125 Inspiring Hard Work Motivational Work Ethic Quotes

Whether it is your job, your goals, or your personal projects, hard work is one of the most important parts of finding success in whatever it is that you do. But let’s be honest, there are some times where you just don’t want to work hard!

We’ve all been there. You’re buried under a pile of tasks but just can’t bring yourself to do what you need to do to make it happen. Before you know it, procrastination sets in, and motivation feels impossible to find.

To help pull you out of this slump and inspire you to keep going, I have put together this collection of hard work motivational work ethic quotes!

Whether you are looking for inspirational quotes to inspire your employees to find more productive work ethic, or you are looking to develop self-discipline to help you stay committed to your own goals, these quotes are here to provide an extra boost!

Hard Work Quotes

“We didn’t have a lot when I was growing up, and it’s the best thing that happened to me because I appreciate everything. I developed a strong work ethic, and I don’t take anything for granted.” – Sarah Jessica Parker
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell
“When I meet successful people, I ask about who they attribute their success to. It is usually the same: persistence, hard work, and hiring good people.” – Kiana Tom
“Successful people are not gifted; they just work hard, then succeed on purpose.” – G.K. Nielson
“The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work. Work is the key to success, and hard work can help you accomplish anything.” – Vince Lombardi
“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” – Thomas Jefferson
“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” – Stephen King
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas Edison
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Successful people have a big goal, an overall vision, and they stick to it.” – Jack Canfield
“Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.” – Kobe Bryant
“If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“When I was young, I observed that nine out of ten things I did were failures. So, I did ten times more work.” – George Bernard Shaw
“If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do.” – Michael Phelps

“If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do.” - Michael Phelps

“Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room.” – Dwayne Johnson
“The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day.” – Wayne Gretzky
“Work your ass off. There is no magic pill.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
“Hard work opens doors and shows the world that you are serious about being one of those rare — and special — human beings who use the fullness of their talents to do their very best.” – Robin S. Sharma
“It’s not the hours you put in your work that counts, it’s the work you put in the hours.” – Sam Ewing
“Sometimes there’s not a better way. Sometimes there’s only the hard way.” – Mary E. Pearson
“At the end of the day, you put all the work in, and, eventually, it’ll pay off. It could be in a year, it could be in 30 years. Eventually, your hard work will pay off.” – Kevin Hart
“At the end of the day, you are solely responsible for your success and your failure. And the sooner you realize that, you accept that, and integrate that into your work ethic, you will start being successful. As long as you blame others for the reason you aren’t where you want to be, you will always be a failure.” – Erin Cummings
“You can’t have a million-dollar dream with a minimum-wage work ethic.” – Stephen C. Hogan
“My biggest attribute to any success that I have had is hard work. There really is no substitute for working hard.” – Maria Bartiromo
“My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition.” – Indira Gandhi
“Once you have commitment, you need the discipline and hard work to get you there.” – Haile Gebrselassie
“Happiness is the real sense of fulfillment that comes from hard work.” – Joseph Barbara
“Don’t be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don’t let others discourage you or tell you that you can’t do it. In my day, I was told women didn’t go into chemistry. I saw no reason why we couldn’t.” – Gertrude B. Elion
“Hard work is the price that must be paid for success. You can accomplish anything and become anyone, so long as you’re willing to pay the price.” – Atlas Rowe
“Work harder than you think you did yesterday.” – Alex Elle
“The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs…one step at a time.” – Joe Girard
“Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them.” — Ann Landers
“I believe that opportunity looks a lot like hard work.” — Ashton Kutcher
“Winners embrace hard work. They love the discipline of it, the trade-off they’re making to win. Losers, on the other hand, see it as punishment. And that’s the difference.” – Lou Holtz
“All you need is heart, work ethic, and to dream big.” – Kylie Bunbury
“Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy.” – Robert Hall
“No great achiever – even those who made it seem easy – ever succeeded without hard work.” – Jonathan Sack

“No great achiever – even those who made it seem easy – ever succeeded without hard work.” - Jonathan Sack

Inspirational Quotes

“A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” – Colin Powell
“Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.” – Albert Einstein
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau
“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.” – Maya Angelou
“Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” – Richard Branson
“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill
“All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work.” – Calvin Coolidge
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost
“The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work.” – Harry Golden
“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” – Newt Gingrich
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain
“I never dreamt of success. I worked for it.” – Estée Lauder
“Things do not happen. Things are made to happen.” – John F. Kennedy
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.” – Mohandas Gandhi
“Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goals: my strength lies solely in my tenacity.” – Louis Pasteur
“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” – Dale Carnegie
“Your ability to discipline yourself to set clear goals, and then to work toward them every day, will do more to guarantee your success than any other single factor.” – Brian Tracy
“Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen.” – Wayne Huizenga
“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.” – Roy T. Bennett
“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand
“When I was young, I observed that nine out of ten things I did were failures. So, I did ten times more work.” – George Bernard Shaw
“A diamond is a piece of coal that stuck to the job.” – Michael Larsen

