Work hard, play hard

Work hard, play hard is an English phrase with several uses.

Motto

Some individuals and organizations use "Work hard, play hard" as a motto, either officially or unofficially. For example, "Work hard play hard" (Laboris gloria Ludi in Latin) is the official motto of the Camborne School of Mines.

It's a variation on similar mottoes which promote the virtues of hard work (or a work ethic) by adding a counterbalancing focus on play. This work-play balance is similar to the concept of work-life balance.

Type of corporate culture

In their 1984 book, Corporate Cultures, Deal and Kennedy identified a particular corporate culture which they called the "work hard/play hard culture."

"Fun and action are the rule here, and employees take few risks, all with quick feedback; to succeed, the culture encourages them to maintain a high level of relatively low-risk activity." (page 108)

References in popular culture

• "Work Hard Play Hard" has been used as the name of a song or musical track on numerous occasions, most notably as the title of a track produced by DJ Tiësto.
• "Work Hard, Play Hard" was the title of a 2003 film.
• Movies and TV Shows with "work hard, play hard" in the script include Barton Fink, Rogue Trader, and United States of Tara.

Variations

• "Work Hard, Play Harder" is a song co-written and recorded by American country artist Gretchen Wilson.
• Continental Airlines trademarked and used "Work hard. Fly right." as an advertising slogan.
• The book Soldiers and Sailors, by George Mogridge (Old Humphrey), contains the following variation:

"True. They work hard, play hard, and fight hard; but, say what you will, it is not all sunshine with soldiers and sailors."

• In 1884, Racine College advertised itself as:

A School whose aim is to carry into practice the words of its first great Warden, James deKoven: "Work hard, Play hard, Pray hard."