A Quote by Alice McDermott

I learned really early on that I had to treat it as if it were a real job. This might be my middle class background - the Irish work ethic, which isn't quite the same as the Protestant work ethic - but still, it's, 'Get a job and show up every day. Be there. And don't complain. Who do you think you are: you're nobody special; go to work.'

Alice McDermott

Quote Topics

Background Class Complain Day Early Ethic Every Every Day Get Go Had Irish Job Learned Middle Middle Class Might Nobody Protestant Protestant Work Ethic Quite Real Real Job Really Same Show Special Still Think Treat Up Were Which Work Work Ethic

Quote Author

Alice McDermott
American - Writer
Born: June 27, 1953

In most professions, if you stay at the office an extra four hours every day, you're gonna impress the boss. You're gonna get that promotion; you're gonna get that raise. You're gonna at least have job security. But with acting, if you're really ambitious and you have a good work ethic and are really good at your job, it might not really matter.

Jason Bateman

People are most shocked and most in disbelief that I go to the office every day. I have a job. When I'm not acting on a movie, I go to work, first thing in the morning. I'm at work at 8 o'clock in the morning, and I get home from work at 7 o'clock at night. I treat my job like a job, and I work at it. I think people would probably be most surprised, if I ever calculated up the number of hours I work on an average week and published that. If it was ever documented, I think people would be shocked to find out.

Ashton Kutcher

Developing a good work ethic is key. Apply yourself at whatever you do, whether you're a janitor or taking your first summer job, because that work ethic will be reflected in everything you do in life.

Tyler Perry

I think awards are good for the movie. They can bring a new audience to the movie. I've always claimed that things like that don't get you work. Work gets you work. That's my blue-collar, protestant work ethic.

Frances McDormand

Developing a good work ethic is a key [to success]. Apply yourself at whatever you do, whether you're a janitor or taking your first summer job, because that work ethic will be reflected in everything you do in life.

Tyler Perry

One thing I did inject was a different work ethic: Guys, no, we don't rehearse once or twice a month, we rehearse every day after work and on weekends, and that's how we're gonna get better. And everybody adopted that work ethic, and it did pay off.

Gina Schock

The advise my dad gave me: "To know is to study." Get some training under your belt, so that nobody what somebody asks you to do, you know how to handle it accordingly. I learned so much while working, because I developed a solid work ethic in school. Whereas, a lot of my friends had no work ethic; and because of that, they're sitting at home today.

Anthony Mackie

In the beginning I had a real work problem. Every time I had job I had to convince the immigration authorities I was the only man for that job and get a special work permit until I went under contract to MGM.

Rod Taylor

My dad was an actor, and he always said that work was work; you can't turn your nose up at it. We didn't have much money when I was growing up, and he had this real work ethic, which I inherited.

Johnny Flynn

I've worked hard, every single day since I left school. I think I have a Protestant work ethic.

Elvis Costello

All of the artists that I've worked with have an incredible work ethic. And Madonna has the best work ethic of them all. I've learned a lot from being around her.

Paul Oakenfold

I think one of the greatest advantages we had on the show growing up was being exposed to Mr. Cosby - being exposed to his work ethic, being exposed to how he handles the job of celebrity and living in the public eye... I think that all had a real significant impact.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner

I say this all the time, but when I go to bed at the end of the day, and I put my head down on the pillow, I really feel such a sense of satisfaction, and I'm so proud of my kids that they have this amazing work ethic, and we get to work with each other every day, so it doesn't get any better than that.

Kris Jenner

I would say that Catholics came in and competed with the Protestant work ethic. That is one thing. And they did assimilate into the broader society and a lot of them, especially Irish Catholic did their best to sound like they were English rather than Irish by dropping and the O and the apostrophe.

Steve King

When a Black man or woman shows up for a job interview or to work, they should never be judged based on their hairstyle. Their work product, commitment, dedication, and work ethic should be the sources of their success.