“Everybody wants to shine, but no one wants to polish”

“Everybody/Everyone wants to shine, but no one wants to polish” means that everyone wants the rewards, but no one wants to put in the hard work. “Everyone wants to shine, but no one wants to polish…know what I’m saying?” was cited in print in 2000, and “Everybody wants to shine, but nobody wants to polish!” was cited in 2008.
 
“No one wants to polish but everyone loves to shine” was cited on Twitter on May 5, 2011. “Noticing how everybody wants to shine but nobody wants to polish” was cited on Twitter on February 2, 2012. “Everybody wants to shine. But Nobody wants to polish” was cited on Twitter on March 31, 2012.
 
 
Google Groups: deja.comm.hip_hop_pros
Promoting Shows
Tre Boogie
1/20/00
(...)
Everyone wants to shine, but no one wants to polish…know what I’m saying?
 
Rum Soaked Fist
Re: old timers in the park
Post by GrahamB on Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:21 am
That’s the problem with IMA. Everybody wants to talk about it all the time ;D
Everybody wants to shine, but nobody wants to polish!
 
Twitter
Nciole Christy
‏@nciolechristy
No one wants to polish but everyone loves to shine.
2:01 PM - 5 May 2011
 
Twitter
Jocelyn
‏@ukladykat42
Noticing how everybody wants to shine but nobody wants to polish. You shouldn’t expect to get “shine” off the backs & hard work of others.
9:13 AM - 2 Feb 2012
 
Twitter
IG: SeunFeyisitan
‏@iamFYST
Everybody wants to shine. But Nobody wants to polish.
5:06 PM - 31 Mar 2012
 
Twitter
Adam
‏@rabbiadam7
Everyone wants to shine but nobody wants to polish - Great philosopher Cairo
1:41 AM - 2 Aug 2012
 
Facebook
Brian Nieh: Official Model Fan Page
January 30, 2014 ·
“Everyone wants to shine but no one wants to polish….”
 
Funny Status
Epic Slam Dunk, 500 Million Dollars, & 20 Status Updates for the Weekend
June 19, 2015
(...)
5. Everybody wants to shine, but no one wants to polish.