. For all his success,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/it-was-the-70s-when-mediocrity-came-in-hindi-films-that-s-when-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [When I first dreamt of becoming a movie star, I wanted to be a Gary Cooper: I wanted to be rich and famous, living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/when-i-first-dreamt-of-becoming-a-movie-star-i-wanted-to-be-a-gary/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I am hard put to think of a single positive thing that commercial Hindi cinema has achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-am-hard-put-to-think-of-a-single-positive-thing-that-commercial/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I don't scoff at the desire to make good movies. I scoff at the quality at poseurs masquerading as masters of the medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-don-t-scoff-at-the-desire-to-make-good-movies-i-scoff-at-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I realise that I have made quite a few of the same mistakes with my kids that my dad made: not so much in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-realise-that-i-have-made-quite-a-few-of-the-same-mistakes-with-my/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [It would be impossible to find an actor to portray Om Puri, so I wouldn't even attempt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/it-would-be-impossible-to-find-an-actor-to-portray-om-puri-so-i/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) [Explore all 100 Naseeruddin Shah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) ## More Itself quotes > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I understand that you are claiming it is almost impossible to forgive, but only easier to forget. The truth is that, you can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/i-understand-that-you-are-claiming-it-is-almost-impossible-to-forgive/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-threat-is-usually-more-terrifying-than-the-thing-itself/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [No country by itself and in an isolated manner would ever be able to effectively address the challenges it faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/no-country-by-itself-and-in-an-isolated-manner-would-ever-be-able-to/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [In the Machine Age, the company itself became a machine - a machine for making money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/in-the-machine-age-the-company-itself-became-a-machine-a-machine-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [Its impossible to control the reception of your work - the only thing you can control is the experience of writing itself, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-edwards/its-impossible-to-control-the-reception-of-your-work-the-only-thing/) [Kim Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-edwards/) > [A composition is always more than the sum of its parts. In other words, a really good piece of music is more than itself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/a-composition-is-always-more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts-in-other-words/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [The Bushes were certainly part of Texas in their mind, but they didn't have the kind of political flavor that you normally find in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-bushes-were-certainly-part-of-texas-in-their-mind-but-they-didn-t/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [I believe that government should confine itself to the public realm and that it should be as stripped down as possible, within reason. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-believe-that-government-should-confine-itself-to-the-public-realm/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Art, unlike the trades in the artistic capacity of fashion and food, can literally be anything. It can be the negation of itself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/art-unlike-the-trades-in-the-artistic-capacity-of-fashion-and-food/) [Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/) > [My experience, and my results, kind of speak for itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deshaun-watson/my-experience-and-my-results-kind-of-speak-for-itself/) [Deshaun Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deshaun-watson/) > [The world isn't fast-paced, it's frenetic. People have to be managers of themselves. Time has been managing itself for 15 billion years; we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-world-isn-t-fast-paced-it-s-frenetic-people-have-to-be-managers/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [Watergate got us to think of leaders as mere mortals. 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