Professionalism Quotes

There's nothing glorious about being a professional ... Professionalism probably comes down to being able to work on a bad day. ~ Norman Mailer

Before a leader can be accepted, let alone succeed, autonomous professionals must agree to be influenced by that person. ~ David Maister

From the War for Independence to today in Iraq and Afghanistan, I am inspired by the courage, professionalism and patriotism of our men and women in uniform. ~ Tim Ryan

A condition of complete simplicity
(Costing not less than everything) ~ T. S. Eliot

A writer at the time said, "Lincoln means to sink the man in the public officer. ~ Harold Holzer

They looked more like day laborers than seamen. ~ Erik Larson

A leader only follows a better leader than himself. ~ MD. Muhtashimur Rahman

The combination of professionalism and technology may also result in narrow-minded specialization more suited to a debating society than to an organization whose task it is to cope with, and indeed live in, the dangerous and uncertain environment of war. ~ Martin Van Creveld

All too often people pretend to be professional. "Professionalism" is sometimes a facade for fraud. Be pro, but be real. Honesty and transparency combined with character, competence and real results is the key to being a true pro. ~ Richie Norton

Professionalism merges the individual into patterns of total environment. Amateurism seeks the development of the total awareness of the individual and the critical awareness of the groundrules of society. The amateur can afford to lose. The professional tends to classify and specialise, to accept uncritically the groundrules of the environment. The groundrules provided by the mass response of his colleagues serve as a pervasive environment of which he is contentedly unaware. The 'expert' is the man who stays put. ~ Marshall McLuhan

I believe I have a good idea of what you mean by "professionalism". It appears to mean getting one's way by cheating and manipulating. It means ordering one's priorities according to greed and advantage rather than the desire to see goodness and justice prevail in the world. If that is the "professionalism" you refer to, sir, I don't much care for it and have no wish to acquire it. ~ Kazuo Ishiguro

Difference between a professional and amateur is like a difference between your dominant hand and non-dominant hand. ~ Amit Kalantri

Don't ever accuse anyone of being full of pride, undignified and unprofessional when simply they are wise to move away from dishonest schemers.
Dishonesty comprise too of layers of lies simply casted for impressive appearances. There are times too that corrupt hearts have their own confused, modified, self-affirming, pro-self interest business inclined definitions of professionalism, integrity, dignity and pride. ~ Angelica Hopes

Clean code is not written by following a set of rules. You don't become a software craftsman by learning a list of heuristics. Professionalism and craftsmanship come from values that drive disciplines. ~ Robert C. Martin

In our imaginations the adults of our childhood remain extreme, essential - we might say radical since they are the roots that fed luxuriant later systems. Those first bohemians, for instance, stay operatic in memory even though were we to meet them today - well, what would we think, we who've elaborated our eccentricities with a patience, a professionalism they never knew? ~ Edmund White

I am inspired by the professionalism of others. I believe there is an obligation to strive for excellence in what one is asked to do. No pains are too great, no revisions too tedious no matter how small the result. But I also believe that while humility should not be overdone, excellence should never be taken for granted, otherwise we stop reaching for it. ~ Densey Clyne

Being successful is about professionalism, and chewing gum is unprofessional. Its also a huge pet peeve of mine. ~ Tabatha Coffey

Learn from professionals and experts to save you time and effort. The shortest way to learn something is by learning from those who spent long years gaining the experience and reaching professionalism. Their knowledge is what will help you make fewer mistakes and errors in what you want to learn. ~ Noora Ahmed Alsuwaidi

The essence of professionalism is the focus upon the work and its demands, while we are doing it, to the exclusion of all else. ~ Steven Pressfield

If your clients aren't actively telling their friends about you, maybe your work isn't as great as you think it is. ~ David Maister

Life isn't a dress rehearsal; you have to go for it. But it takes hard work and dedication and you might not always get what you think you deserve. It doesn't matter. Handle yourself with professionalism and remember that in business, your personal brand is your greatest asset. Mind your reputation and the rest will come. ~ Aliza Licht

The noble path does win but only if you are prepared to make the investment over a long period of time. ~ David Maister

