--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you desire praise or esteem, endeavor…" description: "\"If you desire praise or esteem, endeavor to merit it.\" — Norm MacDonald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/norm-macdonald-1825_desire_if-you-desire-praise-or-esteem-endeavor_2402836.png" --- # If you desire praise or esteem, endeavor to merit it. ![“If you desire praise or esteem, endeavor to merit it.” quote by Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/norm-macdonald-1825_desire_if-you-desire-praise-or-esteem-endeavor_2402836.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/norm-macdonald-1825_desire_if-you-desire-praise-or-esteem-endeavor_2402836.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/norm-macdonald-1825_desire_if-you-desire-praise-or-esteem-endeavor_2402836.png) > “If you desire praise or esteem, endeavor to merit it.” [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Earn praise by earning merit, not by seeking it. **In simple terms:** Work hard to deserve respect. Key Takeaway Focus on merit, not applause. Themes effort esteem integrity humility Mood humorous reflective Type comedic inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - personal projects - leadership Key Concepts ethics self‑improvement achievement Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure your own success? - What actions reflect true merit? A Different Perspective Recognition may still be influenced by bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [“Praise & esteem can feel good, which is fine, but don't look to them for inner peace & lasting happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-lokos/praise-esteem-can-feel-good-which-is-fine-but-don-t-look-to-them-for/) [Allan Lokos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-lokos/) > [“Praise and esteem bring about skill where skill deserves comendation. When wisdom is adorned with praise it blossoms in profusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-von-strassburg/praise-and-esteem-bring-about-skill-where-skill-deserves-comendation/) Gottfried Von Strassburg > [Am I honest? Am I sincere? Do I really desire first the praise of God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/am-i-honest-am-i-sincere-do-i-really-desire-first-the-praise-of-god/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [We are motivated by a keen desire for praise, and the better a man is the more he is inspired by glory. The very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/we-are-motivated-by-a-keen-desire-for-praise-and-the-better-a-man-is/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Desire of praise disposeth to laudable actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/desire-of-praise-disposeth-to-laudable-actions/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [I want to inspire people to desire to see the praise that comes from the one and only true God. Above all else. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-t-kendall/i-want-to-inspire-people-to-desire-to-see-the-praise-that-comes-from/) [R. T. Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-t-kendall/) > [We are all motivated by a keen desire for praise, and the better a man is, the more he is inspired by glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/we-are-all-motivated-by-a-keen-desire-for-praise-and-the-better-a-man/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Aren’t most diets, even when they are ostensibly under the heading of “health,” dedicated to impressing others? The desire for the “praise of men”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch/aren-t-most-diets-even-when-they-are-ostensibly-under-the-heading-of/) [Edward T. Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch/) > [Honesty is the first chapter in the Book of wisdom. Let it be our endeavor to merit the character of a just nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/honesty-is-the-first-chapter-in-the-book-of-wisdom-let-it-be-our/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though we may not desire to detect fraud, we must not, on that account, endeavor to be insensible of it, for, as cunning is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/though-we-may-not-desire-to-detect-fraud-we-must-not-on-that-account/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [We love much better those who endeavor to imitate us, than those who strive to equal us. For imitation is a sign of esteem,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-love-much-better-those-who-endeavor-to-imitate-us-than-those-who/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A suspicious person is the rival of him that deceives, both seem to practice a knowledge of cunning device, and equable sense of disengenuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/a-suspicious-person-is-the-rival-of-him-that-deceives-both-seem-to/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [There is no country in which so absolute a homage is paid to wealth. In America there is a touch of shame when a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-no-country-in-which-so-absolute-a-homage-is-paid-to-wealth/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Who are to be the objects of popular choice? Every citizen whose merit may recommend him to the esteem and confidence of his country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/who-are-to-be-the-objects-of-popular-choice-every-citizen-whose-merit/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [We acquire the love of people who, being in our proximity, are presumed to know us; and we receive reputation or celebrity, from such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-augustus-henry-sala/we-acquire-the-love-of-people-who-being-in-our-proximity-are-presumed/) [George Augustus Henry Sala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-augustus-henry-sala/) ## More by Norm MacDonald > [In estimating the adversities of life, we would seldom have much reason to complain of the evils we suffer, did we understand the dangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-estimating-the-adversities-of-life-we-would-seldom-have-much/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Chastity is oftener owing to diffidence and shame, than to fortitude of reason or virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/chastity-is-oftener-owing-to-diffidence-and-shame-than-to-fortitude/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I'd say Jon Stewart has remained funny the entire time. Jon always makes it funny first. And he's just, he's talking about serious things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-d-say-jon-stewart-has-remained-funny-the-entire-time-jon-always/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Liberty, like health, appears most precious when lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/liberty-like-health-appears-most-precious-when-lost/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [In theatres, you're kind of disconnected. Also, it's way too big for the likes of me. Unless you're Robin Williams or someone that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-theatres-you-re-kind-of-disconnected-also-it-s-way-too-big-for-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [After months of speculation, the sitcom star Ellen DeGeneres admitted that yes, she's gay. Inspired by her courage, today, diet-guru Richard Simmons admitted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/after-months-of-speculation-the-sitcom-star-ellen-degeneres-admitted/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [So much in L.A. is waiting. It's so irritating. That's what's good about stand-up. You can go away, and you don't have to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/so-much-in-l-a-is-waiting-it-s-so-irritating-that-s-what-s-good-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [You ever hear guys with small cocks talk about sex? Can't talk about it enough. They even got poems. They'll say, 'It's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/you-ever-hear-guys-with-small-cocks-talk-about-sex-can-t-talk-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [My dad died, and my grandfather died, and my great-grandfather died. And the guy before him, I don't know. Probably died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/my-dad-died-and-my-grandfather-died-and-my-great-grandfather-died-and/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [ Louis \[C.K.\] is great. But I don't know how many you could do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/louis-c-k-is-great-but-i-don-t-know-how-many-you-could-do/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I don't have any ego about it, but I find there's not a great work ethic in show business. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-don-t-have-any-ego-about-it-but-i-find-there-s-not-a-great-work/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Many people are skeptical about marriage of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Pressley. They say, Lisa Marie is more of a sit at home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/many-people-are-skeptical-about-marriage-of-michael-jackson-and-lisa/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Back in the old days, a man could just get sick and die. Now they have to wage a battle. So my Uncle Bert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/back-in-the-old-days-a-man-could-just-get-sick-and-die-now-they-have/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The man that does not fear punishment, little regards crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-man-that-does-not-fear-punishment-little-regards-crime/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) [Explore all 205 Norm MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you desire praise or esteem, endeavor to merit it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norm MacDonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/if-you-desire-praise-or-esteem-endeavor-to-merit-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/if-you-desire-praise-or-esteem-endeavor-to-merit-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/norm-macdonald-1825_desire_if-you-desire-praise-or-esteem-endeavor_2402836.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/norm-macdonald-1825_desire_if-you-desire-praise-or-esteem-endeavor_2402836.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/norm-macdonald-1825_desire_if-you-desire-praise-or-esteem-endeavor_2402836.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you desire praise or esteem, endeavor to merit it.” — Norm MacDonald", "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": "Norm MacDonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you desire praise or esteem,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/if-you-desire-praise-or-esteem-endeavor-to-merit-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/if-you-desire-praise-or-esteem-endeavor-to-merit-it/#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 } } ] } ```