--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a rule, it’s best to stick with one…" description: "\"“As a rule, it’s best to stick with one general-reference system except for a very limited number of discrete topics.”\" — David Allen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/david-allen-2835_limited_as-a-rule-it-s-best-to-stick-with-one-ge_1121988.png" --- # As a rule, it’s best to stick with one general-reference… ![“As a rule, it’s best to stick with one general-reference system except for a very limited number of discrete topics.” quote by David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/david-allen-2835_limited_as-a-rule-it-s-best-to-stick-with-one-ge_1121988.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/david-allen-2835_limited_as-a-rule-it-s-best-to-stick-with-one-ge_1121988.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/david-allen-2835_limited_as-a-rule-it-s-best-to-stick-with-one-ge_1121988.png) > ““As a rule, it’s best to stick with one general-reference system except for a very limited number of discrete topics.”” [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Use a single reference system for most work, adding extra ones only for niche topics. **In simple terms:** Stick to one system, add others only for special cases. Key Takeaway Simplify your tools, expand only when needed. Themes productivity organization focus Mood practical focused Type advice instructional When to use this quote - project planning - research - academic writing - software development Key Concepts knowledge management systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - Do you have topics that truly need separate systems? - How can you balance consistency with flexibility? A Different Perspective May become inflexible if new topics require different frameworks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discrete Topics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrete-topics-3040457/) [General Reference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-reference-3040456/) [Limited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limited/) [Limited Number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limited-number-429575/) [Reference Limited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reference-limited-3040455/) ## Related quotes > [As a model, only a limited number of people knew about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddharth-shukla/as-a-model-only-a-limited-number-of-people-knew-about-me/) [Siddharth Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddharth-shukla/) > [I would rather we limited - for the sake of transparency - we limited the number of taxes that we had and we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-cuccinelli/i-would-rather-we-limited-for-the-sake-of-transparency-we-limited-the/) [Ken Cuccinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-cuccinelli/) > [“A limited number of types,good and bad serve for all ages.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/a-limited-number-of-types-good-and-bad-serve-for-all-ages/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [There are a very limited number of people in senior roles at the White House, and time is their most precious asset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/there-are-a-very-limited-number-of-people-in-senior-roles-at-the/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [There is a limited number of plots. 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