A dogmatic belief in objective value is necessary to the very idea of a rule which is not tyranny or an obedience which is not slavery.
C. S. LewisRead
Put first things first and we get second things thrown in: put second things first & we lose both first and second things.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Prioritizing what truly matters ensures that we obtain both important and less important outcomes.
This quote by C. S. Lewis emphasizes the significance of prioritizing essential tasks and values in our lives. By focusing on what is most important first, we not only achieve those goals but also create a pathway for secondary goals to naturally follow. However, if we misplace our priorities and focus on the lesser things first, we risk failing to accomplish both what truly matters and the secondary objectives we seek.
Themes
PrioritizationFocusImportanceGoalsValues
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on productivity, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of prioritizing tasks.
More from C. S. Lewis
All quotes βI enjoyed my breakfast this morning, and I think that was a good thing and do not think it was condemned by God. But I do not think myself a good man for enjoying it.
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Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
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Forgiving and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important thing is that a discord has been resolved.
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I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
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The instrument through which you see God is your whole self. And if a man's self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred
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