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

Latin

Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

) is the official motto of the Camborne School of Mines

Camborne School of Mines

The Camborne School of Mines , commonly abbreviated to CSM, was founded in 1888. It is now a specialist department of the University of Exeter. Its research and teaching is related to the understanding and management of the Earth's natural processes, resources and the environment...

.

It's a variation on similar mottoes which promote the virtues of hard work (or a work ethic

Work ethic

Work ethic is a set of values based on hard work and diligence. It is also a belief in the moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character. An example would be the Protestant work ethic...

) by adding a counterbalancing focus on play. This work-play balance is similar to the concept of work-life balance

Work-life balance

Work–life balance is a broad concept including proper prioritizing between "work" on the one hand and "life" on the other. Related, though broader, terms include "lifestyle balance" and "life balance".-History:The work-leisure dichotomy was invented in the mid 1800s...

.

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)

Variations

• "Work Hard, Play Harder
  Work Hard, Play Harder
  "Work Hard, Play Harder" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country artist Gretchen Wilson. It was released in October 2009 as the lead-off single for her fourth studio album, I Got Your Country Right Here, which was released on March 30, 2010. Additionally, "Work Hard, Play...
  
  " is a song co-written and recorded by American country artist Gretchen Wilson
  Gretchen Wilson
  Gretchen Frances Wilson is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman," a number-one hit on the Billboard country charts. The song served as the lead-off single of her debut album, Here for the Party...
  
  .
• Continental Airlines
  Continental Airlines
  Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
  
   trademarked and used "Work hard. Fly right." as an advertising slogan
  Slogan
  A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
  
  .
• The book Soldiers and Sailors, by George Mogridge (Old Humphrey)
  George Mogridge (Old Humphrey)
  George Mogridge was a prolific 19th century writer, poet and author of children's books and religious tracts. He is chiefly known by his pseudonym of 'Old Humphrey', under which name he published 46 works, but also used the pen-names 'Jeremy Jaunt', 'Ephraim Holding', 'Peter Parley' and 'Old...
  
  , 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
  Racine College
  Racine College was an Episcopal college in Racine, Wisconsin, founded in 1852. The collegiate department closed in 1887, but the college continued to be used as a grammar school and a military school until it closed in 1933....
  
   advertised itself as:

A School whose aim is to carry into practice the words of its first great Warden, James deKoven

James DeKoven

James DeKoven was a priest, an educator and a leader of the Oxford Movement in the Episcopal Church. DeKoven was born in Middletown, Connecticut and educated at Columbia College. In 1851 he was admitted to General Theological Seminary and was ordained as a deacon in 1854 in Middletown...

: "Work hard, Play hard, Pray hard."