Neal A. Maxwell Quotes

If I had more time, I would have written less.

It is by great economy of means that one arrives at simplicity of expression.

Some people write a thank you note for a gift, and it's three pages long, and some people write a thank you note, and it's five sentences - that's me. I like to pare away words because I don't want to waste anyone's time.

Less is almost always better than more. Short words, short sentences, short speeches.

From a productivity perspective, prioritization is key. And it's very easy to focus on clearing the decks of minutia, especially when one's very busy.

There just isn't enough time for everything on our 'to do' list - and there never will be. Successful people don't try to do everything. They learn to focus on the most important tasks and make sure they get done.

You have to ruthlessly prioritize.

It is excellent discipline for an author to feel that he must say all he has to say in the fewest possible words, or his reader is sure to skip them; and in the plainest possible words, or his reader will certainly misunderstand them. Generally, also, a downright fact may be told in a plain way; and we want downright facts at present more than anything else.

Time management is a misnomer, the challenge is to manage ourselves.

Speak in extremes, it'll save you time.

The thing is to try to do as much as you can in the time that you have.

If you don't have time, the truth is, you don't have priorities. Think harder; don't work harder.

Aiming at brevity, I become obscure.

One of the secrets of getting more done is to make a TO DO List every day, keep it visible, and use it as a guide to action as you go through the day.

Say all you have to say in the fewest possible words, or your reader will be sure to skip them; and in the plainest possible words or he will certainly misunderstand them.

Lack of clarity is the number-one time-waster. Always be asking, 'What am I trying to do? How am I trying to do it.

The fact is that you can't do everything that you have to do. You have to procrastinate on something. Therefore, procrastinate on small tasks.

The key to having more time is doing less, and there are two paths to get there, both of which should be used together: (1) Define a short to-do list and (2) define a not-to-do list.

No time for poetry but exactly what is.

The infinite we shall do right away. The finite may take a little longer.

Work on one thing at a time until finished.

The essence of the best thinking in the area of time management (practice planning) can be captured in a single phrase: Organize and execute around priorities

Why do we embroider everything we say with special emphasis when all we really need to do is simply say what needs to he said? Of course the fact is that there is very little that needs to be said.

The shorter and the plainer the better.

I do try and keep my scripts quite economical.