Here’s something you’re sure to appreciate: appreciation quotes. Whether you’re searching for work appreciation quotes that you can use to motivate your team, or recognition quotes to spice up your upcoming award acceptance speech, it will be hard to top what some of the greatest minds have already said on the subject of appreciation.
But hold on one second. Why is appreciation important at all? Isn’t payment enough thanks to give someone in consideration of all the hard work they do for you? Studies have shown that communicating recognition, though not as big of a motivator as cash, is important to employees and results in lower turnover rates. Giving praise for someone’s work seldom has drawbacks. It may inflate their ego a little bit, but at the end of the day, it shows that you, a boss, do something which bosses seldom do: care.
And then there is the anti-appreciation argument. It goes like so: If you’re only doing something for the recognition, then you’re not doing it for the right reasons. Do you think Frederick Soddy studied radioactive decay and formulated a theory of isotopes strictly because he was gunning for the 1922 Nobel Chemistry Prize? Not at all! He was simply fascinated by isotopes. Studying isotopes was its own reward for Soddy, and he didn’t care how hard he had to squint at the little things in order to watch them decay in real-time.
Likewise, you should pursue your passion solely because you’re passionate about it. With a humble mindset like that, you’re sure to receive some appreciation sooner or later.
Quotes About Recognition and Rewards
“It is up to us to give ourselves recognition. If we wait for it to come from others, we feel resentful when it doesn’t, and when it does, we may well reject it.”
“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”
– Calvin Coolidge, Veto of Salary Increase, February 4th, 1916
“The honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action.”
“Don’t worry when you are not recognized but strive to be worthy of recognition.”
“The town had a basketful of feelings good and bad about Joe’s positions and possessions, but none had the temerity to challenge him. They bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the town bowed down.”
– Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.”
“It is better to be looked over than overlooked.”
– Mae West
“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.”
– Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear
“People work for money but go the extra mile for praise, recognition, and rewards.”