We have all heard that hard work pays off, but sometimes, it feels like you are putting in all the hours but the reward isn’t in sight. In moments like these, you need inspiration that pushes you a little harder, go a little longer – just to see if you have got it in you. Hard work pays off quotes do exactly that and speak to that side of you that refuses to quit.
So whether you are an entrepreneur building your dream business, a student grinding through exams, or an athlete pushing through those last reps, if you are in need of a reminder that all the hustle will eventually come back around, we have collected over 150 hard work always pays off quotes that dig into what it really takes to make it worth your while.
Our Top 10 Picks For The Best Quotes About Hard Work Paying Off
Here are our 10 favorite inspirational hard work pays off quotes that echo the persistence and belief that even in those ‘why am I doing this’ moments, there is a bigger payoff waiting.
1. “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon
2. “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier
3. “The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.” – Les Brown
4. “Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.” – Kobe Bryant
5. “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pele
6. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
7. “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill
8. “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” – Ralph Marston
9. “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” – Gary Player
10. “Success doesn’t come to you, you go to it.” – Marva Collins
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152 Hard Work Pays Off Quotes That Will Push You To Keep Going
We have walked through 10 of our favorite quotes about hard work pays off, but now it is time to level up and go all in. Here are 151 motivational hard work leads to success quotes that are a reminder that every bit of grit and late-night effort is laying down the groundwork for something bigger.
Motivational Quotes For Working Hard That Prove It Pays Off
1. “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Vidal Sassoon
2. “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Sam Levenson
3. “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier
4. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
5. “The harder you work for something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.” – Unknown
6. “I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” – Thomas Jefferson
7. “Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.” – Gordon B. Hinckley
8. “Success is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell
9. “Hard work always pays off, whatever you do.” – Dustin Lynch
10. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney
11. “If you work really hard, and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.” – Conan O’Brien
12. “Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.” – William Butler Yeats
13. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar
14. “Hard work is an essential element in tracking down and perfecting a strategy or in accomplishing a goal.” – J. C. Watts
15. “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson
16. “Dreams don’t work unless you do.” – John C. Maxwell
17. “Nothing will work unless you do.” – Maya Angelou
18. “The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work.” – Richard Bach
19. “There is no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas Edison
20. “I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.” – Thomas Jefferson
| Did You Know? ???? 77% of employees say they’d be willing to put in extra effort if they get better recognition. (Source) |
21. “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth
22. “Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.” – Frank Ocean
23. “Success is the result of hard work, and perseverance will always pay off.” – David Beckham
24. “Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.” – Conan O’Brien
25. “There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs.” – Zig Ziglar
26. “Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” – Marie Forleo
Easy-To-Remember Hard Work Achievement Quotes About Success & Payoff
27. “The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.” – Les Brown
28. “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills
29. “Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.” – Kobe Bryant
30. “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” – Albert Schweitzer
31. “Success doesn’t just find you. You have to go out and get it.” – Wayne Huizenga
32. “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal.” – Earl Nightingale
33. “If you want to achieve greatness stop asking for permission.” – Unknown
34. “Dream big. Start small. Act now.” – Robin Sharma
35. “Hard work makes things happen. The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
36. “Don’t stop when you’re tired. Stop when you’re done.” – Unknown
37. “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pele
38. “The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same.” – Colin R. Davis
39. “The secret to success is constancy to purpose.” – Benjamin Disraeli
40. “Action is the foundational key to all success.” – Pablo Picasso
41. “To succeed, work hard, never give up, and make a difference.” – Unknown
42. “Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.” – Zoey Sayward
43. “If you want to be successful, you must respect one rule: Never lie to yourself.” – Paulo Coelho
44. “Small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results.” – Robin Sharma
45. “Success is what comes after you stop making excuses.” – Luis Galarza
46. “Success is not in what you have, but who you are.” – Bo Bennett
47. “Hard work keeps the wrinkles out of the mind and spirit.” – Helena Rubinstein
48. “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein
49. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
50. “The key to success is to focus on goals, not obstacles.” – Unknown
51. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
Hard Work Determination Quotes For When You Need To See The Payoff
52. “The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!” – Marvin Phillips
53. “You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth
