The effectiveness of work increases according to a geometrical progression if there are no interruptions.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
A man may be so much of every thing, that he is nothing of any thing.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results.
—Unknown
Successful minds work. like a gimlet: to a single point.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
When every physical and mental resources is focused, one’s power to solve a problem multiplies tremendously.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
With all humility, I think, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Infinitely more important than the vain attempt to love one’s neighbor as one’s self. If you want to hit a bird on the wing, you must have all your will in focus, you must not be thinking about yourself, and equally, you must not be thinking about your neighbor: you must be living in your eye on that bird. Every achievement is a bird on the wing.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
The field of consciousness is tiny. It accepts only one problem at a time.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
A well-aimed spear is worth three.
—Ted Williams (1918–2002) American Sportsperson
What a great discrepancy there is between men and the results they achieve! It is due to the difference in their power of calling together all the rays of their ability, and concentrating them upon one point
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
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
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
A man should remove not only unnecessary acts, but also unnecessary thoughts, for then superfluous activity will not follow.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
The successful man is the average man, focused.
—Anonymous
My main focus is on my game.
—Tiger Woods (b.1975) American Sportsperson
For him who has no concentration, there is no tranquility.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
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
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
Do whatever you do intensely.
—Robert Henri (1865–1929) American Painter, Teacher
The secret of a good memory is attention, and attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it. We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
Those indeed who attain any excellence commonly spend life in one pursuit, for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The secret to success in any human endeavor is total concentration.
—Kurt Vonnegut (1922–2007) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
I go at what I am about a if there was nothing else in the world for the time being.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
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
Presence is more than just being there.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
A bird can roost but on one branch. A mouse can drink no more than its fill from a river.
—Chinese Proverb
One cannot both feast and become rich.
—African Proverb
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
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
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
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