Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1001 Best Things Ever Said
1001 Best Things Ever Said
WORK
(and the Workplace)
COPYRIGHT © 2006/2007
by Ernie J. Zelinski
Ernie Zelinski
VIP BOOKS
P.O. Box 4072
Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada, T6E 4S8
Phone 780-434-9202
E-mail: vip-books@telus.net
ii
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Introduction
"It is a good thing for an educated man," declared
Winston Churchill, "to read books of quotations."
Anatole France advised, "When a thing has been said
and said well, have no scruple. Take it and copy it."
Not to be outdone, George Bernard Shaw once
remarked, "I often quote myself. It adds spice to my
conversations."
No doubt few things spice up an article, a book, a
conversation, or a speech more than a well-chosen
quotation. Given that work is one of the most written
and talked about subjects in Western society, there
should be a book of great quotations about work and
the workplace. This is the book!
Organized into over 125 categories for easy
reference, this is the ultimate guide about work for
the professional speaker, journalist, author, career
advisor, life coach, and connoisseur of great
quotations. It also makes great reading for just about
everyone.
This book has it all: Wisdom. Ridicule. Irony.
Sarcasm. Paradox. Nonsense. Comedy. Mockery.
Social commentary. Valuable insight. All told, you
have in your possession the 1001 best things ever
said about work and the workplace.
iii
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Table of Contents
Note: To go directly to any of the subjects listed below, place
your cursor on the respective subject.
Ability ...........................................................................1
Accomplishing the Impossible .................................2
Action...........................................................................4
Aggravations of Work ................................................5
Ambition .....................................................................8
Artists at Work ........................................................ 10
Bad Days at Work ................................................... 12
Boring Work ............................................................. 13
Breaking New Ground ........................................... 15
Bureaucracy............................................................. 16
Busyness ................................................................. 17
Careers..................................................................... 19
Career Advice ......................................................... 20
Change in the Workplace ..................................... 23
Committees.............................................................. 24
Communication in the Workplace ........................ 26
Competence ........................................................... 27
Competition ............................................................. 29
Computers .............................................................. 31
Creativity in the Workplace.................................... 34
Crisis Management................................................. 36
Dating People at Work .......................................... 37
Delegation................................................................ 37
iv
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
v
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
vi
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
vii
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Power......................................................................156
Praise and Recognition........................................157
Pride........................................................................158
Problem Solving ...................................................158
Procrastination ......................................................161
Productivity in the Workplace ...........................163
Professions and Professionals ...........................165
Progress ................................................................167
Promotions ............................................................169
Punctuality in the Workplace ..............................170
Purpose of Work ..................................................171
Research and Reports .........................................173
Results ...................................................................174
Retirement from Work ..........................................175
Rewards from Work .............................................178
Risk Taking ............................................................179
Rocking the Boat ..................................................180
Rules in the Workplace .......................................181
Rules of Work .......................................................182
Quitting Work ........................................................183
Salaries and Wages ............................................185
Schedules .............................................................186
Secrets to Success at One's Work.....................187
Self-Employment...................................................188
viii
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
ix
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
x
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Ability
1
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
2
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
3
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Action
4
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Aggravations of Work
5
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
6
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
www.BarnesandNoble.com
7
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Ambition
8
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
9
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Artists at Work
I don't know anything about
music. In my line you don't
have to.
— Elvis Presley
10
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
11
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
12
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Boring Work
13
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
14
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
15
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Bureaucracy
16
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Busyness
17
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
18
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Careers
19
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Career Advice
20
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
www.Amazon.com
www.BarnesandNoble.com
21
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
22
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
23
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Committees
24
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
25
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
It's not what you say but the way you say it.
— French proverb
26
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Competence
27
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
28
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Competition
29
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
30
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Computers
The best computer is a man,
and it's the only one that can
be mass-produced by
unskilled labor.
— Werner von Braun
31
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
32
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
33
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
34
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
35
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Crisis Management
Always take an
emergency leisurely.
— Chinese proverb
36
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Delegation
37
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
38
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Difficulty at Work
39
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Diplomacy is letting
someone else have your
way.
