--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They pause just long enough to decide…" description: "\"“They pause just long enough to decide what matters and”\" — Gary Keller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/gary-keller-11320_quote_they-pause-just-long-enough-to-decide-wh_1992289.jpg" --- # They pause just long enough to decide what matters and ![“They pause just long enough to decide what matters and” quote by Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/gary-keller-11320_quote_they-pause-just-long-enough-to-decide-wh_1992289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/gary-keller-11320_quote_they-pause-just-long-enough-to-decide-wh_1992289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/gary-keller-11320_quote_they-pause-just-long-enough-to-decide-wh_1992289.jpg) > ““They pause just long enough to decide what matters and”” [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pause to prioritize what truly matters before acting. **In simple terms:** Pause, then decide what matters. Key Takeaway Take time to identify priorities. Themes prioritization focus decision‑making productivity Mood motivational practical Type business self‑help When to use this quote - project planning - daily task list - strategic meetings - personal goals Key Concepts Goal setting cognitive pause Questions to Reflect On - What criteria define your most important task? - How can you avoid analysis paralysis? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can lead to indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) [Decide Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-matters-2282528/) [Long Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-decide-1226818/) [Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pause/) [Pause Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pause-just-2127558/) ## Related quotes > [“I don't care about that," he says, lower. Another pause, and then: "I just don't want you to hate me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-don-t-care-about-that-he-says-lower-another-pause-and-then-i-just/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I will be the focal point for however long I decide to play. Half of me likes that idea and half of me doesn't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/i-will-be-the-focal-point-for-however-long-i-decide-to-play-half-of/) [Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/) > [Nothing has to happen immediately, this minute, or right now. It's okay to pause for just a moment. Just take a breath. Then go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/nothing-has-to-happen-immediately-this-minute-or-right-now-it-s-okay/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [We all go through rough times. We have those obstacles that seem too large to overcome or that current that you never seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-hamilton/we-all-go-through-rough-times-we-have-those-obstacles-that-seem-too/) [Bethany Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-hamilton/) > [Decide what matters to you and die to everything else. Maturity and time call for more concise decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/decide-what-matters-to-you-and-die-to-everything-else-maturity-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Age is just a number, a word. It is human-made like much of our reality in this world. Ideally, it is up to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-detullio/age-is-just-a-number-a-word-it-is-human-made-like-much-of-our-reality/) [Max DeTullio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-detullio/) > [“She had in point of fact by now made up her mind to accept it, but she well knew that men like to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/she-had-in-point-of-fact-by-now-made-up-her-mind-to-accept-it-but-she/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“The truth is, nothing really matters unless we decide it matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-walker/the-truth-is-nothing-really-matters-unless-we-decide-it-matters/) [Wendy Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-walker/) > [Your Life Stay On Play , Aint No Way That You Can Pause It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deezy-da-dreadhead/your-life-stay-on-play-aint-no-way-that-you-can-pause-it/) [Deezy Da Dreadhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deezy-da-dreadhead/) > [“You cannot fast-forward time, you cannot rewind it, and you cannot pause it; you can only waste or benefit from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-cannot-fast-forward-time-you-cannot-rewind-it-and-you-cannot/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [This position is untenable, and there can be no pause in the agitation for full political power and responsibility until these are granted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-kelley/this-position-is-untenable-and-there-can-be-no-pause-in-the-agitation/) [Florence Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-kelley/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [“When in dilemma, pause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/when-in-dilemma-pause/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Inside every pause lived a contemplation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/inside-every-pause-lived-a-contemplation/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) ## More by Gary Keller > [“they favor new information over old, even if the older information is more valuable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/they-favor-new-information-over-old-even-if-the-older-information-is/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“success is about doing the right thing, not about doing everything right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/success-is-about-doing-the-right-thing-not-about-doing-everything/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“When you discipline yourself, you’re essentially training yourself to act in a specific way. Stay with this long enough and it becomes routine—in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/when-you-discipline-yourself-you-re-essentially-training-yourself-to/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“Cosby read some advice that he took to heart: “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/cosby-read-some-advice-that-he-took-to-heart-i-don-t-know-the-key-to/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“Purpose without priority is powerless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/purpose-without-priority-is-powerless/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“MY WAGE By J. B. Rittenhouse I bargained with Life for a penny, And Life would pay no more, However I begged at evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/my-wage-by-j-b-rittenhouse-i-bargained-with-life-for-a-penny-and-life/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“Gift of the Real Estate Gods.