Your task as a leader is to help others to succeed, not to strive only for your own success. If I don't trust your motives, nothing else will matter -because my primary concern is your integrity. ~ David Maister

The withdrawal of philosophy into a "professional" shell of its own has had disastrous consequences. The younger generation of physicists, the Feynmans, the Schwingers, etc., may be very bright; they may be more intelligent than their predecessors, than Bohr, Einstein, Schrödinger, Boltzmann, Mach and so on. But they are uncivilized savages, they lack in philosophical depth – and this is the fault of the very same idea of professionalism which you are now defending. ~ Paul Karl Feyerabend

In constructing the Coast Guard, Hamilton insisted on rigorous professionalism and irreproachable conduct. He knew that if revenue-cutter captains searched vessels in an overbearing fashion, this high-handed behavior might sap public support, so he urged firmness tempered with restraint. He reminded skippers to "always keep in mind that their countrymen are free men and as such are impatient of everything that bears the least mark of a domineering spirit. [You] will therefore refrain . . . from whatever has the semblance of haughtiness, rudeness, or insult." 34 So masterly was Hamilton's directive about boarding foreign vessels that it was still being applied during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. Hamilton ~ Ron Chernow

That's the attraction of the conference circuit: it's a way of converting work into play, combining professionalism with tourism, and all at someone else's expense. Write a paper and see the world! I'm Jane Austen - fly me! ~ David Lodge

Be nice to Helen Blackthorn," Alec said urgently. "You don't have to like her, but don't treat her differently from any other Shadowhunter."
Aline blinked. "I wasn't planning on it. Of course she's . . . a colleague. I will treat her in a professional fashion. That was my plan on how to treat her. With a calm professionalism."
"Good," said Alec.
"Do you have her phone number?" Aline asked. "In case we get separated, or something?"
"I don't," said Alec.
In the weapon's room, Helen came toward them, her arms full of seraph blades, her fair hair curling around her ears. Aline made a sighing sound. ~ Cassandra Clare

Caring for others is not a warm, fuzzy feeling. A caring state requires exceptional professionalism, strong systems and accountability. This ~ Helen Zille

The authority and influence of France on the world scene in the 21st century will not depend solely on its modernity and cohesion, nor even on the continuity and professionalism of its foreign policy. France will be heeded if it has a message to convey. Faced with the temptations of laissez-faire, France must stand out as the nation with the imagination and determination to pursue an ambition that combines cogency with generosity. ~ Jacques Chirac

The best defense against partisanship is expertise. ~ Roger Angell

I probably complicate things unnecessarily now just to give the illusion of professionalism. ~ Henry Thomas

More than any other factor, it is the people we have to deal with that determine the quality of our work lives. ~ David Maister

I take work very seriously and telling the truth in my job and professionalism. ~ Brittany Murphy

You just have to realize that Jet Li is a movie star. He's great at what he does, but if he stepped into our world he wouldn't last long. ~ Chuck Liddell

Making yourself a corporation (or just thinking of yourself in that way) reinforces the idea of professionalism because it separates the artist-doing-the-work from the will-and-consciousness-running-the-show. ~ Steven Pressfield

Professionalism in medicine has given us medial miracles for the affluent but hospitals that will charge $35 for aspirin. ~ Bill James

Professionalism is not sportsmanship. If you don't succeed, you won't be in your profession for long. In our society, it's not about good or bad. It's about who's on top. ~ Chili Davis

And we remember the end of our combat mission and the emergence of a new dawn
the precision of our efforts against al Qaeda in Iraq, the professionalism of the training of Iraqi security forces, and the steady drawdown of our forces. In handing over responsibility to the Iraqis, you preserved the gains of the last four years and made this day possible. ~ Barack Obama

I had an abiding respect for the professionalism of career prostitutes, who wore their dishonesty more openly than lawyers, both of whom bill by the hour. ~ Viet Thanh Nguyen

It's not doing what is right that's hard for a President. It's knowing what is right. ~ Lyndon Johnson

We choose what attitudes we have right now. And it's a continuing choice. ~ John C. Maxwell

