--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Work is about a search for daily meaning…" description: "\"Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor; in short, for a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/studs-terkel-3020_astonishment_work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning_2964912.jpg" --- # Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily… ![“Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor; in short, for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying.” quote by Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/studs-terkel-3020_astonishment_work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning_2964912.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/studs-terkel-3020_astonishment_work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning_2964912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/studs-terkel-3020_astonishment_work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning_2964912.jpg) > “Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor; in short, for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying.” [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## 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 provide purpose, recognition, and excitement, not just routine income. **In simple terms:** Work needs meaning, not just pay. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond paycheck. Themes purpose meaning recognition monotony Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - job satisfaction Key Concepts philosophy psychology economics Questions to Reflect On - What gives your work meaning? - How balance purpose with financial security? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on meaning may ignore practical needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astonishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishment/) [Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cash/) [Daily bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-bread/) [Daily Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-meaning-3161623/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Friday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friday/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meaning Daily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-daily-3161622/) [Monday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monday/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Search](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-search-2117936/) ## Related quotes > [Work is a search for daily meaning as well as for daily bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/work-is-a-search-for-daily-meaning-as-well-as-for-daily-bread/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning-as-well-as-daily-bread-for/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“All of us, Terkel concluded, are looking for “daily meaning as well as daily bread . . . for a sort of life rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/all-of-us-terkel-concluded-are-looking-for-daily-meaning-as-well-as/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [You have to learn to work and search, not expect instantly to find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patsy-rodenburg/you-have-to-learn-to-work-and-search-not-expect-instantly-to-find/) [Patsy Rodenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patsy-rodenburg/) > [“In truth search can no more be considered independent of the Web than the Web can work without search. This symbiotic relationship brings forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amerland/in-truth-search-can-no-more-be-considered-independent-of-the-web-than/) [David Amerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amerland/) > [“Nobody knew literature and history better than these people, nobody could write better Russian than they, nobody despised our times more profoundly. For these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/nobody-knew-literature-and-history-better-than-these-people-nobody/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [“9 “Therefore, you should pray like this:  Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy.  10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/9-therefore-you-should-pray-like-this-our-father-in-heaven-your-name/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ This letter \[to the Romans\] is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/this-letter-to-the-romans-is-truly-the-most-important-piece-in-the/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Our father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-holy-bible/our-father-who-art-in-heaven-hallowed-be-thy-name-thy-kingdom-come/) [the holy bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-holy-bible/) > [“Modern Our Father, who is in heaven, blessed be your name. Give us our daily bread today. All three of these languages were rich,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcwhorter/modern-our-father-who-is-in-heaven-blessed-be-your-name-give-us-our/) [John McWhorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcwhorter/) > [“The undiscerning observer may think that this mixture of ideal and reality, of the human and spiritual, is most likely to be present where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-undiscerning-observer-may-think-that-this-mixture-of-ideal-and/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We belong to an age where apocalypse is our daily bread, coffee's black, and we know we're part of the abyss. Red Spider White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/we-belong-to-an-age-where-apocalypse-is-our-daily-bread-coffee-s/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [Outdoors we are confronted everywhere with wonders; we see that the miraculous is not extraordinary, but the common mode of existence. It is our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/outdoors-we-are-confronted-everywhere-with-wonders-we-see-that-the/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“He told me it was for men of desperate fortunes on one hand, or of aspiring, superior fortune on the other, who when abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/he-told-me-it-was-for-men-of-desperate-fortunes-on-one-hand-or-of/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by Studs Terkel > [My epitaph? My epitaph will be, 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/my-epitaph-my-epitaph-will-be-curiosity-did-not-kill-this-cat/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“It was in ’35—we had this campaign to raise a million tax dollars. In the town of Phillips, one evening, during a blizzard, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/it-was-in-35-we-had-this-campaign-to-raise-a-million-tax-dollars-in/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I read somewhere that when a person takes part in community action, his health improves. Something happens to him or to her biologically. