--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am sick of talking about What and Why I…" description: "\"I am sick of talking about What and Why I am doing. I have always believed that the WORK is the word. Action is seen less clearly through reason. There..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/robert-rauschenberg-5257_action_i-am-sick-of-talking-about-what-and-why_176314.jpg" --- # I am sick of talking about What and Why I am doing. I have… ![“I am sick of talking about What and Why I am doing. I have always believed that the WORK is the word. Action is seen less clearly through reason. There are no shortcuts to directness.” quote by Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/robert-rauschenberg-5257_action_i-am-sick-of-talking-about-what-and-why_176314.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/robert-rauschenberg-5257_action_i-am-sick-of-talking-about-what-and-why_176314.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/robert-rauschenberg-5257_action_i-am-sick-of-talking-about-what-and-why_176314.jpg) > “I am sick of talking about What and Why I am doing. I have always believed that the WORK is the word. Action is seen less clearly through reason. There are no shortcuts to directness.” [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work and action are essential; talk and theory are insufficient without effort. **In simple terms:** Talk is cheap; work matters. Key Takeaway Prioritize doing over endless discussion. Themes work action directness Mood determined urgent Type motivational practical When to use this quote - project execution - skill development - creative practice - personal goals Key Concepts productivity effort authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What tasks can you start now? - How to balance planning and doing? A Different Perspective Action without reflection may be misguided. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Always believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-believe/) [Clearly Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clearly-reason-1896404/) [Directness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directness/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Shortcuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcuts/) [Sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-doing-834435/) [Work Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-word-591963/) ## Related quotes > [I always believe that ultimately, if people are paying attention, then we get good government and good leadership. And when we get lazy, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-always-believe-that-ultimately-if-people-are-paying-attention-then/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If I had to describe my work in one word, that word would be time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-goldsworthy/if-i-had-to-describe-my-work-in-one-word-that-word-would-be-time/) [Andy Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-goldsworthy/) > [If your presence doesn't work, neither will your word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-your-presence-doesn-t-work-neither-will-your-word/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Be pragmatic, then. If you’re not happy with the way your writing has gone, you might give my method a try. If you do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/be-pragmatic-then-if-you-re-not-happy-with-the-way-your-writing-has/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Be good to your work, your word, and your friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/be-good-to-your-work-your-word-and-your-friend/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“believe in work not in word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gita/believe-in-work-not-in-word/) [gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gita/) > [When I begin to doubt my ability to work the word, I simply read another writer and know I have nothing to worry about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/when-i-begin-to-doubt-my-ability-to-work-the-word-i-simply-read/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Be true to your work, your word, and your friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-true-to-your-work-your-word-and-your-friends/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-true-to-your-work-your-word-and-your-friend/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many people are good at talking about what they are doing, but in fact do little. Others do a lot but don't talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/many-people-are-good-at-talking-about-what-they-are-doing-but-in-fact/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [But I have been avoiding talking about what I'm doing now because it's frustrating for people to hear about things that aren't available yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/but-i-have-been-avoiding-talking-about-what-i-m-doing-now-because-it/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [“Why do I go on? Why I am doing this when I am 92 years and two months old? I could, after all, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manolis-glezos/why-do-i-go-on-why-i-am-doing-this-when-i-am-92-years-and-two-months/) [Manolis Glezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manolis-glezos/) > [If they're not talking about you, you're not doing something; you're not doing anything. So if they're talking about you, you may be doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/if-they-re-not-talking-about-you-you-re-not-doing-something-you-re/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [Doing leads more surely to talking than talking to doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/doing-leads-more-surely-to-talking-than-talking-to-doing/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [I've always believed that talking about something is not the same as doing something about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/i-ve-always-believed-that-talking-about-something-is-not-the-same-as/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) ## More by Robert Rauschenberg > [Having to be different is the same trap as having to be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/having-to-be-different-is-the-same-trap-as-having-to-be-the-same/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [There is no reason not to consider the world as one gigantic painting,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/there-is-no-reason-not-to-consider-the-world-as-one-gigantic-painting/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I'm quite taken aback when I get something that appears to be technically a good photograph, because it's not necessarily my intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-m-quite-taken-aback-when-i-get-something-that-appears-to-be/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I was much happier when I had less responsibility... when my only responsibility was to my work and to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-was-much-happier-when-i-had-less-responsibility-when-my-only/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [It is neither Art for Art, nor Art against Art. I am for Art, but for Art that has nothing to do with Art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/it-is-neither-art-for-art-nor-art-against-art-i-am-for-art-but-for/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [People ask me, 'Don't you ever run out of ideas?' In the first place I don't use ideas. Every time I have an idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/people-ask-me-don-t-you-ever-run-out-of-ideas-in-the-first-place-i/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [So that ideas of sort of relaxed symmetry have been something for years that I have been concerned with because I think that symmetry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/so-that-ideas-of-sort-of-relaxed-symmetry-have-been-something-for/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I don't really trust ideas, especially good ones. Rather I put my trust in the materials that confront me, because they put me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-don-t-really-trust-ideas-especially-good-ones-rather-i-put-my-trust/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I refuse to be in this world by myself. I want an open commitment from the rest of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-refuse-to-be-in-this-world-by-myself-i-want-an-open-commitment-from/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [The only thing that I could get with chance, and I never was able to use it, was that I would end up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/the-only-thing-that-i-could-get-with-chance-and-i-never-was-able-to/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [This telegram is a work of art if I say it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/this-telegram-is-a-work-of-art-if-i-say-it-is/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [Understanding is a form of blindness. Good art, I think, can never be understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/understanding-is-a-form-of-blindness-good-art-i-think-can-never-be/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [Sometimes I have taken photographs and just felt so excited that I could barely hold the camera steady, and the photo was boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/sometimes-i-have-taken-photographs-and-just-felt-so-excited-that-i/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [And also the new excitement and variety of ways that the abstract expressionists were applying paint. You could put it on as though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/and-also-the-new-excitement-and-variety-of-ways-that-the-abstract/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [Most artists try to break your heart, or they accidentally break their own hearts.But I find the quietness in the ordinary much more satisfying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/most-artists-try-to-break-your-heart-or-they-accidentally-break-their/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) [Explore all 102 Robert Rauschenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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