--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You must be single minded. Drive for the…" description: "\"You must be single minded. Drive for the one thing on which you have decided.\" — George S. Patton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/george-s-patton-1770_decided_you-must-be-single-minded-drive-for-the_293145.jpg" --- # You must be single minded. Drive for the one thing on… ![“You must be single minded. Drive for the one thing on which you have decided.” quote by George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/george-s-patton-1770_decided_you-must-be-single-minded-drive-for-the_293145.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/george-s-patton-1770_decided_you-must-be-single-minded-drive-for-the_293145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/george-s-patton-1770_decided_you-must-be-single-minded-drive-for-the_293145.jpg) > “You must be single minded. Drive for the one thing on which you have decided.” [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Single‑minded focus on a chosen goal drives decisive action and success. **In simple terms:** Focus on one goal to achieve it. Key Takeaway Commit fully to your primary objective. Themes leadership focus determination Mood determined energetic Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - career advancement - sports training - entrepreneurship Key Concepts goal setting strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - What is your one thing? - How will you protect against tunnel vision? A Different Perspective Risk of neglecting other important areas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Drive Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drive-thing-2815852/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Minded Drive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minded-drive-2815851/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Single](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single/) [Single Minded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-minded-1013724/) [Thing Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-decided-1170177/) ## Related quotes > [You have to be single minded, drive only for one thing on which you have decided. And if it looks as if you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-noe/you-have-to-be-single-minded-drive-only-for-one-thing-on-which-you/) [John R Noe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-noe/) > [All sin and all crime comes from the same thing: 'I decided. I decided this was okay.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/all-sin-and-all-crime-comes-from-the-same-thing-i-decided-i-decided/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [It was the tiniest thing I ever decided to put my whole life into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-guillemets/it-was-the-tiniest-thing-i-ever-decided-to-put-my-whole-life-into/) [Terri Guillemets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-guillemets/) > [How much I love every thing that is decided and open!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/how-much-i-love-every-thing-that-is-decided-and-open/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Your life becomes the thing you have decided it shall be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-charles-barker/your-life-becomes-the-thing-you-have-decided-it-shall-be/) [Raymond Charles Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-charles-barker/) > [I am amazed when people say I am single-minded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-am-amazed-when-people-say-i-am-single-minded/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [I was single-minded and I had tunnel vision. Now it's time for a change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vision-now-it-s-time-for-a-change/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [“His single-minded purpose. His unending fury.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/his-single-minded-purpose-his-unending-fury/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Whenever you do any one thing intensely over a period of time you have to give up other lives you could be living. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/whenever-you-do-any-one-thing-intensely-over-a-period-of-time-you/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I agree that my single-minded approach was a failing in life, but if I upset people, it was never intentional - it was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-boycott/i-agree-that-my-single-minded-approach-was-a-failing-in-life-but-if-i/) [Geoffrey Boycott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-boycott/) > [To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-succeed-in-your-mission-you-must-have-single-minded-devotion-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm no Kenneth Branagh or Ben Stiller. I'm not that single-minded, 'I'm producing it, directing it, and starring in it' kind of person; that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hollander/i-m-no-kenneth-branagh-or-ben-stiller-i-m-not-that-single-minded-i-m/) [Tom Hollander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hollander/) > ['Bad Taste' was - it was, in many respects, my sort of, my, I guess, my single-minded desire to want to break into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/bad-taste-was-it-was-in-many-respects-my-sort-of-my-i-guess-my-single/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) > [In the foundation and development of a successful enterprise there must be a single-minded pursuit of financial profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/in-the-foundation-and-development-of-a-successful-enterprise-there/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [I've always been bloody single minded, which is probably why I've been in the game so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/i-ve-always-been-bloody-single-minded-which-is-probably-why-i-ve-been/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) ## More by George S. Patton > [Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/wars-may-be-fought-with-weapons-but-they-are-won-by-men-it-is-the/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/america-loves-a-winner-and-will-not-tolerate-a-loser-this-is-why/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [We must guard against becoming so engrossed in the specific nature of the roots and bark of the trees of knowledge as