"I never work just to work. It's some combination of laziness and self-respect"

In this quote, Harold Ramis is revealing his individual viewpoint towards work. He states that he never works simply for the sake of working, but rather there is a deeper motivation behind it. He recommends that this motivation is a mix of two elements: laziness and self-esteem. This may appear like an inconsistent statement, but upon further evaluation, it becomes clear that Ramis is highlighting the value of discovering a balance in between these two qualities. He thinks that while laziness can be a driving force to prevent unnecessary work, self-respect is what eventually pushes us to do our finest and strive for excellence in our work. Overall, Ramis is highlighting the significance of having a function and drive behind our work, instead of just going through the motions.