Quotessence
Home / Authors / Stephen Covey
Stephen Covey

Stephen Covey Quotes

Author

Filter quotes by topic

AllPeopleIfs7 HabitsPrinciplesMotivationalValuesWayInspirationalMindSelf

Famous Stephen Covey Quotes

“Valuing differences is what really drives synergy. Do you truly value the mental, emotional, and psychological differences among people? Or do you wish everyone would just agree with you so you could all get along? Many people mistake uniformity for unity; sameness for oneness. One word--boring! Differences should be seen as strengths, not weaknesses. They add zest to life.”

PeopleShouldValuesWishDifferencesMistakeEmotionalWeaknessAgreeAddUnityBoringPsychologicalOnenessOne WordUniformitySamenessZestSynergy
Author:Stephen Covey
Create image

“Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.”

PeopleChoicesConditionsProductsCircumstancesBehaviorConsciousBlameConditioningProactive
Book:The Stephen R. Covey Interactive Reader - 4 Books in 1: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, First Things First, and the Best of the Most Renowned Leadership Teacher of our Time
Create image

“Habit 7 is taking the time to sharpen the saw. By renewing the four dimensions of your nature - physical, spiritual, mental and social/emotional, you can work more quickly and effortlessly. To do this, we must be proactive. This is a Quadrant II (important, not urgent) activity that must be acted on. It's at the center of our Circle of Influence, so we must do it for ourselves.”

ImportantSpiritualSocialPracticeSawsFourInfluenceEmotionalHabitActivityCirclesDimensionsUrgentProactiveCircle Of Influence
Author:Stephen Covey
Create image

“During the first few minutes in lift-off, the astronauts were strictly controlled and were powerfully buffeted by the forces of nature struggling to keep them on earth. This is somewhat comparable to the pull of the flesh when our alarm goes off early in the morning. Unless we put "mind over mattress" and carry out the resolves made the night before, we will experience our first defeat that day. Not sufficient to finish. Mission aborted.”

MindFirstsMadeEarthNightForceMorningStruggleMinutesDefeatMissionsFleshLiftsSufficientResolveControlledAstronautAlarmsForces Of NatureMattresses
Author:Stephen Covey
Create image

“I won't take time to repeat all the obvious benefits of physical exercise but will only underscore the well-attested fact that a program of regular exercise increases one's efficiency in every facet of life, including the depth and restfulness of sleep. And the time taken can be minimal; just a few minutes of calisthenics and running in place in one's room or jogging around the yard or block is often sufficient. Exercising doesn't take time. It saves time. Still, few consistently do it.”

WellsStillsFactsRunningSleepRoomsTakenMinutesExerciseBenefitsProgramIncreaseDepthIncludingObviousBlockSufficientRepeatsTake TimeConsistentlyEfficiencyYardsFacetsJoggingPhysical ExerciseRegular ExerciseCalisthenics
Author:Stephen Covey
Create image

“When two people in a marriage are more concerned about getting the golden eggs, the benefits, than they are in preserving the relationship that makes them possible, they often become insensitive and inconsiderate, neglecting the little kindnesses and courtesies so important to a deep relationship. They begin to use control levers to manipulate each other, to focus on their own needs, to justify their own position and look for evidence to show the wrongness of the other person. The love, the richness, the softness and spontaneity begin to deteriorate.”

PeopleLoveNeedsLooksLittlesPersonsTwoImportantUseShowsAgeKindnessFocusPositionBenefitsEvidenceConcernedGoldenJustifyEggsNeglectManipulateCourtesyRichnessSpontaneitySoftnessInsensitiveLeversInconsiderateGolden EggsDeep Relationship
Book:Daily Reflections for Highly Effective People: Living THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE Every Day
Create image

“If two people have the same opinion, one is unnecessary. ... I don't want to talk, to communicate, with someone who agrees with me; I want to communicate with you because you see it differently. I value that difference.”

PeopleIfsWantTwoValuesDifferencesOpinionAgreeCommunicateUnnecessaryCooperative Learning
Book:The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
Create image

“If I try to use human influence strategies and tactics of how to get other people to do what I want, to work better, to be more motivated, to like me and each other-while my character is fundamentally flawed, marked by duplicity and insincerity-then, in the long run, I cannot be successful. My duplicity will breed distrust, and everything I do-even using so-called good human relations techniques-will be perceived as manipulative.”

PeopleIfsWantTryingHumansLongCharacterUseRunningSuccessfulInfluenceRelationStrategyTechniqueLike MeBeing SuccessfulMotivatedLong RunsDistrustTacticsFlawedHuman RelationsManipulativeInsincerityDuplicity
Book:Daily Reflections for Highly Effective People: Living THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE Every Day
Create image