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/gift-of-the-real-estate-gods/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“The trick to success is to choose the right habit and bring just enough discipline to establish it. That’s it. That”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/the-trick-to-success-is-to-choose-the-right-habit-and-bring-just/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [ “Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is? Mitch: No. What? Curly: This. \[He holds up one finger.\] Mitch: Your finger? Curly:… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/curly-do-you-know-what-the-secret-of-life-is-mitch-no-what-curly-this/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“The truth is, balance is bunk. It is an unattainable pipe dream... . The quest for balance between work and life, as we’ve come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/the-truth-is-balance-is-bunk-it-is-an-unattainable-pipe-dream-the/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“When you act on your priority, you’ll automatically go out of balance, giving more time to one thing over another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/when-you-act-on-your-priority-you-ll-automatically-go-out-of-balance/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“In fact, you can become successful with less discipline than you think, for one simple reason: success is about doing the right thing, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/in-fact-you-can-become-successful-with-less-discipline-than-you-think/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“Based on my someday goal, what’s the ONE Thing I can do in the next five years to be on track to achieve it?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/based-on-my-someday-goal-what-s-the-one-thing-i-can-do-in-the-next/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” —Alan Lakein”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/planning-is-bringing-the-future-into-the-present-so-that-you-can-do/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [“Apenas aqueles que se arriscam a ir longe demais tem a chance de descobrir quão longe podem ir.” T. S. Eliot”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/apenas-aqueles-que-se-arriscam-a-ir-longe-demais-tem-a-chance-de/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) [Explore all 55 Gary Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) ## More Decide quotes > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [LOOK before you pick,DECIDE WELL before you choose,because these two things are very important in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/look-before-you-pick-decide-well-before-you-choose-because-these-two/) [Oluwatayo Oluwatoyosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [All the people ought to decide, but now most states are tossed on the scrap heap and ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/all-the-people-ought-to-decide-but-now-most-states-are-tossed-on-the/) [John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/) > [Fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/fear-is-going-to-be-a-player-in-your-life-but-you-get-to-decide-how/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [We cant choose our lives, but we can decide what to do with the joys or griefs were given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-cant-choose-our-lives-but-we-can-decide-what-to-do-with-the-joys/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It’s as easy as we choose to make it,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. “At least, this decision is. Nothing’s truly easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-s-as-easy-as-we-choose-to-make-it-he-murmured-pressing-his/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [What you believe in, is the life you decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keshia-chante/what-you-believe-in-is-the-life-you-decide/) [Keshia Chante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keshia-chante/) > [Heart is decide u want in ur life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raajni/heart-is-decide-u-want-in-ur-life/) [Raajni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raajni/) > [I think hopefully we've got enough brain cells left to decide if our music is really worth something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-champion/i-think-hopefully-we-ve-got-enough-brain-cells-left-to-decide-if-our/) [Will Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-champion/) [Browse all 1,644 Decide quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They pause just long enough to decide what matters and”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Keller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/they-pause-just-long-enough-to-decide-what-matters-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decide" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/they-pause-just-long-enough-to-decide-what-matters-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/gary-keller-11320_quote_they-pause-just-long-enough-to-decide-wh_1992289.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/gary-keller-11320_quote_they-pause-just-long-enough-to-decide-wh_1992289.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/gary-keller-11320_quote_they-pause-just-long-enough-to-decide-wh_1992289.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They pause just long enough to decide what matters and” — Gary Keller", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gary Keller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“They pause just long enough to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/they-pause-just-long-enough-to-decide-what-matters-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/they-pause-just-long-enough-to-decide-what-matters-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```