“The record of their toil receives its final stamp of worth.”

Describing the importance of expert judgement in recognising difficult achievement. · Speech, The Verdict of Equals, 1912

• Achievement
• Recognition
• Work

“In other callings of life there exists a convention that what a man has made shall be his own and his children’s after him.”

Contrasting literary property with ordinary assumptions about ownership. · Speech, The Handicaps of Letters, 1908

• Property
• Work
• Writing

“The calling of letters carries with it disabilities from which these professions are free.”

Drawing attention to the particular difficulties faced by writers. · Speech, The Handicaps of Letters, 1908

• Difficulty
• Work
• Writing

“Being artists, these men must needs do the work that is laid upon them to do, and while they are doing it they are apt to overlook a number of important worldly considerations.”

Describing the tension between artistic vocation and practical worldly concerns. · Speech, The Claims of Art, 1907

• Art
• Creativity
• Work

“All I have to do for the next few minutes is to wish you prosperity. All you have to do for the next few years is to go out and get it.”

A brisk encouragement to turn good fortune into purposeful action. · Speech, Work in the Future, 1924

• Action
• Success
• Work

“A man is often influenced throughout the whole of his career by the events of his first commission.”

Reflecting on the lasting influence of early professional experience. · Speech, The Spirit of the Navy, 1908

• Experience
• Influence
• Work

“At any moment a man of letters may choose to pay, not only with his skin, but in cash and credit for leave to do his work.”

Capturing the personal and financial sacrifices sometimes demanded by writing. · Speech, The Handicaps of Letters, 1908

• Sacrifice
• Work
• Writing

“When his demon urges a man of letters to work, he may do so without any regard to wages or the sentiments of his fellow-workers.”

Describing the irresistible inner compulsion that can drive writers to create. · Speech, The Handicaps of Letters, 1908

• Creativity
• Work
• Writing

“If more wealth be necessary to you, for purposes not your own, use your left hand to acquire it, but keep your right for your proper work in life.”

Balancing practical earning with fidelity to one's real purpose. · Speech, Values in Life, 1907

• Money
• Purpose
• Work

“The Callings are unlike the Professions. No one embraces the career of Art, any more than one enters Science or the Services, with the direct idea of making money.”

Distinguishing vocation from occupations pursued primarily for financial reward. · Speech, The Claims of Art, 1907

• Art
• Money
• Work

“There is no anaesthesia so complete as man's absorption in his own job.”

Suggesting that complete engagement in work can temporarily shut out suffering and distraction. · Speech, Surgeons and the Soul, 1923

• Concentration
• Pain
• Work