Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.

Meaning of the quote

Most people don't put in their best effort at work. They do the minimum to keep their jobs and get just enough pay to not quit. They're not trying to excel or reach their full potential. They're just content with getting by.

About George Carlin

George Carlin was an iconic American stand-up comedian known for his dark humor, social commentary, and influential role in the counterculture comedy movement. He was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show, hosted the first episode of Saturday Night Live, and received numerous awards, including five Grammys, for his groundbreaking stand-up specials.

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More quotes from George Carlin

If it’s true that our species is alone in the universe, then I’d have to say the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do they?

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer Texans.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Not only do I not know what’s going on, I wouldn’t know what to do about it if I did.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

One can never know for sure what a deserted area looks like.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

I’m always relieved when someone is delivering a eulogy and I realize I’m listening to it.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

When Thomas Edison worked late into the night on the electric light, he had to do it by gas lamp or candle. I’m sure it made the work seem that much more urgent.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me – they’re cramming for their final exam.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

I think it would be interesting if old people got anti-Alzheimer’s disease where they slowly began to recover other people’s lost memories.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

If we could just find out who’s in charge, we could kill him.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

If you can’t beat them, arrange to have them beaten.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

When you’re born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you’re born in America, you get a front row seat.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Dusting is a good example of the futility of trying to put things right. As soon as you dust, the fact of your next dusting has already been established.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

What does it mean to pre-board? Do you get on before you get on?

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Standing ovations have become far too commonplace. What we need are ovations where the audience members all punch and kick one another.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Weather forecast for tonight: dark.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Electricity is really just organized lightning.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don’t have as many people who believe it.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, “Where’s the self-help section?” She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

People who say they don’t care what people think are usually desperate to have people think they don’t care what people think.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

At a formal dinner party, the person nearest death should always be seated closest to the bathroom.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Think off-center.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

I recently went to a new doctor and noticed he was located in something called the Professional Building. I felt better right away.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

“I am” is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that “I do” is the longest sentence?

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a guy nailed to two pieces of wood.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

I’m completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

When you step on the brakes your life is in your foot’s hands.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don’t have time for all that.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I’m just not close enough to get the job done.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Always do whatever’s next.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

I’m not concerned about all hell breaking loose, but that a PART of hell will break loose… it’ll be much harder to detect.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

I think people should be allowed to do anything they want. We haven’t tried that for a while. Maybe this time it’ll work.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

There’s no present. There’s only the immediate future and the recent past.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

The reason I talk to myself is that I’m the only one whose answers I accept.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

The status quo sucks.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

You know an odd feeling? Sitting on the toilet eating a chocolate candy bar.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

Religion is just mind control.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

When someone is impatient and says, “I haven’t got all day,” I always wonder, How can that be? How can you not have all day?

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)

In comic strips, the person on the left always speaks first.

George Carlin

American stand-up comedian (1937-2008)