--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many people assume that they can probably…" description: "\"Many people assume that they can probably find many ways to save time. This is an incorrect assumption for it is only when you focus on spending time t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/douglas-merrill-33788_assuming_many-people-assume-that-they-can-probabl_891454.png" --- # Many people assume that they can probably find many ways… ![“Many people assume that they can probably find many ways to save time. This is an incorrect assumption for it is only when you focus on spending time that you begin to use your time effectively.” quote by Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/douglas-merrill-33788_assuming_many-people-assume-that-they-can-probabl_891454.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/douglas-merrill-33788_assuming_many-people-assume-that-they-can-probabl_891454.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/douglas-merrill-33788_assuming_many-people-assume-that-they-can-probabl_891454.png) > “Many people assume that they can probably find many ways to save time. This is an incorrect assumption for it is only when you focus on spending time that you begin to use your time effectively.” [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective use of time comes from focusing on how you spend it, not just trying to save it. **In simple terms:** Spend time wisely to use it well. Key Takeaway Prioritize meaningful activities. Themes productivity time management focus Mood pragmatic inspirational Type motivational practical When to use this quote - project planning - daily routines - strategic planning Key Concepts Opportunity cost mindful allocation Questions to Reflect On - What activities truly add value to your day? - How can you measure the quality of your time use? A Different Perspective Saving time without purpose can waste effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Spending time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-management/) ## Related quotes > [“Time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. More and more I feel that the people of ill will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/time-itself-is-neutral-it-can-be-used-either-destructively-or/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [There's a profound price to the incorrect assumption that LGBTQ movements are white, male and wealthy. That is not a good thing to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-hollibaugh/there-s-a-profound-price-to-the-incorrect-assumption-that-lgbtq/) [Amber Hollibaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-hollibaugh/) > [You cannot reach a correct conclusion if you begin with an incorrect assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-w-armstrong/you-cannot-reach-a-correct-conclusion-if-you-begin-with-an-incorrect/) [Herbert W. Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-w-armstrong/) > [Incorrect assumptions lie at the root of every failure. Have the courage to test your assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/incorrect-assumptions-lie-at-the-root-of-every-failure-have-the/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Excelling at chess has long been considered a symbol of more general intelligence. That is an incorrect assumption in my view, as pleasant as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/excelling-at-chess-has-long-been-considered-a-symbol-of-more-general/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [“Be conscious about life and time in order to maximize your time effectively”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/be-conscious-about-life-and-time-in-order-to-maximize-your-time/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“We have to consciously monitor and maximize our time effectively and efficiently”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/we-have-to-consciously-monitor-and-maximize-our-time-effectively-and/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“I am coming to feel that the people of ill will have used time much much more effectively than the people of good will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/i-am-coming-to-feel-that-the-people-of-ill-will-have-used-time-much/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [It is a strangely irrational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills. Actually time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/it-is-a-strangely-irrational-notion-that-there-is-something-in-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Time is the one thing we possess. Our success depends upon the use of our time, and its by-product, the odd moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/time-is-the-one-thing-we-possess-our-success-depends-upon-the-use-of/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Review our priorities, ask the question; what's the best use of our time right now?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lakein/review-our-priorities-ask-the-question-what-s-the-best-use-of-our/) [Alan Lakein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lakein/) > [Make use of time, let not advantage slip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/make-use-of-time-let-not-advantage-slip/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“You perform at your highest potential only when you are focusing on the most valuable use of your time. This is the key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/you-perform-at-your-highest-potential-only-when-you-are-focusing-on/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Our current use of time is not rational. There is therefore no point in seeking marginal improvements in how we spend our time. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-koch/our-current-use-of-time-is-not-rational-there-is-therefore-no-point/) [Richard Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-koch/) > [The way you think you spend your time and the way you actually spend your time are rarely the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/the-way-you-think-you-spend-your-time-and-the-way-you-actually-spend/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) ## More by Douglas Merrill > [The way you think you spend your time and the way you actually spend your time are rarely the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/the-way-you-think-you-spend-your-time-and-the-way-you-actually-spend/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [Recognize that there is a time to be left-brained and a time to be right-brained; a time to be efficient and a time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/recognize-that-there-is-a-time-to-be-left-brained-and-a-time-to-be/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [Time is more than just a work issue; it's also a life issue. The way you spend your time defines the life you life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/time-is-more-than-just-a-work-issue-it-s-also-a-life-issue-the-way/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [Big data isn’t about bits, it’s about talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/big-data-isn-t-about-bits-it-s-about-talent/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [Time is life. To waste your time is to waste your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/time-is-life-to-waste-your-time-is-to-waste-your-life/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [A habit is good if it helps you achieve your goal; it is bad if it hinders your achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/a-habit-is-good-if-it-helps-you-achieve-your-goal-it-is-bad-if-it/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [Learn the difference between striving for excellence and striving for perfection. The first is attainable; the second is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/learn-the-difference-between-striving-for-excellence-and-striving-for/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [Managing your time really means managing yourself. If your time is out of control, it means you are out of control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/managing-your-time-really-means-managing-yourself-if-your-time-is-out/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [With too little data, you won't be able to make any conclusions that you trust. With loads of data you will find relationships that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/with-too-little-data-you-won-t-be-able-to-make-any-conclusions-that/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [There is a time to deliberate... and a time to act. Learn to recognize which is which, and act accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/there-is-a-time-to-deliberate-and-a-time-to-act-learn-to-recognize/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [Many of us spend more time on the C's of life than on the A's of life. Don't allow trivial things to crowd out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/many-of-us-spend-more-time-on-the-c-s-of-life-than-on-the-a-s-of-life/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [You're the key barrier to your organization's innovation, because you are serious and you believe you know what your customers want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/you-re-the-key-barrier-to-your-organization-s-innovation-because-you/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [The key to willpower is "want-power". If U want something strongly enough, U will find the discipline necessary to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/the-key-to-willpower-is-want-power-if-u-want-something-strongly/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) [Explore all 14 Douglas Merrill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many people assume that they can probably find many ways to save time. 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