How many on their deathbeds wished they'd spent more time at the office - or watching TV? The answer is, No one.
Stephen CoveyRead
My behavior is a product of my own conscious choices based on principles, rather than a product of my conditions, based on feelings.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our actions stem from deliberate choices informed by principles instead of being reactive to our circumstances or emotions.
In this quote, Stephen Covey emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and conscious decision-making. He asserts that true behavior is not merely a result of external conditions or fleeting feelings, but rather stems from a deep understanding of one's principles and values, urging individuals to take charge of their actions and reactions in life.
Themes
ChoicesPrinciplesBehaviorResponsibilityConsciousness
In practice
Example use cases
During a leadership workshop to inspire self-awareness among participants.
More from Stephen Covey
All quotes βIf you want to have a more pleasant, cooperative teenager, be a more understanding, empathic, consistent, loving parent. If you want to have more freedom, more latitude in your job, be a more responsible, a more helpful, a more contributing employee.
Stephen CoveyRead
Listen with your eyes for feelings.
Stephen CoveyRead
If we live out of our memory, we're tied to the past and to that which is finite. When we live out of our imagination, _x000D_ we're tied to that which is infinite.
Stephen CoveyRead
Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new untapped alternatives; it values and exploits the mental, emotional, and psychological differences between people.
Stephen CoveyRead
Keep in mind that you are always saying "no" to something. If it isn't to the apparent and urgent things in your life, it is probably to the most fundamental, highly important things.
Stephen CoveyRead
Similar quotes
Half of my library are old books because I like seeing how people thought about their world at their time. So that I don't get bigheaded about something we just discovered and I can be humble about where we might go next. Because you can see who got stuff right and most of the people who got stuff wrong.
Neil Degrasse TysonRead
Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives, the cumulative experience of many masters of craftsmanship. Quality also marks the search for an ideal after necessity has been satisfied and mere usefulness achieved.
John RuskinRead
To wish to be well is a part of becoming well.
Seneca The YoungerRead
The weak are dominated by their ego, the wise dominate their ego, and the intelligent are in a constant struggle against their ego.
Hamza YusufRead
Do the kind of things that come from the heart, When you do, you won't be dissatisfied, you won't be envious, you won't be longing for somebody else's things. On the contrary, you'll be overhelmed with what comes back
Morrie SchwartzRead
Most of us do not take these situations as teachings. We automatically hate them. We run like crazy. We use all kinds of ways to escape - all addictions stem from this moment when we meet our edge and we just can't stand it. We feel we have to soften it, pad it with something, and we become addicted to whatever it is that seems to ease the pain.
Pema ChodronRead