54. “Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence.” – Calvin Coolidge
55. “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau
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56. “Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn
57. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
58. “Hard work is the key to success, and determination will take you to greater heights.” – Unknown
59. “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” – Walter Elliot
60. “The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle.” – Richard Marcinko
61. “The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.” – Tony Robbins
62. “The key to success is action, and the essential in action is perseverance.” – Sun Yat-sen
63. “It’s not about having the right opportunities. It’s about handling the opportunities right.” – Mark Cuban
64. “Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement.” – Matt Biondi
65. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar
66. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
67. “What comes easy won’t last. What lasts won’t come easy.” – Unknown
68. “Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy.” – Robert Half
69. “Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.” – Colin Powell
70. “Your limitation—it’s only your imagination.” – Unknown
71. “Great things never come from comfort zones.” – Neil Strauss
72. “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” – John D. Rockefeller
73. “I learned the value of hard work by working hard.” – Margaret Mead
74. “Work until your idols become your rivals.” – Unknown
75. “There’s no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas Edison
76. “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” – Muhammad Ali
77. “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill
Respect Hard Working Man Quotes
78. “I respect a man who is consistent with his work and follows through with his commitments.” – John Wooden
79. “Hard work doesn’t guarantee success, but lack of hard work guarantees failure.” – John Wooden
80. “It’s not about how hard you work, it’s about how much heart you put into it.” – Oprah Winfrey
81. “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius
82. “A man is not judged by his income, but by how hard he works to earn it.” – Booker T. Washington
83. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
84. “I believe in hard work, perseverance, and dedication to being the best.” – James Cameron
85. “True respect comes from hard work, not by any entitlement.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
86. “A hard-working man’s value is measured by his consistency.” – Unknown
87. “If you work hard and stay consistent, respect will come naturally.” – Mark Cuban
88. “Hard work and respect will earn you more than you can imagine.” – Elon Musk
89. “I have a lot of respect for hard-working people who never give up.” – Serena Williams
90. “Respect is earned, not given. The hardest-working man will always earn respect.” – Earnie Larsen
91. “Respect comes from hard work, determination, and persistence.” – Unknown
92. “The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon
93. “Hard work is the price we must pay for success.” – Vince Lombardi
94. “A hardworking person’s worth is always measured by their commitment and not by how easy they get things done.” – Stephen Covey
95. “Respect a man who works tirelessly and keeps pushing forward, even when the odds are against him.” – Henry Ford
96. “It’s not the hours you put in that count, it’s how much you put into those hours.” – Teddy Roosevelt
97. “A man who works hard always finds success, but respect for him lasts far longer.” – Unknown
| Here’s an Interesting Fact ⚡ 79% of employees believe that receiving more recognition would make them more loyal to their job. (Source) |
98. “No one respects a lazy person, but everyone admires a hard worker.” – Unknown
99. “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” – Ralph Marston
100. “The only way to be truly successful is through hard work and dedication.” – Unknown
101. “I respect those who keep working toward their goals no matter how tough it gets.” – Unknown
102. “Respect is not given to those who take shortcuts, but to those who put in the effort day after day.” – Unknown
Short Quotes About Working Hard & Reaping The Rewards
103. “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” – Gary Player
104. “Hard work pays off.” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
105. “The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow.” – Ritu Ghatourey
106. “Work hard, play hard.” – Jimmy Fallon
107. “Dream big. Work hard.” – Sheryl Sandberg
108. “Success is the result of hard work.” – Colin Powell
109. “Hard work will always pay off.” – Michael Jordan
110. “The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” – Vince Lombardi
111. “Opportunities are often things we have not yet discovered.” – Jack Canfield
112. “Success is earned, not given.” – Howard Schultz
113. “Success requires hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance.” – Lou Holtz
114. “Effort is the key to success.” – Pablo Picasso
115. “Hard work is a key ingredient to success.” – Lailah Gifty Akita
116. “If you want it, work for it.” – Jessica Savitch
117. “The harder you work, the more you gain.” – Gary Vaynerchuk
118. “Nothing works unless you do.” – Maya Angelou
119. “Success is earned through hard work, and it’s always worth it.” – Michelle Obama
120. “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” – Thomas Edison
121. “Hard work never goes unnoticed.” – Will Smith
122. “Success doesn’t come to you, you go to it.” – Marva Collins
123. “When you work hard, the results speak for themselves.” – Serena Williams
124. “Success is a result of hard work, not just talent.” – Steve Young
125. “Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.” – Larry Bird
126. “The best way to get ahead is to get started.” – Mark Twain
127. “Hard work is the foundation of success.” – Richard Branson
128. “Do not whine… Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone.” – Joan Didion
Famous Quotes About Trying Hard That Make The Payoff Worthwhile
129. “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” – Booker T. Washington
130. “To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart.” – Thomas Watson Sr.