“A diamond is a piece of coal that stuck to the job.” - Michael Larsen

Motivational Quotes

“Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.” – Colin Powell
“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” – Conrad Hilton
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford
“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
“If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs
“It’s only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy, and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” – Albert Einstein
“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” – Maya Angelou
“We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.” – Helen Keller
“Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier
“You can’t change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react to it.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” – Alexander Graham Bell
“Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” – Babe Ruth
“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon
“Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” – John F. Kennedy
“There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.” – Norman Vincent Peale
“I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.” – Florence Nightingale
“Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.” – Zig Ziglar
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Herman Cain
“I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value.” – Hermann Hesse
“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.” – Peter Marshall
“We will either find a way or make one.” – Hannibal
“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” – Lyndon Johnson
“Your most important work is always ahead of you, never behind you.” – Stephen Covey
“Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle

Work Ethic Quotes

“The best way to learn is by doing. The only way to build a strong work ethic is getting your hands dirty.” – Alex Spanos
“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” – Conrad Hilton
“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” – Vince Lombardi
“There is no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas Edison
“Developing a good work ethic is key. Apply yourself at whatever you do, whether you’re a janitor or taking your first summer job, because that work ethic will be reflected in everything you do in life.” – Tyler Perry
“I have a work ethic. If I say I am going to do something, I do it.” – Viggo Mortensen
“I do not know anyone who has got to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but should get you pretty near.” – Margaret Thatcher
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” – Dwayne Johnson
“People don’t understand that when I grew up, I was never the most talented. I was never the biggest. I was never the fastest. I certainly was never the strongest. The only thing I had was my work ethic, and that’s been what has gotten me this far.” – Tiger Woods
“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” – Sam Ewing
“I’ve always had a great work ethic, even when I was washing dishes.” – Leon Bridges
“I learned the value of hard work by working hard.” – Margaret Mead
“We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in.” – Arianna Huffington
“How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.” – Yvon Chouinard

“How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.” - Yvon Chouinard

“There are millions of Americans outside Washington who are tired of stale political arguments and are moving this country forward. They believe, and I believe, that here in America, our success should depend not on accident of birth, but the strength of our work ethic and the scope of our dreams.” – Barack Obama
“No matter how hard you work, someone else is working harder.” – Elon Musk
“Work ethic is important because, unlike intelligence, athleticism, charisma, or any other natural attribute, it’s a choice.” – Mike Rowe
“Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.” – Arnold Palmer
“With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable.” – Thomas Fowell Buxton
“A river cuts through a rock not because of its power, but its persistence.” – Jim Watkins
“Ideas don’t work for people unwilling to do the work.” – Robin Sharma
“You can control two things: your work ethic and your attitude about anything.” – Ali Krieger
“I wouldn’t be where I am right now, and have the right work ethic and discipline, if it weren’t for all the indie films I did. We weren’t pampered and were pretty much on our own.” – Coco Martin
“The best way to learn is by doing. The only way to build a strong work ethic is getting your hands dirty.” – Alex Spanos
“Everyone talks about age, but it’s not about age. It’s about work ethic. Winning never gets old.” – Lisa Leslie
“You need lofty goals. Then cement it with a great work ethic.” – Jerry West
“Working hard is very important. You’re not going to get anywhere without working extremely hard.” – George Lucas

How to Use Hard Work Motivational Work Ethic Quotes

Regardless of what your job is, applying yourself and giving it your all is the best way to find a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in your work. While motivation is important, your attitude toward your work is the most important factor in developing strong work ethic.

There are many ways that you can apply these motivational quotes to boost your work ethic and maintain a positive attitude. Start each day with a quote as a daily affirmation by writing it on a sticky note and placing it somewhere visible.

Then, share a quote at the beginning of your team meetings to set a positive tone and inspire your colleagues! Incorporating quotes in presentations can help emphasize points about the importance of hard work, dedication, and team work.

At the end of the day, spend some time reflecting on your favorite quotes. Use these quotes as prompts to guide your thinking in your journal. Spend some time thinking about how they apply to your current work situation and how you can embody their messages.

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Regardless of how you choose to use this list of motivational quotes, my hope is that they inspire you and others to maintain a positive attitude and a relentless work ethic! Even when it is hard, giving your best effort is the key to achieving your goals and finding a rewarding professional life.

Don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family on social media! If you know someone who could use hard work quotes this post could be just what they need!