Presence is more than just being there.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
A person who is gifted sees the essential point and leaves the rest as surplus.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
A straight path never leads anywhere except to the objective.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
Depend upon it, Sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
It’s shocking how little there is to do with tennis when you’re just thinking about nothing except winning every point.
—Andre Agassi (b.1970) American Tennis Player
It seems essential, in relationships and all tasks, that we concentrate only on what is most significant and important
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
One should always think of what one is about: when one is learning, one should not think of play: and when one is at play, one should not think of one’s learning.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
For him who has no concentration, there is no tranquility.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
There is time enough for every thing in the course of the day, if you do but one thing at once ; but there is not time enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
One man; two loves. No good ever comes of that.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
The successful man is the average man, focused.
—Anonymous
To me, the definition of focus is knowing exactly where you want to be today, next week, next month, next year, then never deviating from your plan. Once you can see, touch and feel your objective, all you have to do is pull back and put all your strength behind it, and you’ll hit your target every time.
—Bruce Jenner (b.1949) American Sportsperson
It’s tough trying to keep your feet on the ground, your head above the clouds, your nose to the grindstone, your shoulder to the wheel, your finger on the pulse, your eye on the ball and your ear to the ground.
—Common Proverb
Only when your consciousness is totally focused on the moment you are in can you receive whatever gift, lesson, or delight that moment has to offer.
—Barbara De Angelis (b.1951) American Self-Help Author
Put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Extended empires are like expanded gold, exchanging solid strength for feeble splendor.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Don’t dissipate your powers; strive to concentrate them. Genius thinks it can do whatever it sees others doing, but it will surely repent of every ill-judged outlay.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
To be able to concentrate for a considerable time is essential to difficult achievement.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
The secret to success in any human endeavor is total concentration.
—Kurt Vonnegut (1922–2007) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Don’t wait for extraordinary circumstance to do good; try to use ordinary situations.
—Charles F. Richter (1900–85) American Physicist, Geologist
It is not the straining for great things that is most effective; it is the doing the little things, the common duties, a little better and better.
—Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
Often he who does too much does too little.
—Italian Proverb
It is better to excel in any single art than to arrive only at mediocrity in several, so moderate skill in several is to be preferred where one cannot attain to perfection in any.
—Pliny the Younger (c.61–c.112 CE) Roman Senator, Writer
Every year of my life I grow more convinced that it is wisest and best to fix our attention on the beautiful and the good, and dwell as little as possible on the evil and the false.
—Richard Cecil
Concentrate on the essentials. We will then be accomplishing the greatest possible results with the effort expended.
—Ted Engstrom (1916–2006) American Christian Religious Leader
Concentration is the secret of strength in politics, in war, in trade, in short, in all management of human affairs.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Concentration is my motto—first honesty, then industry, then concentration.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Singleness of purpose is one of the chief essentials for success in life, no matter what may be one’s aim.
—John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874–1960) American Philanthropist, Businessperson
In trying to defend everything he defended nothing.
—Frederick II of Prussia (1712–86) Prussian Monarch
When walking, walk. When eating, eat.
—Zen Proverb Japanese School of Mahayana Buddhism
If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results.
—Unknown
When you walk on a court, clear your mind of everything unrelated to the goal of playing the match as well as you can.
—Stan Smith (b.1946) American Sportsperson
Rather than viewing a brief relapse back to inactivity as a failure, treat it as a challenge and try to get back on track as soon as possible.
—Jimmy Connors (b.1952) American Sportsperson
Concentration is the key to economic results. No other principles of effectiveness is violated as constantly today as the basic principle of concentration.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
You’re a wise person if you can easily direct your attention to what ever needs it.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
The successful man is the average man, focused.
—Unknown
If our thoughts and hopes are elsewhere, it is impossible to set our faces steadily toward the work required of us.
—Unknown
If you direct your whole thought to work itself, none of the things which invade eyes or ears will reach the mind.
—Quintilian (c.35–c.100 CE) Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
Everyman’s life lies within the present; for the past is spent and done with, and the future is uncertain.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Concentration is everything. On the day I’m performing, I don’t hear anything anyone says to me.
—Luciano Pavarotti (1935–2007) Italian Musician
The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
Concentrate on finding your goal, then concentrate on reaching it.
—Michael Friedsam (1858–1931) American Philanthropist
Beware of dissipating your powers; strive constantly to concentrate them. Genius thinks it can do whatever it sees others doing, but it is sure to repent of every ill-judged outlay.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
If I have made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention than to any other talent.
—Isaac Newton (1643–1727) English Physicist, Mathematician, Astronomer, Theologian
Do whatever you do intensely.
—Robert Henri (1865–1929) American Painter, Teacher
Think of many things, do only one.
—Common Proverb
You must remain focused on your journey to greatness.
—Les Brown
Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.
—Wilferd Arlan Peterson (1900–95) American Author
Purity of heart is to will one thing.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian