Laura Esquivel Quotes

Always keep things in perspective.

I don't worry about things that aren't important.

The less you talk, the more time you have for the essential things.

I think when you take forever off the table, it does something really interesting to what you think is important. There's something a little freeing about it.

I really try to ask myself the question of nine. Will this matter in nine minutes, nine hours, nine days, nine weeks, nine months or nine years? If it will truly matter for all of those, pay attention to it.

Now, I don't sweat the small stuff, just the things that really matter.

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?'

Do not so contemplate eternity that you waste today.

Your life is too important to give it to distractions.

Learn what is to be taken seriously and laugh at the rest.

Never confuse the importance of things with things of importance.

I soon learned to scent out that which was able to lead to fundamentals and to turn aside from everything else, from the multitude of things which clutter up the mind and divert it from the essential.

Those who are wise won't be busy, and those who are too busy can't be wise.

Between the businesse of life and the day of death, a space ought to be interposed.

Come back down to basics. The basic things of life, the basic things for me are the things that turn me on more than anything. I'm actually trying to go back from where I was running from...the more essential things that I was ignoring.

Before, it came easy for me. I don't have two speeds anymore. I need to focus on the small things that I once took for granted.

The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.

Let's start with Jesus' answer: "Look for the kingdom first and all else will come together." Life is fragmenting, fragmented. I have a thousands things to do, others do too. We can live our life as if the main question is, "How can keep it together? How do I juggle all the balls? But the real question is, "How can I stay home - interiorly home - while I do these many things?

Humor requires perspective. Perspective requires focus. Focus requires balance. Balance requires attention to the present moment. In the 'now' one is freed from labels. Success and failure, good luck and bad—they're all constructs of your mind.

It is a happy thing for us that this is really all we have to concern ourselves about--what to do next. No man can do the second thing. He can do the first.

While the work or play is on, it is a lot of fun if while you are doing one you don't constantly feel that you ought to be doing the other.

I'm in a state of my life when the essential is very important to me. I don't like long songs with complicated arrangements and breaks anymore.

The nature of life is to be a study of contrasts: joy/sadness, full/empty. The Main Thing is to Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing.

the urgent crowds out the essential.

To enjoy life, you don't need fancy nonsense, but you do need to control your time and realize that most things just aren't as serious as you make them out to be.