---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the compulsion to work long years in…"
description: "\"the compulsion to work long years in pursuit of some inner vision must be fueled by stubborn fires.\" — Silvia Tennenbaum"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/silvia-tennenbaum-59924_compulsion_the-compulsion-to-work-long-years-in-pur_275908.jpg"
---

#  the compulsion to work long years in pursuit of some inner…

![“the compulsion to work long years in pursuit of some inner vision must be fueled by stubborn fires.” quote by Silvia Tennenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/silvia-tennenbaum-59924_compulsion_the-compulsion-to-work-long-years-in-pur_275908.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/silvia-tennenbaum-59924_compulsion_the-compulsion-to-work-long-years-in-pur_275908.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/silvia-tennenbaum-59924_compulsion_the-compulsion-to-work-long-years-in-pur_275908.jpg)

> “the compulsion to work long years in pursuit of some inner vision must be fueled by stubborn fires.”

[Silvia Tennenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvia-tennenbaum/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A deep, persistent drive for a personal vision requires an unyielding inner passion.

**In simple terms:** Inner vision needs stubborn passion.

Key Takeaway

Nurture your stubborn fire.

Themes

determination creativity purpose

Mood

intense reflective

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career development
- artistic projects
- scientific research
- entrepreneurship

Key Concepts

intrinsic motivation visionary pursuit

Questions to Reflect On

- What vision fuels your longest work periods?
- How do you sustain passion without exhaustion?

A Different Perspective

Such fire can lead to burnout if not balanced.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [The communal life of human beings had . . . a two-fold foundation: the compulsion to work, which was created by external necessity, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-communal-life-of-human-beings-had-a-two-fold-foundation-the/)

[Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/)

> [I arrange it by working four days away from home, and three days at home with the family, so I work four long days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-helin/i-arrange-it-by-working-four-days-away-from-home-and-three-days-at/)

[Sofia Helin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-helin/)

> [To make any endeavor successful, you have to put that time and energy into something and work long hard days. Whether it's on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nassif/to-make-any-endeavor-successful-you-have-to-put-that-time-and-energy/)

[Paul Nassif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nassif/)

> [Work at it, work on it, work through it, work to it, as long as it's worth it, never walk away from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/work-at-it-work-on-it-work-through-it-work-to-it-as-long-as-it-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You know, there has never been a 24-hour period in five years when I have not responded to e-mail at Facebook. I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/you-know-there-has-never-been-a-24-hour-period-in-five-years-when-i/)

[Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/)

> [It's a great incentive to work long hours. I limit the holiday to two weeks and then get the hell back to the office.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-leary/it-s-a-great-incentive-to-work-long-hours-i-limit-the-holiday-to-two/)

[Michael O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-leary/)

> [Film work is hard work. It's long days, and quite often quite dismaying locations you have to be in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-lumley/film-work-is-hard-work-it-s-long-days-and-quite-often-quite-dismaying/)

[Joanna Lumley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-lumley/)

> [Modeling gave me a strong discipline of professionalism where you work very long hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-king/modeling-gave-me-a-strong-discipline-of-professionalism-where-you/)

[Jaime King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-king/)

> [“It takes a certain kind of man willing to work long, grueling hours in a career offering few rewards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-michaelsen/it-takes-a-certain-kind-of-man-willing-to-work-long-grueling-hours-in/)

Jon Michaelsen

> [For any actor - not just talking about myself - but if you've been fortunate enough to work for a long period of time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-bennett/for-any-actor-not-just-talking-about-myself-but-if-you-ve-been/)

[Haley Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-bennett/)

> [When you work for long, you know things about your craft, but how differently you are going to project it so that it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditya-roy-kapur/when-you-work-for-long-you-know-things-about-your-craft-but-how/)

[Aditya Roy Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditya-roy-kapur/)

> [I can go into any working circumstance and, simply, I'm prepared to deal with the work. It was a long, hard lesson I learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-chakiris/i-can-go-into-any-working-circumstance-and-simply-i-m-prepared-to/)

[George Chakiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-chakiris/)

> [At my ashram, people work long hours joyfully because they are inspired. When people are involved and joyfully doing something, they usually turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/at-my-ashram-people-work-long-hours-joyfully-because-they-are/)

[Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/)