to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/we-must-guard-against-becoming-so-engrossed-in-the-specific-nature-of/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Successful generals make plans to fit circumstances, but do not try to create circumstances to fit plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/successful-generals-make-plans-to-fit-circumstances-but-do-not-try-to/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [There is a time to take counsel of your fears, and there is a time to never listen to any fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/there-is-a-time-to-take-counsel-of-your-fears-and-there-is-a-time-to/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/watch-what-people-are-cynical-about-and-one-can-often-discover-what/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [In the space of two days I had evolved two plans, wholly distinct, both of which were equally feasible. The point I am trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/in-the-space-of-two-days-i-had-evolved-two-plans-wholly-distinct-both/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [The leader must be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-leader-must-be-an-actor/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Most battles are won before they are ever fought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/most-battles-are-won-before-they-are-ever-fought/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/discipline-must-be-a-habit-so-ingrained-that-it-is-stronger-than-the/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Battle... brings out all that is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/battle-brings-out-all-that-is-best/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Sure, we want to go home. We want this war over with. The quickest way to get it over with is to go get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/sure-we-want-to-go-home-we-want-this-war-over-with-the-quickest-way/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That's the time to listen to every fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-time-to-take-counsel-of-your-fears-is-before-you-make-an/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/a-man-must-know-his-destiny-if-he-does-not-recognize-it-then-he-is/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/urge-all-of-your-men-to-pray-not-alone-in-church-but-everywhere-pray/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) [Explore all 208 George S. Patton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) ## More Decided quotes > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [The only thing I try to watch carefully is that I never lose the love for the instrument. That's also why I decided against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-frahm/the-only-thing-i-try-to-watch-carefully-is-that-i-never-lose-the-love/) [Nils Frahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-frahm/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [One day I decided I would like to put a record into my system. So I picked up a record that was lying on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/one-day-i-decided-i-would-like-to-put-a-record-into-my-system-so-i/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [I just decided to take some time off. I've been modeling since '93, '92, and that's a pretty long time. I'm a single mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-murphy/i-just-decided-to-take-some-time-off-i-ve-been-modeling-since-93-92/) [Carolyn Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-murphy/) > [When I became 21, I decided that nobody learned anything about politics after the age of 21.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/when-i-became-21-i-decided-that-nobody-learned-anything-about/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [Before I started doing the film and when I found out I was going to be doing it, I just decided to pump up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parminder-nagra/before-i-started-doing-the-film-and-when-i-found-out-i-was-going-to/) [Parminder Nagra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parminder-nagra/) > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) > [He decided then that he would love her forever no matter what came to pass. It was not so much a matter of deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/he-decided-then-that-he-would-love-her-forever-no-matter-what-came-to/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [At age 28, I had no retail experience, no consumer marketing experience and no real Internet experience. But I decided I wanted to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/at-age-28-i-had-no-retail-experience-no-consumer-marketing-experience/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [Work hard on each opinion, but once the case is decided, don't look back; go on to the next case and give it your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/work-hard-on-each-opinion-but-once-the-case-is-decided-don-t-look/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) [Browse all 3,155 Decided quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You must be single minded. Drive for the one thing on which you have decided.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George S. Patton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/you-must-be-single-minded-drive-for-the-one-thing-on-which-you-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decided" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/you-must-be-single-minded-drive-for-the-one-thing-on-which-you-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/george-s-patton-1770_decided_you-must-be-single-minded-drive-for-the_293145.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/george-s-patton-1770_decided_you-must-be-single-minded-drive-for-the_293145.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/george-s-patton-1770_decided_you-must-be-single-minded-drive-for-the_293145.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You must be single minded. Drive for the one thing on which you have decided.” — George S. Patton", "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": "George S. Patton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You must be single minded. Drive...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/you-must-be-single-minded-drive-for-the-one-thing-on-which-you-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/you-must-be-single-minded-drive-for-the-one-thing-on-which-you-have/#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 } } ] } ```