— Lester Pearson
40
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Dream Jobs
41
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
What I aspired to be
And was not, comforts me.
— Robert Browning
42
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
43
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Earning a Living
44
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Eccentrics at Work
45
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
46
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
47
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
48
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
49
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
50
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
51
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Enjoyment of Work
52
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
53
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
54
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
55
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
56
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
57
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
58
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Evils of Work
59
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
60
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Excellence at Work
61
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
62
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Experience
63
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
64
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
65
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Failure
66
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
67
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
68
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
69
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
70
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
71
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
72
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Geniuses at Work
73
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Getting Employment
74
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
75
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Getting Fired
76
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
• Published in 16 languages
www.Amazon.com
www.BarnesandNoble.com
77
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Goals
78
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
79
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
80
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Government Workers
81
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
82
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
83
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
84
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Hard Work
I understand. You work very hard two days a
week and you need a five-day weekend.
That's normal.
— Neil Simon
85
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
86
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
87
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Haste
88
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
89
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
90
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Published in 7 languages
91
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
92
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
93
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
94
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
95
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
96
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
97
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
98
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Housework
99
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Humor is an affirmation of
dignity, a declaration of man's
superiority to all that befalls
him.
— Romain Gary
100
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
101
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
102
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Ideas
103
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
104
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Idleness
105
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
106
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Ignorance
Imagination
Use your brain. It's the little things that count.
— Workplace graffiti
107
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
108
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Incompetence
109
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Innovation
110
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
111
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Intellectual Work
112
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
113
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Jobs
114
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
115
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Job Security
116
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Knowledge
Knowledge without wisdom is a load of books
on the back of an ass.
— Japanese proverb
Laziness
117
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
118
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
119
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Leadership
120
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
121
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
122
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
There go my people. I
must find out where they
are going so I can lead them.
— Alexandre Ledru-Rollin
123
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
124
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
125
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Leisurely Lifestyle
126
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
127
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
128
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Life-Long Career
129
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
www.BarnesandNoble.com
130
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
131
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Luck
132
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Management
133
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
134
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
135
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Manual Labor
136
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
www.BarnesandNoble.com
137
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Marry money.
— Max Shulman's advice to aspiring authors
138
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Meetings
139
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Mistakes
140
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
141
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Morality of Work
Motivation
142
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
143
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Multi-Tasking
144
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
New Ventures
145
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Obvious Solutions
Opportunity
146
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Overwork
147
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
148
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
149
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Paperwork
150
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Patience
151
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Perfection
152
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
153
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Persistence
154
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Plans
155
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Power
156
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
157
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Pride
It's a fine thing to rise above pride, but you
must have pride in order to do so.
— Georges Bernanos
Problem Solving
158
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
159
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
160
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Procrastination
161
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
162
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
163
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
164
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
165
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
166
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Progress
167
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
168
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Promotions
169
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
170
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Purpose of Work
171
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
172
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
173
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Results
174
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
175
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
176
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
177
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
178
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Risk Taking
179
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
180
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
181
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Rules of Work
Always obey your superiors — if
you have any.
— Mark Twain
182
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Quitting Work
183
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
184
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
185
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Schedules
186
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
187
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Self-Employment
188
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Shabby Work
189
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Speech Making
190
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
191
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Statistics
192
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
193
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Success
194
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
www.BarnesandNoble.com
195
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
196
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Talent
197
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Teamwork
198
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
199
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Time Management
200
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
201
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Unemployment
Unemployment is
capitalism's way of
getting you to plant a
garden.
— Orson Scott Card
202
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
203
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Unions
204
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
205
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
www.Amazon.com
www.BarnesandNoble.com
206
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Vocations
207
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Wasted Time
208
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
209
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
210
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Workaholics
211
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
212
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Working Fools
213
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
214
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
215
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
Work Ethic
216
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
217
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
www.Amazon.com
www.BarnesandNoble.com
218
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Writers at Work
219
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
220
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
Zen at Work
221
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
222
1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)
223
Ernie J. Zelinski, Author of Real Success Without a Real Job
www.Amazon.com
www.BarnesandNoble.com
224