“You become what you give your attention to.”
“Caretake this moment. Immerse yourself in its particulars. Respond to this person, this challenge, this deed. Quit evasions. Stop giving yourself needless trouble. It is time to really live; to fully inhabit the situation you happen to be in now.”
“I cannot call somebody ‘hard-working’ knowing only that they read and write. Even if ‘all night long’ is added, I cannot say it – not until I know the focus of all this energy.”
“Don't put your purpose in one place and expect to see progress made somewhere else.”
“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”
“Distringit librorum multitudo (the abundance of books is distraction).”
“Restrict yourself to choice and refusal; and exercise them carefully, with discipline and detachment.”
“Make it your goal never to fail in your desires or experience things you would rather avoid; try never to err in impulse and repulsion; aim to be perfect also in the practice of attention and withholding judgment.”
“There is a time and place for diversion and amusements, but you should never allow them to override your true purposes.”
“If you would be a reader, read; if a writer, write.”