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-read-somewhere-that-when-a-person-takes-part-in-community-action/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Don't be an examiner, be the interested inquirer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/don-t-be-an-examiner-be-the-interested-inquirer/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Hope never trickles down. It always springs up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/hope-never-trickles-down-it-always-springs-up/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I never drove a car. I'm hopeless that way. I press the wrong buttons on the tape recorder. But if the person I'm interviewing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-never-drove-a-car-i-m-hopeless-that-way-i-press-the-wrong-buttons/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [To survive the day is triumph enough for the walking wounded among the great many of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/to-survive-the-day-is-triumph-enough-for-the-walking-wounded-among/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“I’ll never forget that Depression Easter Sunday. Our son was four years old. I bought ten or fifteen cents’ worth of eggs. You didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-ll-never-forget-that-depression-easter-sunday-our-son-was-four/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [All you need in life is truth and beauty and you can find both at the Public Library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/all-you-need-in-life-is-truth-and-beauty-and-you-can-find-both-at-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Reading a book should not be a passive exercise, but rather a raucous conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/reading-a-book-should-not-be-a-passive-exercise-but-rather-a-raucous/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I hope for peace and sanity - it's the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-hope-for-peace-and-sanity-it-s-the-same-thing/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“The total cost of the Federal Arts Project was only $23 million. Many of these paintings, sculptures and prints were given to museums, courthouses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-total-cost-of-the-federal-arts-project-was-only-23-million-many/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I find labels "liberal" and "conservative" of little meaning. Our language has become perverted along with the thoughts of many of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-find-labels-liberal-and-conservative-of-little-meaning-our-language/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“Who knows Bob’s name in this outfit—let alone his lame child’s? (“The last place I worked for, I was let go,” recalls the bank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/who-knows-bob-s-name-in-this-outfit-let-alone-his-lame-child-s-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [The trouble with censorship is that once it starts it is hard to stop. Just about every book contains something that someone objects to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-trouble-with-censorship-is-that-once-it-starts-it-is-hard-to-stop/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) [Explore all 142 Studs Terkel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## More Astonishment quotes > [“A writer lives, at least, in a state of astonishment. Beneath any feeling he has of the good or evil of the world lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sansom/a-writer-lives-at-least-in-a-state-of-astonishment-beneath-any/) [William Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sansom/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A lot of what I am looking for is a moment of astonishment, he says. Those moments of pure consciousness when you involuntarily inhale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-meyerowitz/a-lot-of-what-i-am-looking-for-is-a-moment-of-astonishment-he-says/) [Joel Meyerowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-meyerowitz/) > [If there be a skeptical star I was born under it. Yet I have lived all my days in complete astonishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-macneile-dixon/if-there-be-a-skeptical-star-i-was-born-under-it-yet-i-have-lived-all/) [William Macneile Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-macneile-dixon/) > [If you aren't constantly astonished at God's grace in your solitude, there's no way it can happen in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-aren-t-constantly-astonished-at-god-s-grace-in-your-solitude/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Witness each moment in astounded jubilation. Take every holy breath in gratitude. Rejoice in life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/witness-each-moment-in-astounded-jubilation-take-every-holy-breath-in/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Those who have past much of their lives in this great city, look upon its opulence and its multitudes, its extent and variety, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-have-past-much-of-their-lives-in-this-great-city-look-upon/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“See? Nothing to it." "I see all right," Carly said, her tone full of awe. She gaped at him. "What?" "Um..." "Jesus, Carly, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/see-nothing-to-it-i-see-all-right-carly-said-her-tone-full-of-awe-she/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [For a moment Clary thought she might fall; she felt as if something essential had been torn away from her, an arm or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/for-a-moment-clary-thought-she-might-fall-she-felt-as-if-something/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Both of you’ll just have to believe me. Emma’s one of those women who was born with… The thing is, the minute a heterosexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/both-of-you-ll-just-have-to-believe-me-emma-s-one-of-those-women-who/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“For the analyst it is a source of never-ending astonishment how comparatively well a person can function with the core of himself not participating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-horney/for-the-analyst-it-is-a-source-of-never-ending-astonishment-how/) [Karen Horney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-horney/) > [It was only when I lay there on the rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/it-was-only-when-i-lay-there-on-the-rotting-prison-straw-that-i/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Sometimes, people trying to commit suicide manage it in a manner that leaves them breathless with astonishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/sometimes-people-trying-to-commit-suicide-manage-it-in-a-manner-that/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [When I wake up, I wake to something worse. It’s the astonishment of being myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/when-i-wake-up-i-wake-to-something-worse-it-s-the-astonishment-of/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-shall-i-say-and-how-shall-i-describe-this-birth-to-you-for-this/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) [Browse all 227 Astonishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor; in short, for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Studs Terkel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning-as-well-as-daily-bread-for-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Astonishment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning-as-well-as-daily-bread-for-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/studs-terkel-3020_astonishment_work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning_2964912.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/studs-terkel-3020_astonishment_work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning_2964912.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e8/studs-terkel-3020_astonishment_work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning_2964912.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for…” — Studs Terkel", "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": "Studs Terkel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Work is about a search for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning-as-well-as-daily-bread-for-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/work-is-about-a-search-for-daily-meaning-as-well-as-daily-bread-for-2/#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 } } ] } ```