> [You work on something for so long that you become numb to it. Like, you don't even know how to listen to it because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-faiyaz/you-work-on-something-for-so-long-that-you-become-numb-to-it-like-you/)

[Brent Faiyaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-faiyaz/)

> [I'm in production year round. I work long hours. I have a dog and a wife. There's not a lot of available time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-m-in-production-year-round-i-work-long-hours-i-have-a-dog-and-a/)

[Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/)

## More by Silvia Tennenbaum

> [Watching a ball game is one of the sweetest pleasures in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvia-tennenbaum/watching-a-ball-game-is-one-of-the-sweetest-pleasures-in-the-world/)

[Silvia Tennenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvia-tennenbaum/)

> [A society is only as free as its most oppressed and afflicted members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvia-tennenbaum/a-society-is-only-as-free-as-its-most-oppressed-and-afflicted-members/)

[Silvia Tennenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvia-tennenbaum/)

> [grateful people are a bore and become obsequious, which causes their benefactors to doubt the wisdom of their choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvia-tennenbaum/grateful-people-are-a-bore-and-become-obsequious-which-causes-their/)

[Silvia Tennenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvia-tennenbaum/)

> [there comes a time in every rabbi's life when he thinks he's Moses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvia-tennenbaum/there-comes-a-time-in-every-rabbi-s-life-when-he-thinks-he-s-moses/)

[Silvia Tennenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvia-tennenbaum/)

[Explore all 5 Silvia Tennenbaum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvia-tennenbaum/)

## More Compulsion quotes

> [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/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/)

[Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/)

> [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/)

[Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/)

> [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [I think it's in our nature to try to get beyond that next horizon. I think that when we as a species are scratching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-howard/i-think-it-s-in-our-nature-to-try-to-get-beyond-that-next-horizon-i/)

[Ron Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-howard/)

> [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/)

[Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/)

> [You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/you-develop-an-instant-global-consciousness-a-people-orientation-an/)

[Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/)

> [I found myself compelled - like this weird, shameful compulsion - to draw cute animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-found-myself-compelled-like-this-weird-shameful-compulsion-to-draw/)

[Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/)

> [Why am I always at war with myself? Why have I told, as if upon compulsion, what I knew all along I ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/why-am-i-always-at-war-with-myself-why-have-i-told-as-if-upon/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [It is true that the virtues which are less esteemed and practiced now--independence, self-reliance, and the willingness to bear risks, the readiness to back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/it-is-true-that-the-virtues-which-are-less-esteemed-and-practiced-now/)

[Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/)

> [Not merely by rules of conduct and religious observances, nor by much learning either, nor even by attainment of concentration, nor by sleeping alone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-merely-by-rules-of-conduct-and-religious-observances-nor-by-much/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I started off like everyone else does, slogging but having a compulsion to put words on paper. I didn't write or read horror or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-started-off-like-everyone-else-does-slogging-but-having-a/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [I have with me two gods, Persuasion and Compulsion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-have-with-me-two-gods-persuasion-and-compulsion/)

[Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/)

> [When you are dealing with a serious compulsion or addictive pattern, then by definition self-will, self-discipline, and any other machinations of the conscious mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-serious-compulsion-or-addictive-pattern/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

[Browse all 513 Compulsion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "the compulsion to work long years in pursuit of some inner vision must be fueled by stubborn fires.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Silvia Tennenbaum"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvia-tennenbaum/the-compulsion-to-work-long-years-in-pursuit-of-some-inner-vision/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Compulsion"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvia-tennenbaum/the-compulsion-to-work-long-years-in-pursuit-of-some-inner-vision/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/silvia-tennenbaum-59924_compulsion_the-compulsion-to-work-long-years-in-pur_275908.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/silvia-tennenbaum-59924_compulsion_the-compulsion-to-work-long-years-in-pur_275908.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61e/silvia-tennenbaum-59924_compulsion_the-compulsion-to-work-long-years-in-pur_275908.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“the compulsion to work long years in pursuit of some inner vision must be fueled by stubborn fires.” — Silvia Tennenbaum",
                "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": "Silvia Tennenbaum",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvia-tennenbaum/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "the compulsion to work long years...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvia-tennenbaum/the-compulsion-to-work-long-years-in-pursuit-of-some-inner-vision/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvia-tennenbaum/the-compulsion-to-work-long-years-in-pursuit-of-some-inner-vision/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
