Passion vs. Profession: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 27, 2024
Passion is a strong, enthusiastic devotion to an activity or field, often driven by emotion or interest, while a profession is a paid occupation, usually requiring formal qualifications and training.
Key Differences
Passion is driven by intrinsic motivation, a deep, personal enthusiasm and love for a particular activity, subject, or hobby. Profession, in contrast, is driven by extrinsic factors such as career, economic stability, and societal status. Passion often fuels creativity and personal satisfaction, while profession typically concerns skill, expertise, and livelihood.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Developing a passion often involves self-guided exploration, experimentation, and a natural inclination towards a subject. Developing a profession usually requires formal education, training, and adherence to specific industry standards or certifications. Passion can be self-taught or nurtured informally, whereas a profession often involves structured learning and official accreditation.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
The primary outcome of passion is personal fulfillment, joy, and self-expression. For a profession, the primary outcomes are economic gain, career advancement, and professional recognition. Passion is pursued for its own sake, whereas a profession is pursued for livelihood and societal contribution.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Passions can change, evolve, or vary over time, reflecting a person's growth and changing interests. A profession, however, often requires a consistent and long-term commitment, sometimes even when personal satisfaction wanes, due to its role in one's livelihood and identity.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Passion is often seen as a personal choice, not necessarily linked to financial success or social status. Profession is typically viewed as a measure of one's social and economic standing and often garners a certain level of respect or recognition based on the field and level of expertise.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Driver
Intrinsic motivation, love, interest
Economic stability, career advancement, skill
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Development
Self-guided, informal, personal inclination
Formal education, training, industry standards
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Primary Outcome
Personal fulfillment, joy, self-expression
Economic gain, career advancement, professional recognition
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Nature of Commitment
Flexible, evolving, personal choice
Consistent, long-term, structured
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Social Perception
Personal choice, not linked to social status
Indicator of social and economic status
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Jan 27, 2024
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Passion and Profession Definitions
Passion
The energy that comes from bringing more of you into what you do.
Her passion for teaching makes her an exceptional educator.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 03, 2024
Profession
A type of job that requires special education, training, or skill.
His profession as a chef was inspired by his love for cooking.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 03, 2024
Profession
A paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and formal qualification.
His profession as a doctor was highly respected.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 03, 2024
Passion
A powerful emotion, such as anger or joy
A spirit governed by intense passions.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
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Profession
An area requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.
Her profession in law was a result of years of study.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 03, 2024
Passion
A state of strong sexual desire or love
"His desire flared into a passion he could no longer check" (Barbara Taylor Bradford).
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
A vocation requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science.
She entered the profession of engineering after her graduation.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 03, 2024
Profession
An occupation or career
"One of the highest compliments a child can pay a parent is to choose his or her profession" (Joan Nathan).
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
Boundless enthusiasm
His skills as a player don't quite match his passion for the game.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
An occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
The body of qualified persons in an occupation or field
Members of the teaching profession.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
An abandoned display of emotion, especially of anger
He's been known to fly into a passion without warning.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
The sufferings of Jesus in the period following the Last Supper and including the Crucifixion, as related in the New Testament.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
A narrative, musical setting, or pictorial representation of Jesus's sufferings.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
(religion) A promise or vow made on entering a religious order.
She died only a few years after her profession.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
Any great, strong, powerful emotion, especially romantic love or extreme hate.
We share a passion for books.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
The declaration of belief in the principles of a religion; hence, one's faith or religion.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
Any declaration of belief, faith or one's opinion, whether genuine or (as now often implied) pretended.
Despite his continued professions of innocence, the court eventually sentenced him to five years.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
An object of passionate or romantic love or strong romantic interest.
It started as a hobby, but now my motorbike collection has become my passion.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
Sexual intercourse, especially when very emotional.
We shared a night of passion.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
An occupation, trade, craft, or activity in which one has a professed expertise in a particular area; a job, especially one requiring a high level of skill or training.
My father was a barrister by profession.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
(collective) The practitioners of such an occupation collectively.
His conduct is against the established practices of the legal profession.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
A display, musical composition, or play meant to commemorate the suffering of Jesus.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
The act of professing or claiming; open declaration; public avowal or acknowledgment; as, professions of friendship; a profession of faith.
A solemn vow, promise, and profession.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
(obsolete) Suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any suffering or distress.
A cardiac passion
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
That which one professed; a declaration; an avowal; a claim; as, his professions are insincere.
The Indians quickly perceive the coincidence or the contradiction between professions and conduct.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
(obsolete) The state of being acted upon; subjection to an external agent or influence; a passive condition
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
That of which one professed knowledge; the occupation, if not mechanical, agricultural, or the like, to which one devotes one's self; the business which one professes to understand, and to follow for subsistence; calling; vocation; employment; as, the profession of arms; the profession of a clergyman, lawyer, or physician; the profession of lecturer on chemistry.
