--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The work is not simply about an…" description: "\"The work is not simply about an occupation .. but why you are here.\" — Wes Moore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/wes-moore-2818_career_the-work-is-not-simply-about-an-occupati_2156410.png" --- # The work is not simply about an occupation .. but why you… ![“The work is not simply about an occupation .. but why you are here.” quote by Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/wes-moore-2818_career_the-work-is-not-simply-about-an-occupati_2156410.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/wes-moore-2818_career_the-work-is-not-simply-about-an-occupati_2156410.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/wes-moore-2818_career_the-work-is-not-simply-about-an-occupati_2156410.png) > “The work is not simply about an occupation .. but why you are here.” [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work transcends a job; it reflects one's deeper purpose and contribution. **In simple terms:** Work is about purpose, not just a job. Key Takeaway Find purpose beyond occupation. Themes purpose meaning service Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - career transition - personal mission Key Concepts career fulfillment social impact Questions to Reflect On - What drives your work? - How can you align work with purpose? A Different Perspective Purpose can be unclear, leading to frustration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupation/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [You really have to wonder why we even bother to get up in the morning. I mean, really: Why work? Simply to buy more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-really-have-to-wonder-why-we-even-bother-to-get-up-in-the-morning-2/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [I see no thread running through my work; I simply get on with my life and my painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/i-see-no-thread-running-through-my-work-i-simply-get-on-with-my-life/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [I have always been of the opinion that hard work is simply the refuge of people who have nothing whatever to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-have-always-been-of-the-opinion-that-hard-work-is-simply-the-refuge/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Indeed I have always been of the opinion that hard work is simply the refuge of people who have nothing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/indeed-i-have-always-been-of-the-opinion-that-hard-work-is-simply-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [When I land in a country and they ask for 'occupation,' I always just put 'artist.' I think that covers all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/when-i-land-in-a-country-and-they-ask-for-occupation-i-always-just/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [The problem is not the occupation, but how people deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-problem-is-not-the-occupation-but-how-people-deal-with-it/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Writing is a creatively rewarding occupation but for me very time consuming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/writing-is-a-creatively-rewarding-occupation-but-for-me-very-time/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [To the distracting occupations belong especially my lecture courses which I am holding this winter for the first time, and which now cost much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-friedrich-gauss/to-the-distracting-occupations-belong-especially-my-lecture-courses/) [Carl Friedrich Gauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-friedrich-gauss/) > [You do research into specific occupations of the character, with specific behaviorisms that their daily life might give them. You do as much research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-burnet/you-do-research-into-specific-occupations-of-the-character-with/) [Guy Burnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-burnet/) > [Most readers, then and now, have at some time experienced the humiliation of being told that their occupation is reprehensible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-manguel/most-readers-then-and-now-have-at-some-time-experienced-the/) [Alberto Manguel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-manguel/) > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [There was a stage in my career when I started to have problems with the vanity aspect of the subject. I got frustrated and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juergen-teller/there-was-a-stage-in-my-career-when-i-started-to-have-problems-with/) [Juergen Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juergen-teller/) > [When I graduated from Brown, I had a very limited conception of jobs, careers, and what I wanted to do. Basically, I figured I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/when-i-graduated-from-brown-i-had-a-very-limited-conception-of-jobs/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) ## More by Wes Moore > [Maryland will always have the backs of working people and organized labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/maryland-will-always-have-the-backs-of-working-people-and-organized/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [ “...he was telling me that our \[country's\] blood-soaked and atrocity-littered past was important but that the future didn't have to be its slave.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/he-was-telling-me-that-our-country-s-blood-soaked-and-atrocity/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [Economic growth is our North Star. Anyone who suggests we can just cut our way to prosperity isn't being honest. Anyone who suggests we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/economic-growth-is-our-north-star-anyone-who-suggests-we-can-just-cut/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [“...I found myself surrounded by people--starting with my mom, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, and leading to a string of wonderful role models and mentors--who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-found-myself-surrounded-by-people-starting-with-my-mom-grandparents/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [I vowed we would defy the national politics of hyperpolarization and partisan divides and instead, build bridges of partnership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-vowed-we-would-defy-the-national-politics-of-hyperpolarization-and/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [I can tell you countless instances of this country's history of brutality, of inequity, of heartlessness. But if I do that without also talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-can-tell-you-countless-instances-of-this-country-s-history-of/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [After taking office, I vowed that the Moore-Miller administration would focus on four key pillars of progress in our first legislative session: elevating service,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/after-taking-office-i-vowed-that-the-moore-miller-administration/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [Investments in health care help us support individuals who have been historically left behind - from people with disabilities to people in poverty to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/investments-in-health-care-help-us-support-individuals-who-have-been/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [When it is time for you to leave this school, leave your job, or even leave this earth, you make sure you have worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/when-it-is-time-for-you-to-leave-this-school-leave-your-job-or-even/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [We need to be abundantly clear on this - people living in poverty are the victims, not the perpetrators of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/we-need-to-be-abundantly-clear-on-this-people-living-in-poverty-are/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [“I hear you, but it's not the process you should focus on; it's the joy you will feel after you go through the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-hear-you-but-it-s-not-the-process-you-should-focus-on-it-s-the-joy/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [When we say we want to take an all-of-the-above approach to public safety, we mean all of the above. As elected officials, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/when-we-say-we-want-to-take-an-all-of-the-above-approach-to-public/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [“search it out. I also try to remind myself that while there is always a big-picture ambition or goal on the horizon, it’s important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/search-it-out-i-also-try-to-remind-myself-that-while-there-is-always/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [“Heroism is simply the idea of living your life with the passion that it deserves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/heroism-is-simply-the-idea-of-living-your-life-with-the-passion-that/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [By keeping the Orioles at Camden Yards for the long run - regardless of ownership structure - we've sent a clear message to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/by-keeping-the-orioles-at-camden-yards-for-the-long-run-regardless-of/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) [Explore all 148 Wes Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The work is not simply about an occupation .. but why you are here.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wes Moore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/the-work-is-not-simply-about-an-occupation-but-why-you-are-here/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/the-work-is-not-simply-about-an-occupation-but-why-you-are-here/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/wes-moore-2818_career_the-work-is-not-simply-about-an-occupati_2156410.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/wes-moore-2818_career_the-work-is-not-simply-about-an-occupati_2156410.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/wes-moore-2818_career_the-work-is-not-simply-about-an-occupati_2156410.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The work is not simply about an occupation .. but why you are here.” — Wes Moore", "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": "Wes Moore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The work is not simply about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/the-work-is-not-simply-about-an-occupation-but-why-you-are-here/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/the-work-is-not-simply-about-an-occupation-but-why-you-are-here/#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 } } ] } ```