--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: people who succeed tend to find one goal…" description: "\"“people who succeed tend to find one goal in the distant future and then chase it through thick and thin. People who flit from one interest to another ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/david-brooks-644_education_people-who-succeed-tend-to-find-one-goal_302827.png" --- # people who succeed tend to find one goal in the distant… ![“people who succeed tend to find one goal in the distant future and then chase it through thick and thin. People who flit from one interest to another are much, much less likely to excel at any of them. School asks students to be good at a range of subjects, but life asks people to find one passion…” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/david-brooks-644_education_people-who-succeed-tend-to-find-one-goal_302827.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/david-brooks-644_education_people-who-succeed-tend-to-find-one-goal_302827.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/david-brooks-644_education_people-who-succeed-tend-to-find-one-goal_302827.png) > ““people who succeed tend to find one goal in the distant future and then chase it through thick and thin. People who flit from one interest to another are much, much less likely to excel at any of them. School asks students to be good at a range of subjects, but life asks people to find one passion that they will follow forever.”” [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Long‑term, singular goals drive excellence; hopping between interests hinders mastery. **In simple terms:** Commit to a lasting passion to excel. Key Takeaway Choose one deep focus and pursue it relentlessly. Themes career focus mastery Mood analytical motivational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - education - career planning - creative projects Key Concepts goal‑setting specialization determination Questions to Reflect On - What single purpose could you commit to? - How do you balance depth with flexibility? A Different Perspective Over‑specialization can limit adaptability and breadth of knowledge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When people 'succeed' they tend to party, when they 'fail' they tend to ponder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/when-people-succeed-they-tend-to-party-when-they-fail-they-tend-to/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [I love to see people succeed in their goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-farina/i-love-to-see-people-succeed-in-their-goals/) [Robin Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-farina/) > [Experience has taught me that there is one chief reason why some people succeed and others fail. The difference is not one of knowing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-babson/experience-has-taught-me-that-there-is-one-chief-reason-why-some/) [Roger Babson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-babson/) > [“I never fail. It's just that the people around me succeed more than I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-bryant/i-never-fail-it-s-just-that-the-people-around-me-succeed-more-than-i/) [Carroll Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-bryant/) > [People who succeed in my job are people who are not afraid to look silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisling-bea/people-who-succeed-in-my-job-are-people-who-are-not-afraid-to-look/) [Aisling Bea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisling-bea/) > [Being determined means you showing people that you can and you will succeed in whatever challenges a wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-anthony/being-determined-means-you-showing-people-that-you-can-and-you-will/) [Markus Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-anthony/) > [Some people succeed because they are destined, but most because they are determined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/some-people-succeed-because-they-are-destined-but-most-because-they/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Students become good learners when they are in the classes of teachers who are good learners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/students-become-good-learners-when-they-are-in-the-classes-of/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [“When our children are old enough, and if we can afford to, we send them to college, where despite the recent proliferation of courses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/when-our-children-are-old-enough-and-if-we-can-afford-to-we-send-them/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [A well organized education should not be one which prepares students for a good remuneration alone. 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(Hilda Doolittle > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. 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