Hi tried five or six professions in turn.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
(obsolete) The capacity of being affected by external agents; susceptibility of impressions from external agents.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
The collective body of persons engaged in a calling; as, the profession distrust him.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
(obsolete) An innate attribute, property, or quality of a thing.
[...] to obtain the knowledge of some passion of the circle.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
The act of entering, or becoming a member of, a religious order.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
The body of people in a learned occupation;
The news spread rapidly through the medical community
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
(obsolete) To suffer pain or sorrow; to experience a passion; to be extremely agitated.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
An occupation requiring special education (especially in the liberal arts or sciences)
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
An open avowal (true or false) of some belief or opinion;
A profession of disagreement
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
A suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any suffering or distress (as, a cardiac passion); specifically, the suffering of Christ between the time of the last supper and his death, esp. in the garden upon the cross.
To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
Affirmation of acceptance of some religion or faith;
A profession of Christianity
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
The state of being acted upon; subjection to an external agent or influence; a passive condition; - opposed to action.
A body at rest affords us no idea of any active power to move, and, when set in motion, it is rather a passion than an action in it.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Profession
An occupation or career, especially one that requires special training.
He chose teaching as his profession.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 03, 2024
Passion
Capacity of being affected by external agents; susceptibility of impressions from external agents.
Moldable and not moldable, scissible and not scissible, and many other passions of matter.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
The state of the mind when it is powerfully acted upon and influenced by something external to itself; the state of any particular faculty which, under such conditions, becomes extremely sensitive or uncontrollably excited; any emotion or sentiment (specifically, love or anger) in a state of abnormal or controlling activity; an extreme or inordinate desire; also, the capacity or susceptibility of being so affected; as, to be in a passion; the passions of love, hate, jealously, wrath, ambition, avarice, fear, etc.; a passion for war, or for drink; an orator should have passion as well as rhetorical skill.
We also are men of like passions with you.
The nature of the human mind can not be sufficiently understood, without considering the affections and passions, or those modifications or actions of the mind consequent upon the apprehension of certain objects or events in which the mind generally conceives good or evil.
The term passion, and its adverb passionately, often express a very strong predilection for any pursuit, or object of taste - a kind of enthusiastic fondness for anything.
The bravery of his grief did put meInto a towering passion.
The ruling passion, be it what it will,The ruling passion conquers reason still.
Who walked in every path of human life,Felt every passion.
When statesmen are ruled by faction and interest, they can have no passion for the glory of their country.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
To suffer pain or sorrow; to experience a passion; to be extremely agitated.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
Something that is desired intensely;
His rage for fame destroyed him
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
Any object of warm affection or devotion;
The theater was her first love
He has a passion for cock fighting
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Passion
A powerful or compelling emotion or feeling.
Her passion for painting was evident in every brushstroke.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 03, 2024
Passion
A strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity.
His passion for chess led him to compete internationally.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 03, 2024
Passion
A strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something.
He has a passion for vintage cars.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 03, 2024
Passion
Deeply emotional and personal involvement in an activity.
Her passion for environmental conservation inspired many.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 03, 2024
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What defines a passion?
An intense enthusiasm or love for a particular activity or subject.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Is professional success guaranteed with passion?
Not always, as professional success often depends on market demand and other factors.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Can a passion become a profession?
Yes, when a passion aligns with a viable career path, it can become a profession.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Is passion necessary for a profession?
While not necessary, passion can greatly enhance job satisfaction in a profession.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Can someone have multiple passions?
Absolutely, it's common to have several different passions.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
What is a profession?
A paid occupation, typically requiring formal qualifications and training.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
How does one identify their passion?
Often through exploration, self-reflection, and recognizing what brings joy and fulfillment.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Do all professions require formal education?
Most do, especially those considered skilled or requiring specialized knowledge.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Is changing professions common?
Yes, many people change professions, sometimes to align more closely with their passions.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Can passions change over time?
Yes, passions can evolve as individuals grow and their interests change.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Does passion always lead to happiness?
Not necessarily, as balancing passion with other life aspects is important.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Is financial stability a concern in choosing a profession?
Often, as professions provide the primary means of financial support.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Is it important to balance passion and profession?
Balancing both can lead to a more fulfilling and well-rounded life.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Are professions limited to traditional careers?
No, professions have expanded to include a wide range of fields and skills.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Does society influence choices of passion and profession?
Yes, societal expectations and norms can influence these choices.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Are career changes later in life feasible?
Absolutely, with the right training and mindset, changing careers is possible at any age.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Are certain professions more respected than others?
Societally, some professions may be held in higher esteem due to perceived value or difficulty.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Can one be successful without a formal profession?
Yes, success can be achieved through unconventional paths and entrepreneurial ventures.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Do professions shape one's identity?
They can significantly influence one's identity and how others perceive them.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
Can a hobby turn into a profession?
Yes, if a hobby is pursued with dedication and meets a market need, it can become a profession.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 27, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.