John Buchan Quotes

I don't put the focus on things that don't matter.

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.

It's not about having it all. It's about having what you value most.

There is but one art, to omit! Oh, if I knew how to omit I would ask no other knowledge. A man who knows how to omit would make an Iliad of a daily paper.

I make it a personal rule never to do anything that I don't really care about. It is surprising how much this cuts out.

Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!

To know what to leave out and what to put in; just where and just how, ah, that is to have been educated in knowledge of simplicity.

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

The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.

What makes Steve [Jobs'] methodology different from everyone else's is that he always believed the most important decisions you make are not the things you do, but the things you decide not to do. He's a minimalist.

You can only do so many things great, and you should cast aside everything else.

In a way, I have simplified my life by setting priorities.

I only have room to do things that I have a love for in my life.

I sometimes think less is more. If you cut yourself in too many places, it is hard to execute.

Most people in business and within their personal lives move towards complexity. More To Dos. More projects. More products. More meetings. More possessions. More goals. The best - I suggest to you - move in the opposite direction.

We cannot master everything, taste everything, understand everything, drain every experience to its last dregs. But if we have the courage to let almost everything else go, we will probably be able to retain the thing necessary for us-whatever it may be. If we are too eager to have everything, we will almost certainly miss even the one thing we need

Knowing what to take out and what to leave in is what separates the men from the boys.

Most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you'll have more time, and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, 'Is this necessary?'

Keep out of your mind, and out of your office, and out of your world, every element that seeks admittance with no definite, helpful, useful end in view.

A simple life is not seeing how little we can get by with-that's poverty-but how efficiently we can put first things first. . . . When you're clear about your purpose and your priorities, you can painlessly discard whatever does not support these, whether it's clutter in your cabinets or commitments on your calendar. (148)

Live uncluttered lives so you could have time for what is most 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.

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

There is but one art, to omit.

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.