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 next point—that’s all you must think about.
—Rod Laver (b.1938) Australian Tennis Great
Some people see more in a walk around the block than others see in a trip around the world.
—Unknown
Extended empires are like expanded gold, exchanging solid strength for feeble splendor.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
This one thing I do … I press on toward the mark.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The human mind is not rich enough to drive many horses abreast and wants one general scheme, under which it strives to bring everything.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Concentrate on the essentials. We will then be accomplishing the greatest possible results with the effort expended.
—Ted Engstrom (1916–2006) American Christian Executive, President of World Vision
Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory.
—Bill Russell (1934–2022) American Basketball Player, Coach
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
The great difference between those who succeed and those who fail does not consist in the amount of work done by each but in the amount of intelligent work. Many of those who fail most ignominiously do enough to achieve grand success but they labor haphazardly at whatever they are assigned, building up with one hand to tear down with the other. They do not grasp circumstances and change them into opportunities. They have no faculty for turning honest defeats into telling victories. With ability enough and ample time, the major ingredients of success, they are forever throwing back and forth an empty shuttle and the real web of their life is never woven.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
Nothing interferes with my concentration. You could put on an orgy in my office and I wouldn’t look up. Well, maybe once.
—Isaac Asimov (1920–92) Russian-born American Writer, Scientist
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
Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
It is a process of diverting one’s scattered forces into one powerful channel.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
The secret of concentration is the secret of self-discovery. You reach inside yourself to discover your personal resources, and what it takes to match them to the challenge.
—Arnold Palmer (1929–2016) American Professional Golfer
While the work or play is on … don’t constantly feel you ought to be doing the other.
—Franklin P. Adams (1881–1960) American Journalist, Columnist, Author
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
My ability to concentrate and work toward that goal has been my greatest asset.
—Jack Nicklaus (b.1940) American Sportsperson
Nothing focuses the mind better than the constant sight of a competitor who wants to wipe you off the map.
—D. Wayne Calloway (1935–98) American Business Executive
In trying to defend everything he defended nothing.
—Frederick II of Prussia (1712–86) King of Prussia, Military Strategist
No country can act wisely simultaneously in every part of the globe at every moment of time.
—Henry Kissinger (1923–2023) American Statesman, Diplomat, Nobel Peace Prize Winner
The successful man is the average man, focused.
—Unknown
To do two things at once is to do neither.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Enter every activity without giving mental recognition to the possibility of defeat. Concentrate on your strengths, instead of your weaknesses… on your powers, instead of your problems.
—Paul J. Meyer
Successful minds work. like a gimlet: to a single point.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
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
Presence is more than just being there.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
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
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