Professionalism in art has this difficulty: To be professional is to be dependable, to be dependable is to be predictable, and predictability is esthetically boring - an anti-virtue in a field where we hope to be astonished and startled and at some deep level refreshed. ~ John Updike

The professional has learned that success, like happiness, comes as a by-product of work. The professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not come, whatever they like. ~ Steven Pressfield

One vote, one act or one person can change the course of history. I also thought of the lawyers who daily and tirelessly labor in the vineyards of justice - men and women who represent their clients with integrity, ethics and professionalism, and who think nothing of it as that is what lawyers do. Yet, often these individuals are the very people who change the world. ~ Martha Barnett

The trouble with specialists is that they tend to think in grooves. ~ Elaine Morgan

Gossip: a weed watered by wayward words. ~ Soul Dancer

Where there are two Phd's in a developing country, one is head of state and the other is in exile. ~ Samuel Hall Lord

Professional is not a label you give yourself - it's a description you hope others will apply to you. ~ David Maister

The arts and soldiering took time to acquire – time and discipline and desire. No, he was up against bullies. And bullies were cowards. These were mercenaries who acted for money. Shot as, on the other hand, took great pride that he performed his DUTIES for love of country and, though he didn't quite think of it in those terms, for love of his fellow soldiers. ~ Tom Clancy

Modeling gave me a strong discipline of professionalism where you work very long hours. ~ Jaime King

What did the heroines in dramas and books do in such circumstances?

Frequently, it seemed, they would use their feminine wiles upon their male captors, promising them amorous attention and then turning the tables upon the foe when the moment was right (But before, of course, sacrificing anything like their virtue for the cause).

Bridget hadn't been an agent of the Spirearch for very long, but she felt that she had the concept sufficiently surrounded to see that such a ploy was unlikely to work. Even if Ciriaco had been amenable to such a thing, he had no real reason to release her from her bonds, now, did he? And, in point of fact, what captor with any professionalism at all would be taken in by such a ploy in the first place?

Besides, Bridget was not at all sure that she had any feminine wiles. And even if she did, she felt certain that they would not function as flawlessly in life as they did in tales and dramas. ~ Jim Butcher

because if you want someone badly enough, morals (and certainly professionalism) don't come into it. You'll do anything to have them. He just doesn't want me badly enough. ~ Paula Hawkins

Given the professionalism of Michigan teachers, I think they're not teaching because of the financial rewards. ~ John Engler

In professions where the criteria of professionalism, expertise, good manners and ethics apply, the gender aspect, i.e., whether a person is a man or woman, is not relevant at all. What is important is that citizens' confidence in politicians and the politics is strong enough to make politicians proud of their profession. ~ Dalia Grybauskaite

Professionalism is always the enemy of authentic gospel leadership. Leaders ~ Tim Chester

Our all-volunteer force continues to prove itself with a great level of professionalism, personal commitment and a technical competence that is quite remarkable. ~ Geoff Davis

Judges wear legal professionalism and precedent as a mantel that secures legitimacy for their decisions. It's how they distinguish themselves from politicians or administrative agencies, while wielding power that is sometimes much greater than those democratically accountable actors. ~ Yochai Benkler

The professionalism of technique and flash of dexterity are more comfortable to be around than raw creative power, hence our society generally rewards virtuoso performers more highly than it rewards original creators. ~ Stephen Nachmanovitch

Everybody else specializes. Daddy knows everything, and he puts the pieces together. ~ Robert A. Heinlein

On every film I do, whenever there are other girls my age, I think it's definitely up to me to set the pace. That's because I've had a lot of experience, and I think there's always a certain amount of professionalism that should be maintained. If I was catty or whatever, it would just make the whole shoot unpleasant. And what's the point of that? ~ Kirsten Dunst

I hate it when theater people go on about professionalism - aren't they boring? I try to be as unprofessional as possible. And I'm a little bit politically incorrect. ~ Barry Humphries

Professionalism is environmental. Amateurism is anti environmental. Professionalism merges the individual into patterns of total environment. Amateurism seeks the development of the total awareness of the individual and the critical awareness of the ground rules of society. The amateur can afford to loose. ~ Marshall McLuhan

The night schedule is a crazy pit I fall into most of the time, but I do like it because the buzz of normal professionalism has gone away. Even though you're working, you feel like you're playing. ~ Nate Lowman

Ronaldo is a unique player for all of his talent and his professionalism. He is a player who is extraordinarily consistent. ~ Carlo Ancelotti

Our civilization depends critically on software, and we have a dangerously low degree of professionalism in the computer fields ~ Bjarne Stroustrup

Clair watched the young man pour Paul's Scotch with a previously unseen professionalism. Her wedding ring, her gentle brush-offs, and her outright rejection had been minor obstacles compared to the big no of another man kissing her cheek. ~ Karin Slaughter

In some ways, TV is more regimented, but there is a level of professionalism that's very high, among the people that work in television. ~ Zak Penn

Gerald Green is a fine Coach and Trainer, I have every confidence in his professionalism. ~ Dottie Walters

The main differences between contemporary English and American literature is that the baleful pseudo-professionalism imparted by all those crap M.F.A. writing programs has yet to settle like a miasma of standardization on the English literary scene. But it's beginning to happen. ~ Will Self

Be not professional in what you do, rather be excellent. Excellence has life in it - it has colors in it - it has sweetness in it - whereas professionalism is a dead corpse exuding the disgusting smell of obedience. Excellence requires no obedience, yet in excellence you act your best, without all the life-sucking efforts. ~ Abhijit Naskar

It was a small of her back and her face that got so tired. Their (her retail employer's) mono was supposed to be, 'Keep on your toes and smile.' Once she was out of the store she had to frown a long time to get her face natural again. Even her ears were tired. ~ Carson McCullers

The author defines professionalism as exemplified by his subjects in their mutual unwillingness to take expected opposition personally. They would not allow grudges to get in the way of more important business. ~ Chris Matthews

The way to procure insults is to submit to them. A man meets with no more respect than he exacts. ~ William Hazlitt

I don't want to see the military falling. I want to see the military rising to dignified heights of professionalism and true patriotism. ~ Aung San Suu Kyi

To march over dead man, to hear without concern the groans of the wounded, I say few men can stand such scenes unless steeled by habit or fortified by military pride. ~ Nathanael Greene

Those were times when brave men who knew and loved their profession couldn't be overlooked. ~ Thomas Hughes

Long, flat expanses of professionalism bother me. I'd rather have a band that could explode at any time. ~ Neil Young

Normally when Christians go to church, they do not have to prepare to contribute anything other than some money for the tithing plate in their 'Sunday best.' They go to listen and watch those who have done the preparations carry out their professional services. Therefore, there is a hard shift in the concept that assembling according to the New Testament is very different and will require preparation, if the goal is to build up the assembly. Since an assembly's activities depend on member's contributions, if no one prays, sings, or says anything concerning Jesus it will be a very dead and boring gathering -- or the gathering will end up focused on other things. Therefore, a proper assembly requires every member to prepare something to bring and share. This is why 1 Corinthians 14:26 speaks of each one having a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, etc. ~ Henry Hon

Whether or not your values are operational is crucially determined by whether or not there are consequences for noncompliance. ~ David Maister

The great hope is that people who wouldn't normally make films will be making them. Suddenly, one day some little fat girl in Ohio is going to be the new Mozart and make a beautiful film with her father's camera and for once the so called professionalism about movies will be destroyed forever - and it will really become an art form. ~ Francis Ford Coppola

Are you considering the other person you're calling when you call? Do you ask if it is a good time? If not, why not? ~ Loren Weisman

I see Professionalism as a spreading disease of the present-day world, a sort of poly-oligarchy by which various groups (subway conductors, social workers, bricklayers) can bring things to a halt if their particular demands are not met. (Meanwhile, the irrelevance of each profession increases, in proportion to its increasing rigidity.) Such lucky groups demand more in each go-round - but meantime, the number who are permanently unemployed grows and grows. ~ Ted Nelson

The professionalism of wire service reporters is constantly being tested because reporters know that if they're late or sloppy on a story, it will show up because the competition is likely to be not late and not sloppy. ~ Bob Greene

