--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success in life is founded upon attention…" description: "\"Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the every day things nearest to us rather than to the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/booker-t-washington-2277_attention_success-in-life-is-founded-upon-attentio_595210.png" --- # Success in life is founded upon attention to the small… ![“Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the every day things nearest to us rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon.” quote by Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/booker-t-washington-2277_attention_success-in-life-is-founded-upon-attentio_595210.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/booker-t-washington-2277_attention_success-in-life-is-founded-upon-attentio_595210.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/booker-t-washington-2277_attention_success-in-life-is-founded-upon-attentio_595210.png) > “Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the every day things nearest to us rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon.” [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success comes from focusing on everyday details, not just grand ambitions. **In simple terms:** Pay attention to small, daily matters. Key Takeaway Prioritize daily details. Themes focus detail success humility Mood thoughtful determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal productivity - craftsmanship - relationship building - health habits Key Concepts mindfulness incremental achievement Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance detail work with long‑term planning? - What small habit could improve your life? A Different Perspective Neglecting big-picture goals can limit vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Attention Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-small-1315477/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Founded Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founded-attention-4862883/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Small things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-things/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-in-life/) [Success life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-life/) [Things Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-day/) [Uncommon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncommon/) ## Related quotes > [“It is easy to find oneself so wrapped up in the end result that one pays too little attention to the small steps it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-perdue/it-is-easy-to-find-oneself-so-wrapped-up-in-the-end-result-that-one/) [Lewis Perdue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-perdue/) > [The Warrior of the Light pays attention to small things because they can severely hamper him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-warrior-of-the-light-pays-attention-to-small-things-because-they/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Men don't pay attention to small things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/men-don-t-pay-attention-to-small-things/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [“The greater the scope in implementing an activity, the greater the need for strict attention to small details.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/the-greater-the-scope-in-implementing-an-activity-the-greater-the/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [“Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/part-of-the-secret-of-success-in-life-is-to-eat-what-you-want/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/success-in-life-could-be-defined-as-the-continued-expansion-of/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The secret of success in life is known only by those who have not succeeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/the-secret-of-success-in-life-is-known-only-by-those-who-have-not/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [Your success in life will be in direct proportion to what you do after you do what you are expected to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/your-success-in-life-will-be-in-direct-proportion-to-what-you-do/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Success in life is my game. I collect as many coins as possible, rescue the princess, and climb the stairs to the next level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-taylor/success-in-life-is-my-game-i-collect-as-many-coins-as-possible-rescue/) [Zach Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-taylor/) > [I will judge my success in life by how many people feel safe enough to cry in my arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-will-judge-my-success-in-life-by-how-many-people-feel-safe-enough/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [The prime necessities for success in life are money, athleticism, tailor made clothes and a charming smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-prime-necessities-for-success-in-life-are-money-athleticism/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [My dad was my best friend. I worshipped him. All of my success in life really comes from him. He believed that you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-cannell/my-dad-was-my-best-friend-i-worshipped-him-all-of-my-success-in-life/) [Stephen J. Cannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-cannell/) > [Imagine if your success in life is determined only by your guts, your hard work, and your willpower, and not by the wealth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ng/imagine-if-your-success-in-life-is-determined-only-by-your-guts-your/) [Andrew Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ng/) > [I should never have made my success in life if I had not bestowed upon the least thing I have ever undertaken the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-should-never-have-made-my-success-in-life-if-i-had-not-bestowed/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/part-of-the-secret-of-success-in-life-is-to-eat-what-you-like-and-let/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More by Booker T. Washington > [“There are some things that one individual can do for another, and there are some things that one race can do for another. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/there-are-some-things-that-one-individual-can-do-for-another-and/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [I let no man drag me down so low as to make me hate him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/i-let-no-man-drag-me-down-so-low-as-to-make-me-hate-him/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The wisest among my race understand that agitations of social equality is the extremist folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all privileges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-wisest-among-my-race-understand-that-agitations-of-social/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“I began learning long ago that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/i-began-learning-long-ago-that-those-who-are-happiest-are-those-who/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [If you truly want to measure the success of a man, you do not measure it by a position he has achieved, but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/if-you-truly-want-to-measure-the-success-of-a-man-you-do-not-measure/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The time will come when the Negro in the South will be accorded all the political rights which his ability, character, and material possessions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-time-will-come-when-the-negro-in-the-south-will-be-accorded-all/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Kada smo u kontaktu sa drugim čovekom, mi mu ili pomažemo ili smetamo. Nema trećeg: ili ga vučemo na dole, ili ga izvlačimo na…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/kada-smo-u-kontaktu-sa-drugim-ovekom-mi-mu-ili-poma-emo-ili-smetamo/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/excellence-is-to-do-a-common-thing-in-an-uncommon-way/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [We must reinforce argument with results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/we-must-reinforce-argument-with-results/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Mere connection with what is known as a superior race will not permanently carry an individual forward unless the individual has worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/mere-connection-with-what-is-known-as-a-superior-race-will-not/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [No race that has anything to contribute to the markets of the world is long in any degree ostracized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/no-race-that-has-anything-to-contribute-to-the-markets-of-the-world/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The highest test of the civilization of any race is in its willingness to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-highest-test-of-the-civilization-of-any-race-is-in-its/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The Negro is not the man farthest down. The condition of the coloured farmer in the most backward parts of the Southern States of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-negro-is-not-the-man-farthest-down-the-condition-of-the-coloured/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“it takes no more time to be polite to every one than it does to be rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/it-takes-no-more-time-to-be-polite-to-every-one-than-it-does-to-be/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) [Explore all 174 Booker T. Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the every day things nearest to us rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Booker T. 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