20 inspiring quotes to start your day – Stephen R. Covey

Stephen R. Covey, author of the best-selling book, ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ died on Monday. Here’s a compilation of his words of wisdom that inspired millions across the world.

Here are the key principles, or ‘habits’ he propagated in his book:

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Habit 4: Think Win/Win

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

Habit 6: Synergize

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

“We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey.”

“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.

“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”

“We see the world, not as it is, but as we are──or, as we are conditioned to see it.”

“We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey.”

An inspiring writer, Covey has left behind a treasure of quotes that many management students, budding entrepreneurs, or even professionals could seek inspiration from.

“Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.”

“To know and not to do is really not to know.”

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

“Without involvement, there is no commitment. Mark it down, asterisk it, circle it, underline it. No involvement, no commitment.”

“Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.”

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

“Without involvement, there is no commitment. Mark it down, asterisk it, circle it, underline it. No involvement, no commitment.”

“Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.”

“As long as you think the problem is out there, that very thought is the problem”

“Words are like eggs dropped from great heights. You could no more call them back then ignore the mess they left when they fell.”

“It’s not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us.”

“If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control – myself.”

“To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.”

“Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom… The power to choose, to respond, to change.”

“It is one thing to make a mistake, and quite another thing not to admit it. People will forgive mistakes, because mistakes are usually of the mind, mistakes of judgment. But people will not easily forgive the mistakes of the heart, the ill intention, the bad motives, the prideful justifying cover-up of the first mistake.”

“There are three constants in life… Change, Choice and Principles.”

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

“Habit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do).”

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

“[W]isdom is the child of integrity—being integrated around principles. And integrity is the child of humility and courage. In fact, you could say that humility is the mother of all virtues because humility acknowledges that there are natural laws or principles that govern the universe. They are in charge. Pride teaches us that we are in charge. Humility teaches us to understand and live by principles, because they ultimately govern the consequences of our actions. If humility is the mother, courage is the father of wisdom. Because to truly live by these principles when they are contrary to social mores, norms and values takes enormous courage.”

Note: The quotes are by Stephen Covey, published across various media sources.

For more on Dr Stephen R Covey, click here to visit his website