---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Work will win when wishy washy wishing…"
description: "\"Work will win when wishy washy wishing won t.\" — Thomas S. Monson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/thomas-s-monson-409_wishing_work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-w_2741863.png"
---

#  Work will win when wishy washy wishing won t.

![“Work will win when wishy washy wishing won t.” quote by Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/thomas-s-monson-409_wishing_work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-w_2741863.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/thomas-s-monson-409_wishing_work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-w_2741863.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/thomas-s-monson-409_wishing_work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-w_2741863.png)

> “Work will win when wishy washy wishing won t.”

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

## About This Quote

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

Action and consistent effort outweigh idle wishes; success comes from doing, not just dreaming.

**In simple terms:** Work beats wishful thinking.

Key Takeaway

Act rather than just wish.

Themes

action determination productivity

Mood

motivational practical

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- project work
- personal goals
- learning new skills

Key Concepts

goal setting habit formation effort

Questions to Reflect On

- What small step can you take today?
- How do you turn wishes into plans?

A Different Perspective

Wishes without action lead to stagnation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Wishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishing/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [“Work will win when wishy washy wishing won't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-won-t-2/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“Work will work when wishy washy wishing won't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/work-will-work-when-wishy-washy-wishing-won-t/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [The Six W's: Work will win when wishing won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-blackledge/the-six-w-s-work-will-win-when-wishing-won-t/)

[Todd Blackledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-blackledge/)

> [The six W's of success : Work - Will - Win - When - Wishing - Won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeromy-shingongo/the-six-w-s-of-success-work-will-win-when-wishing-won-t/)

[Jeromy Shingongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeromy-shingongo/)

> [I don't do wishy-washy. I am not to be a matter on the side, as to whether you Take me, or leave me? You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-parkin/i-don-t-do-wishy-washy-i-am-not-to-be-a-matter-on-the-side-as-to/)

[Sophie Parkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-parkin/)

> [Wishy-washy equivocations - and not just on abortion, but on immigration, on civil rights, on income inequality - weaken all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/wishy-washy-equivocations-and-not-just-on-abortion-but-on-immigration/)

[Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/)

> [I'm kinda wishy-washy about questions. If you ask me again tomorrow, I'm likely to give you completely different answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-asim/i-m-kinda-wishy-washy-about-questions-if-you-ask-me-again-tomorrow-i/)

[Jabari Asim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-asim/)

> [I'm not Rebus. We're not the same. I don't even think he'd like me if we met. He'd think I was a wishy-washy liberal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-rankin/i-m-not-rebus-we-re-not-the-same-i-don-t-even-think-he-d-like-me-if/)

[Ian Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-rankin/)

> [I was more wishy-washy in the first 12 years of my career, just because that was my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannyn-sossamon/i-was-more-wishy-washy-in-the-first-12-years-of-my-career-just/)

[Shannyn Sossamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannyn-sossamon/)

> [Timbaland's so wishy-washy sometimes - he'll hate a song at first and then love it, and then maybe go back to not liking it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-hilson/timbaland-s-so-wishy-washy-sometimes-he-ll-hate-a-song-at-first-and/)

[Keri Hilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-hilson/)

> [You can't be wishy-washy. That's the most boring thing in the world, to be a middle-of-the-road wet noodle. That's my greatest fear, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-black/you-can-t-be-wishy-washy-that-s-the-most-boring-thing-in-the-world-to/)

[Chris Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-black/)

> [I don't want to be close with anyone who's wishy-washy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-ferguson/i-don-t-want-to-be-close-with-anyone-who-s-wishy-washy/)

[Tony Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-ferguson/)

> [This is what you work for: to win tournaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pegula/this-is-what-you-work-for-to-win-tournaments/)

[Jessica Pegula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pegula/)

> [When people are mean to you, win them over with kindness. If it doesn't work, you still win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-zahara/when-people-are-mean-to-you-win-them-over-with-kindness-if-it-doesn-t/)

[Rita Zahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-zahara/)

> [People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defences, or the problems of modern society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/people-who-work-together-will-win-whether-it-be-against-complex/)

[Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/)

