Attention Quote by Atul Gawande
“What is needed, however, isn't just that people working together be nice to each other. It is discipline. Discipline is hard--harder than trustworthiness and skill and perhaps even than selflessness. We are by nature flawed and inconstant creatures. We can't even keep from snacking between meals. We are not built for discipline. We are built for novelty and excitement, not for careful attention to detail. Discipline is something we have to work at.”
About This Quote
Discipline is a demanding habit that exceeds innate traits like trust or skill, requiring intentional effort to counteract human impulsiveness and desire for novelty.
In simple terms: Discipline demands deliberate effort beyond natural inclinations.
Key Takeaway
Discipline must be cultivated, not assumed.
Themes
self‑control
human nature
effort
habit formation
motivation
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
advice
observation
When to use this quote
- building a new routine
- leading a team
- personal productivity
- learning a skill
- maintaining health
Key Concepts
willpower
behavioral economics
psychology of habit
organizational culture
Practical Applications
- designing accountability systems
- training programs
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we embed discipline into daily workflows?
- What incentives sustain long‑term self‑control?
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
