And only the Master shall praise us, and only the Master shall blame; And no one shall work for money, and no one shall work for fame, But each for the joy of the working, and each, in his separate star, Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God of Things as They Are!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Work should be done for intrinsic joy and alignment with truth, not for external rewards like money or fame.
- In plain terms
- Do work because it brings joy, not for money or praise.
- What can you take from it?
- Find joy in work itself rather than external rewards.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What work brings you joy?
- Why do you do what you do?
Another view
Basic needs often require working for money.
More from Rudyard Kipling
When Earth's last picture is painted and the tubes are twisted and dried, When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died, We shall rest, …
Permalink to quote #90 Ever the wide world over, lass, Ever the trail held true, Over the world and under the world, And back at the last to you.
Permalink to quote #92 And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, with the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear: 'A fool lies here who tried to hustle the East.'
Permalink to quote #89
Related quotes
Pilots take no special joy in walking. Pilots like flying.
Neil ArmstrongNeil Armstrong quote #5 To desire and strive to be of some service to the world, to aim at doing something which shall really increase the happiness and welfare and virtue of mankind …
Henry van DykeHenry van Dyke quote #51 There is joy in work. There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something.
Henry FordHenry Ford quote #54