Single-Minded Pursuit Quotes

When someone is seeking, it happens quite easily that he only sees the thing that he is seeking; that he is unable to find anything, unable to absorb anything, because he is only thinking of the thing he is seeking, because he has a goal, because he is obsessed with his goal. Seeking means: to have a goal; but finding means: to be free, to be receptive, to have no goal. You, O worthy one, are perhaps indeed a seeker, for in striving towards your goal, you do not see many things that are under your nose.

If you're going to try, go all the way. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs and maybe your mind.

I say that when you have perceived or attained the goal, compromises, renunciations, do not exist. If you have seen the goal, compromise ceases to exist. It is then a question of a different attitude.

You start living for the obsession alone ... You want to arrive somewhere regardless of whether you're enjoying the road or not.

The jack-of-all-trades seldom is good at any. Concentrate all of your efforts on one definite chief aim.

There is nobody in the world that you can't get if you really concentrate on it, if you really want them. You've got to want it to the exclusion of everything else.

A man can lose sight of everything else when he's bent on revenge, and it ain't worth it.

I think we got off the track, as many societies do, who follow successfully one aim, and yet are not capable of seeing at what point the pursuit of this aim prevents them from following a more total aim. That is to say, they get into a blind alley.

Once I get on something, once I have something that I'm working on, then I become very obsessive. In a good way. I mean,... is there a positive way to say obsessive? It's a good thing and if you're out there and you're working on something right now and you're crazed and you're up in the middle of the night, or you can't stop thinking about it, or you have to keep reading other things about the subject that you're working on or whatever. That's good and I think that's necessary creatively.

One of the greatest motivators is desire. If the desire is strong enough you will do whatever it takes to achieve. Just connect your actions with your true desires.

When you decide clearly and definitely what you want, then no sacrifice is too great as you put all of your powers into astounding results.

This is what I want. This is the only thing I've ever wanted. Everything else—every single second of every single day that has come before this very moment, this kiss—has meant nothing.

If you stick to something doggedly, you are off to a bad start.

To see one's goal and to drive toward it, steeling one's heart, is most uplifting.

Success is nearest to those whose efforts are intense and sincere.

If I put my mind to something and really want it, I'll go after it and get it.

Be relentless in pursuing your happiness.

From age eleven to age sixteen I lived a spartan life without the usual adolescent uncertainty. I wanted to be the best swimmer in the world, and there was nothing else.

A fanatic is a man who, when he's lost sight of his purpose, redoubles his effort.

When I go after something, I go after it hard. It has always been that way. I don't know. It's in my blood.

Passion is passion. It's a sort of madness and possession of what you do or what you think. This is the difference of life: passion and commerce, which most of the people know as "P.C." But people have just got "C" now instead of "P."

The ability to work hard and make sacrifices comes naturally to those who know exactly what they want.

A tendency to fly too straight at a goal, instead of circling around it, often carries one too far.

Desire and dedication are everything!

All good research-whether for science or for a book-is a form of obsession.