131. “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” – Colin Powell
132. “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” – Theodore Roosevelt
133. “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell
134. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
135. “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
136. “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” – Albert Schweitzer
137. “The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.” – Charles Kingsleigh
138. “Without ambition, one starts nothing. Without work, one finishes nothing.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
139. “It’s not about how bad you want it. It’s about how hard you’re willing to work for it.” – Unknown
140. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
141. “Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them.” – Ann Landers
142. “All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work.” – Calvin Coolidge
143. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar
144. “What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
145. “Success is not in what you have, but who you are.” – Bo Bennett
146. “Hard work and perseverance will lead you to success.” – Unknown
147. “Good things come to those who wait, but better things come to those who work for it.” – Unknown
148. “A little progress each day adds up to big results.” – Satya Nani
149. “Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.” – Colin Powell
150. “The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph.” – George Washington
151. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
152. “Success is the result of hard work and perseverance.” – David Beckham
10 Proven Strategies For How To Work Hard
We have all seen the motivational quotes about working hard—they are great for a quick boost. But motivation fades fast if you don’t have a plan. Here are 10 out-of-the-box tips for working hard, but smarter and with intention, so you get the most out of your effort:
I. Choose A Power Routine For Focus
Create a simple routine you can do before jumping into a big task. Whether it’s a specific song, a 5-minute stretch, or organizing your desk, this ritual will help tell your brain it is time to focus.
II. Invent A Personal Reward System
Design rewards that you’ll really look forward to. Finished an hour of work? Treat yourself to a snack or scroll through your favorite feed. This keeps you motivated by breaking the big goals into enjoyable checkpoints.
III. Turn Off The Multitasking Myth
Challenge yourself to stick to one task at a time. Use a timer and give 25–30 minutes to that one job before switching to another. You’ll be surprised how much more you accomplish without the mental juggling.
IV. Hack Your Workspace Mood
Experiment with the environment until it brings out the best in you. Some people need quiet; others get into flow with background noise. Try adding plants, a cozy lamp, or even the right scents to put you in the productive zone.
V. Set Absurdly Small Goals
Sometimes the thought of a massive project can kill motivation. Instead, try setting ridiculously small goals, like “write one sentence” or “solve one problem.” Oddly enough, getting started becomes easier and momentum builds from there.
VI. Design A ‘Done List’ Instead Of To-Do List
At the end of the day, jot down what you actually finished. This list shows you the wins, which can be a huge boost in motivation. It’s proof that you’re moving forward and encourages you to keep at it.
VII. Reframe Hard Work As Skill-Building
If something feels like a grind, reframe it as a practice to build a skill. Instead of “I have to finish this report,” think “I’m sharpening my communication skills.” Suddenly, it’s not just hard work—it’s personal growth.
VIII. Practice ‘Energy Stacking’
Notice when your energy naturally dips or spikes. Do the demanding stuff when you’re naturally more energized, and save easier tasks for the slumps. This way, you’re working hard when it counts most.
IX. Commit To A ‘90% Day’
Aim to give 90%, not 100%. Oddly enough, trying to be “perfect” creates pressure that slows us down. With 90%, you’ll still get plenty done but keep enough fuel in the tank to avoid burnout.
X. Borrow Inspiration From A Hero
Find someone you admire for their work ethic. Imagine how they’d tackle your task, or ask, “How would they approach this?” This little mental trick can push you to dig deeper and work harder with a purpose.
Conclusion
These hard work pays off quotes carry the spark of truth from someone who has been where you are—someone who pushed through and came out stronger. Now it is up to you to turn that inspiration into action. The real journey begins when you take that first step. So here’s to the hustle, the setbacks, and the breakthroughs. Keep going; your hard work is just getting started.
