focus on essentials Quotes

Slow down and remember this: Most things make no difference.

Very successful people say no to almost everything.

A wise man should order his interests, and set them all in their proper places. This order is often troubled by greed, which putsus upon pursuing so many things at once that, in eagerness for matters of less consideration, we grasp at trifles, and let go things of greater value.

The pleasure of working with somebody who's an actor is they don't waste time with stuff that doesn't matter.

Believe it or not, it is not only possible to accomplish more by doing less, it is mandatory. Enter the world of elimination.

I soon learned to scent out that which was able to lead to fundamentals and to turn aside from everything else, from the multitude of things which clutter up the mind and divert it from the essential.

The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.

I also feel like I've learned over the years what is not important, and that is also great: to know what is pointless to spend your energy on, to be more specific.

You've got to keep reminding yourself of what's important.

... and you can only have 2 or 3 things everyday, because everything else will just come at you; you know fires in a day.

Know the philosophy, know the details, and ignore everything in the middle.

It is my art. I am better at it than I ever was. And I will do it as long as I can. When you reach a certain age you can slough off what is unnecessary and concentrate on what is. And why not?

What cancer does is, it forces you to focus, to prioritize, and you learn what's important. I mean, I don't sweat the small stuff. I used to get angry at cab drivers. It's not worth it.... And when somebody says you have cancer, you realize it's all small stuff.

I don’t waste time. I move. I finish things. I don’t try and do things to the nth degree. I know what’s important and what’s not. I’ve really learned that. That’s a judgement I’ve learned, what really matters.

I may be the type who manages to grab all the pointless things in life but lets the really important things slip away.

Simplifying our lives does not mean sinking into idleness, but on the contrary, getting rid of the most subtle aspect of laziness: the one which makes us take on thousands of less important activities.

The thing that's important for me is to remember what's the most important thing.

My goal is to omit everything superfluous so that the essential is shown to best possible advantage.

There is but one art, to omit.

Although he travels all day, the sage never loses sight of his luggage carts.

Life is so great in its opportunities and possibilities, that you should rise confidently above the inevitable trifles incident to daily contact with the world. Life is too precious to be sacrificed for the nonessential and transient. . . . Ignore the inconsequential.

It doesn't matter how much milk you spill as long as you don't lose the cow.