Inspiration and meaningful work
To rank the effort above the prize may be called love.
— Confucius (552 BC–479 BC), Analects — Chapter VI, § 6.20

Inspiration and meaningful work

What it means

Caring more about the effort than the reward is a sign of genuine devotion to a task or a person. The work itself becomes the point.

About the author

Confucius — Chinese philosopher (c. 551 – c. 479 BCE).

Source and verification

Source
Analects — Chapter VI, § 6.20
Reference
Confucius on Wikiquote
Checked
Wording and source taken from the sourced section of the author’s Wikiquote page, which cites the work given here (accessed 2026-10-11).
Copyright
Public domain: an ancient work.

The explanation above is ToDoMatriX’s own reading of the quote, not the author’s words.

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