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In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. — God · 1405 BCWhatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. — Ecclesiastes 9:10 · 931 BCAll hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. — Proverbs 14:23 · 686 BCOne hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind. — Ecclesiastes 4:6 · 931 BC“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? — Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 · 931 BC
For it is commonly said: completed labors are pleasant. — Cicero · 45 BCLet each man pass his days in that wherein his skill is greatest. — Sextus Propertius · 24 BCMake a fortune; a fortune, if you can, honestly; if not, a fortune by any means. — Horace · 21 BC
Things won are done; joy's soul lies in the doing. — William Shakespeare · 1603If all the year were playing holidays, To sport would be as tedious as to work. — William Shakespeare · 1597Men of genius sometimes accomplish most when they work the least. — Leonardo da Vinci · 1568
Work keeps at bay three great evils: boredom, vice, and need. — Voltaire · 1759
Set thy heart upon thy work but never upon its reward. Work not for a reward: but never cease to do thy work. Do thy work in the peace of Yoga and, free from selfish desires, be not moved in success or in failure. — Bhagavad Gita · 200 BC