## More by Thomas S. Monson

> [I know that God loves us. He allows us to exercise our moral agency even when we misuse it. He permits us to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-know-that-god-loves-us-he-allows-us-to-exercise-our-moral-agency/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“Some find it difficult to withstand the mocking and unsavory remarks of foolish ones who ridicule chastity, honesty, and obedience to God’s commands. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/some-find-it-difficult-to-withstand-the-mocking-and-unsavory-remarks/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [Choose your love, Love your choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/choose-your-love-love-your-choice/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [I ask you to make INSTITUTE a PRIORITY.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-ask-you-to-make-institute-a-priority/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [I hope with all my heart and soul that every young man who receives the priesthood will honor that priesthood and be true to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-hope-with-all-my-heart-and-soul-that-every-young-man-who-receives/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love. In our families, as well as with our friends, there can be hurt feelings and disagreements.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/forgiveness-should-go-hand-in-hand-with-love-in-our-families-as-well/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/born-in-a-stable-cradled-in-a-manger-he-came-forth-from-heaven-to/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“A happy home is but and earlier Heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/a-happy-home-is-but-and-earlier-heaven/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends forth to you an earnest appeal. Open your doors to the missionaries. Open your minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-sends-forth-to-you-an/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [This is my philosophy on all life, not just when it comes to love. All the best things are terrifying, but that's why they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/this-is-my-philosophy-on-all-life-not-just-when-it-comes-to-love-all/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness... We are the Lord’s hands here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-are-surrounded-by-those-in-need-of-our-attention-our-encouragement/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [You have a heritage honor it. You have posses a testimony share it. You will face temptations withstand it. You know the truth live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/you-have-a-heritage-honor-it-you-have-posses-a-testimony-share-it-you/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [We learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-learn-and-grow-and-become-stronger-as-we-face-and-survive-the/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [I am certain that the Lord, who notes the fall of a sparrow, looks with compassion upon those who have been called upon to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-am-certain-that-the-lord-who-notes-the-fall-of-a-sparrow-looks-with/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

[Explore all 586 Thomas S. Monson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

## More Wishing quotes

> [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/)

[Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/)

> [Some people may have more then you, but you should be bless for what you have, cause somewhere out there in world someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-marcellin/some-people-may-have-more-then-you-but-you-should-be-bless-for-what/)

[Sam Marcellin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-marcellin/)

> [“Be careful that you do not wait too long. Unspent wishes can be dangerous things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-m-aldridge/be-careful-that-you-do-not-wait-too-long-unspent-wishes-can-be/)

Ethan M. Aldridge

> [“No point in wishing for what you can't have. - Blair What's the point in wishing for what you can and do? - Larken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/no-point-in-wishing-for-what-you-can-t-have-blair-what-s-the-point-in/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [Wishing you knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wishing-you-knew/)

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

> [“To wish bad things for someone else, is like looking for high blood pressure. Because strong people fall, but stand up again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fasela-oosterwolde/to-wish-bad-things-for-someone-else-is-like-looking-for-high-blood/)

Fasela Oosterwolde

> [Don't forget that someone somewhere is wishing for ur happiness on every falling star. Missing You!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geet/don-t-forget-that-someone-somewhere-is-wishing-for-ur-happiness-on/)

[Geet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geet/)

> [“Appreciate what you have, because someone else is wishing for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karon-waddell/appreciate-what-you-have-because-someone-else-is-wishing-for-it/)

Karon Waddell

> [Taken during the new year, and wanted to wish you all on the same day, but wasn't able to upload it at that instant..…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/taken-during-the-new-year-and-wanted-to-wish-you-all-on-the-same-day/)

[Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/)

> [Stop to think at a wishing well and my thoughts send me on a carousel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blink-182/stop-to-think-at-a-wishing-well-and-my-thoughts-send-me-on-a-carousel/)

Blink 182

> [You say I changed but no I just stopped listening to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-say-i-changed-but-no-i-just-stopped-listening-to-you/)

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

> [-' I spend half of my day thinking about her, wishing that I was there to hold her, and keep her safe. The other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-pierce/i-spend-half-of-my-day-thinking-about-her-wishing-that-i-was-there-to/)

[Morgan Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-pierce/)

> [“And I wished I could believe him. I wished with all that I had. And when you're eleven, you're on the cusp between still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-klune/and-i-wished-i-could-believe-him-i-wished-with-all-that-i-had-and/)

[T.J. Klune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-klune/)

> [“You ever hope for something so much? So much you can't sleep, so much your skull hurts? But the thing is, you don't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/you-ever-hope-for-something-so-much-so-much-you-can-t-sleep-so-much/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [Wherever I am I always find myself looking out the window wishing I was somewhere else..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indraneel/wherever-i-am-i-always-find-myself-looking-out-the-window-wishing-i/)

[IndraneeL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indraneel/)

[Browse all 598 Wishing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Work will win when wishy washy wishing won t.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas S. Monson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-won-t/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Wishing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-won-t/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/thomas-s-monson-409_wishing_work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-w_2741863.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/thomas-s-monson-409_wishing_work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-w_2741863.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/thomas-s-monson-409_wishing_work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-w_2741863.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Work will win when wishy washy wishing won t.” — Thomas S. Monson",
                "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": "Thomas S. Monson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Work will win when wishy washy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-won-t/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/work-will-win-when-wishy-washy-wishing-won-t/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
