50 Overwork Quotes For When You Are Burned Out

By Stephanie Kirby

Writer, Entrepreneur and Inspirational quote curator

Published June 15, 2023

You will appreciate these Overwork Quotes if you have ever burned out from too much work.

Overwork is a term used to describe working too long, too hard, or too often.

It usually results in burnout, exhaustion, or sickness.

Working hard is not the same as being overworked.

Being overworked applies to situations where someone is pushed beyond their capacity to a detrimental point.

Many people will push themselves past their limits to grow.

Still, when it becomes unhealthy, it has adverse long-term effects such as complete burnout that is hard to recover from or even sickness.

Everyone has different work capacities, so don’t be afraid to push yourself, but also learn where your limits are to protect yourself from being overworked.

Take a look at the Overwork Quotes and see if you can relate.

Best Overwork Quotes to Avoid Burnout

If you’re feeling burnout, these quotes are for you.

1. “There is no glory in overworking, only fatigue.” — Marty Rubin

2. “Working harder is not necessarily working smarter.” — Tim Ferriss

3. “The wise rest at least as hard as they work.” — Mokokoma Mokhonoana

4. “Burnout is not the price you have to pay for success.” — Arianna Huffington

5. “Burnout is a symptom of neglect, not a badge of honor.” — Kristin Armstrong

6. “The trouble with your rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.” — Lily Tomlin

7. “Just because you take breaks doesn’t mean you’re broken.” — Curtis Tyrone Jones

8. “You will never feel truly satisfied by work until you are satisfied by life.” — Heather Schuck

9. “It’s not the hours you put into your work that counts; it’s the work you put in the hours.” — Sam Ewing

10. “Burnout is nature’s way of telling you you’ve been going through the motions; your soul has departed.” — Sam Keen

Overwork Quotes for Your Mental Health

Learn to protect your mental health from overworking with the following quotes.

11. “Self-care is how you take your power back.” — Lalah Delia

13. “Take a break from the hustle and bustle. Relax and recharge your batteries.” — Lailah Gifty Akita

13. “Burnout is what happens when you try to avoid being human for too long.” — Michael Gungor

14. “Working yourself to death is not a badge of honor; it’s a sign of stupidity.” — Mokokoma Mokhonoana

15. “It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?” — Henry David Thoreau

16. “Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.” — Noam Shpancer

17. “Overwork is a form of self-abuse. It can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression.” — Arianna Huffington

18. “Burnout is what happens when we ignore the soul whispering against an unhealthy job or relationship.” — Dr. Dina Glouberman

19. “Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” — Ralph Marston

20. “When you take care of yourself, you’re a better person for others. When you feel good about yourself, you treat others better.” — Solange Knowles

Overwork Quotes About Work-Life Balance

Find work-life balance with the following quotes about working too much.

21. “The most important thing in life is balance.” — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

22. “Balance is not something you find; it’s something you create.” — Jana Kingsford

23. “Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective.” — Doe Zantamata

24. “The key to a good life is balance. You need time for work, play, and rest.” — Mandy Hale

25. “There is virtue in work, and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” — Alan Cohen

26. “Work, love, and play are the great balance wheels of man’s being.” — Orison Swett Marden

27. “Work-life balance is not a time-management issue; it’s a boundary issue.” — Kirstin O’Donovan

28. “There is no work-life balance. We have one life. What’s most important is that you be awake for it.” — Janice Marturano

29. “The challenge of work-life balance is without question one of the most significant struggles faced by modern man.” — Stephen Covey

30. “Leisure is only possible when we are at one with ourselves. We tend to overwork as a means of self-escape, as a way of trying to justify our existence.” — Josef Pieper

Overwork Quotes About Workaholics

If you can’t pull yourself away from work, these quotes may help put things in perspective.

31. “Being a workaholic is not a badge of honor. It’s a sign of a problem.” — Durian Dyson

32. “Workaholics aren’t heroes. They don’t save the day; they just use it up.” — Jason Fried

33. “Working too hard is not smart. It’s not noble. It’s not admirable. It’s stupid.” — Steve Maraboli

34. “Workaholics are like addicts. They become addicted to the adrenaline rush of work.” — Diane Dreher

35. “Don’t confuse activity with productivity. Many people are simply busy being busy.” — Robin Sharma

36. “The trouble with working too hard is that you never have time to appreciate your success.” — Arthur Golden

37. “Workaholics are usually the first to arrive and the last to leave, but they’re also the first to burn out.” — Jay Samit

38. “Workaholics work not because they have to, but because they believe their work is who they are.” — Bryan Robinson

39. “Workaholics typically have a lot of achievement in their lives, but they’re not necessarily happy with who they are.” — Marilyn Machlowitz

40. “If you do more than your share, you’d better want to. Otherwise, you’re paying yourself in a currency recognized nowhere else.” — Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Inspirational Quotes About Not Overworking

Avoid the dangers of overworking with the following quotes.

41. “Overworking is the enemy of progress.” — Winston Churchill

42. “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” — Mahatma Gandhi

43. “The obsession with overwork is a sickness of our times.” — Johann Hari

44. “It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long you do not stop.” — Confucius

45. “The irony of overworking is that we end up achieving less than if we rested enough.” — Arianna Huffington

46. “The pursuit of overwork is a losing proposition. It diminishes the quality of our lives and the value of our work.” — Tony Schwartz

47. “Overworking is not a sign of dedication or productivity. It’s a sign of poor time management and lack of boundaries.” — Minda Harts

48. “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion.” — Simon Sinek

49. “Overworking is like trying to keep a car running without ever stopping to refill the gas tank or change the oil. Eventually, it will break down.” — Michael Hyatt

50. “Working too hard is not good for anyone, and it can lead to physical and mental exhaustion, burnout, and decreased productivity.” — Christine Kane