Maxims

You may get no credit for trying; that doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile.

God is in the details: or: If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.

You ought to say: "It's only a job, the rest of life is worth much more". You're right to do so. But it depends on your job. How much of what you are is tied up in what you do? You ought not, of course, to be doing a job you don't see the point of.

Never confuse what you do with the instructions of the people you work for. Hang in there and fight.