Until you take your profession as passion, each and every activity looks as a headache ~ Vignesh S.V

Professionalism is nothing but a crude insistance on the mechanization of mankind. ~ Kedar Joshi

I think it's best to keep the controversy on the pages and not in our relationships. ~ Kayla Curry

[On writing:] "There's a great quote by Julius Irving that went, 'Being a professional is doing the things you love to do, on the days you don't feel like doing them.'"
(One On 1, interview with Budd Mishkin; NY1, March 25, 2007.) ~ David Halberstam

I think professionalism is important, and professionalism means you get paid. ~ Erica Jong

There was a moment when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don't want to, don't much like what you're writing, and aren't writing particularly well. ~ Agatha Christie

Christianity does NOT replace the technical. When he tells you to feed the hungry and doesn't give you lessons in cookery. If you want to learn THAT, you must go to a cook rather than a Christian. ~ C.S. Lewis

Nina and Matthias?" Jesper asked. "Far be it from me to doubt anyone's professionalism, but is that really the ideal pairing?"
"Matthias knows prison procedure, and Nina can handle any guards without a noisy fight. Your job is to keep them from killing each other."
"Because I'm the diplomat of the the group?"
"There is no diplomat of the group. ~ Leigh Bardugo

People always think it's unprofessional if your appearance doesn't match your biological sex. What does my gender have to do with my skills? ~ Marcel Weyers

To be a professional you have to act like one as well.. ~ Alcurtis Turner

The media could not be policed from without and had to be policed from within. ~ Tom Clancy

You seem disappointed that I am not more responsive to your interest in "spiritual direction". Actually, I am more than a little ambivalent about the term, particularly in the ways it is being used so loosely without any sense of knowledge of the church's traditions in these matters.

If by spiritual direction you mean entering into a friendship with another person in which an awareness and responsiveness to God's Spirit in the everydayness of your life is cultivated, fine. Then why call in an awkward term like "spiritual direction"? Why not just "friend"?

Spiritual direction strikes me as pretentious in these circumstances, as if there were some expertise that can be acquired more or less on its own and then dispensed on demand.

The other reason for my lack of enthusiasm is my well-founded fear of professionalism in any and all matters of the Christian life. Or maybe the right label for my fear is "functionalism". The moment an aspect of Christian living (human life, for that matter) is defined as a role, it is distorted, debased - and eventually destroyed. We are brothers and sisters with one another, friends and lovers, saints and sinners.

The irony here is that the rise of interest in spiritual direction almost certainly comes from the proliferation of role-defined activism in our culture. We are sick and tired of being slotted into a function and then manipulated with Scripture and prayer to do what someone has decided (often wi ~ Eugene H. Peterson

I am proud of my achievements, my work ethic, and the way I live my life. The PGA Tour not only treated me unfairly, but displayed a lack of professionalism that should concern every professional golfer and fan of the game. ~ Vijay Singh

How to describe just bastards and professional bastards? ~ Ehsan Sehgal

Professionalism," Fred said. "Building rapport. Establishing trust. She's halfway convinced him that whoever he was working for was willing to crack the station open with him still inside it. Once he's come around, we'll own him. That man will tell us everything we ask and then try to remember something we didn't think to dig for if we give him time. No one's as zealous as a convert."
Holden crossed his arms. "I think you're overlooking the beat-him-with-a-wrench stratagem. I favor it. ~ James S.A. Corey

They have extended the arrogance and insularity of the worst kind of academic professionalism beyond the academy. Generally they show no fear or even slight anxiety at the responsibility they have assumed; they have no sense of awe in the face of the questions they have raised, and no sense of humility in the face of the traditions which they condescendingly dismiss. They are aggressively without a sense of mystery and without a suspicion that anything might be too deep for their narrowly professional competence. They mistake these vices for the virtues of thinking radically, courageously and with an unremitting hostility to obscurantism. ~ Raimond Gaita

If you want to feel secure, do what you already know how to do. If you want to be a true professional and continue to grow ... Go to the cutting edge of your competency, which means a temporary loss of security. So whenever you don't quite know what you're doing, know you're growing. ~ Madeline Hunter