---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Obstacles are those frightful things you…"
description: "\"“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.”\" — Henry Ford"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/henry-ford-492_adversity_obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you_597517.png"
---

#  Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take…

![“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.” quote by Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/henry-ford-492_adversity_obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you_597517.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/henry-ford-492_adversity_obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you_597517.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/henry-ford-492_adversity_obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you_597517.png)

> ““Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.””

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When you lose focus on your objectives, obstacles appear larger and more intimidating

**In simple terms:** Losing sight of goals makes problems seem bigger

Key Takeaway

Keep your goals visible to reduce perceived obstacles

Themes

focus goal‑setting perception

Mood

inspirational practical

Type

self‑help business

When to use this quote

- project planning
- personal development
- stress management

Key Concepts

cognitive bias obstacle perception goal clarity

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps keep your goals front‑and‑center daily?
- How do you differentiate real obstacles from imagined ones?

A Different Perspective

Even with clear goals, external factors can still create real barriers

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/)

## Related quotes

> [Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you-see-when-you-take-your-eyes-3/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Obstacles are those frightful things you when you take your eyes off your goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you-when-you-take-your-eyes-off/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. --Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you-see-when-you-take-your-eyes-2/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/obstacles-are-what-you-see-when-you-take-your-eyes-off-your-goals/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [Obstacles are frightful but let not give way to fear to engulf your strength &amp; commitment.Instead give way to your faith &amp; belief so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kumar-sinha/obstacles-are-frightful-but-let-not-give-way-to-fear-to-engulf-your/)

[Dr Anil Kumar Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kumar-sinha/)

> [“the sailor who broke down the door could perhaps have told frightful things if he had not forthwith gone completely mad—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft-2/the-sailor-who-broke-down-the-door-could-perhaps-have-told-frightful/)

[H.P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft-2/)

> [You've seen things through my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/you-ve-seen-things-through-my-eyes/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“The things that your eyes see plainly and cant forget are worse than huddled black figures left to the imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendare-blake/the-things-that-your-eyes-see-plainly-and-cant-forget-are-worse-than/)

[Kendare Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendare-blake/)

> [Always listen to what your heart says, as it can see those things that you can't see through your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/always-listen-to-what-your-heart-says-as-it-can-see-those-things-that/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [With twice his wits, she had to see things through his eyes -- one of the tragedies of married life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/with-twice-his-wits-she-had-to-see-things-through-his-eyes-one-of-the/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [In a relationship I only want 3 things: eyes that won't cry, lips that won't lie, love that won't die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-a-relationship-i-only-want-3-things-eyes-that-won-t-cry-lips-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There are things we see with our eyes, sitting high and looking out. And there are things we see with our hearts, sitting still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-things-we-see-with-our-eyes-sitting-high-and-looking-out/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“He had the eyes of a man that had seen things. Eyes that were soulful and wise, yet vibrant and sultry. Eyes that made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-l-jennings/he-had-the-eyes-of-a-man-that-had-seen-things-eyes-that-were-soulful/)

[S.L. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-l-jennings/)

> [I paint is the way I see things with my eyes and in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-dufy/i-paint-is-the-way-i-see-things-with-my-eyes-and-in-my-heart/)

[Raoul Dufy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-dufy/)

> [O, how much simpler things would be If eyes could paint or brush could see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/o-how-much-simpler-things-would-be-if-eyes-could-paint-or-brush-could/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

## More by Henry Ford

> [Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/enthusiasm-is-the-yeast-that-makes-your-hopes-shine-to-the-stars/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [These men of many nations must be taught American ways, the English language, and the right way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/these-men-of-many-nations-must-be-taught-american-ways-the-english/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [People are as happy as they choose to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/people-are-as-happy-as-they-choose-to-be/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [Those who stop marketing to save money are like those who stop a clock to save time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/those-who-stop-marketing-to-save-money-are-like-those-who-stop-a/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [A man's college and university degrees mean nothing to me until I see what he is able to do with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/a-man-s-college-and-university-degrees-mean-nothing-to-me-until-i-see/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [Don't find the fault, find the remedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/don-t-find-the-fault-find-the-remedy/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [A customer votes everyday with his dollar. Our job is make sure he votes for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/a-customer-votes-everyday-with-his-dollar-our-job-is-make-sure-he/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [Our clothing, our food, our household furnishings - all could be much simpler than they now are and at the same time be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/our-clothing-our-food-our-household-furnishings-all-could-be-much/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [The time is coming when man will be able to determine the length of his lifespan by controlling his diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/the-time-is-coming-when-man-will-be-able-to-determine-the-length-of/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do. It's simple, fantasize, rehearse, then go out into the world and DO IT!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/you-can-t-build-a-reputation-on-what-you-re-going-to-do-it-s-simple/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [There is no man living that can not do more than he thinks he can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/there-is-no-man-living-that-can-not-do-more-than-he-thinks-he-can/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [Without doubt, Thomas Edison is my greatest contemporary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/without-doubt-thomas-edison-is-my-greatest-contemporary/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [As long as we look to legislation to cure poverty or to abolish special privilege we are going to see poverty and special privilege…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/as-long-as-we-look-to-legislation-to-cure-poverty-or-to-abolish/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [The time will come when man will know even what is going on in the other planets and perhaps be able to visit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/the-time-will-come-when-man-will-know-even-what-is-going-on-in-the/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

[Explore all 517 Henry Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

## More Adversity quotes

> [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/)

[Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/)

> [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/)

[Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/)

> [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/)

[George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/)

> [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/)

[Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/)

> [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/)

[Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/)

> [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/)

James Buckham Kennedy

> [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/)

[Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/)

> [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/)

[Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/)

> [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/)

S.E. SEVER

> [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Henry Ford"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you-see-when-you-take-your-eyes/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adversity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you-see-when-you-take-your-eyes/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/henry-ford-492_adversity_obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you_597517.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/henry-ford-492_adversity_obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you_597517.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/henry-ford-492_adversity_obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you_597517.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.” — Henry Ford",
                "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": "Henry Ford",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Obstacles are those frightful things you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you-see-when-you-take-your-eyes/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/obstacles-are-those-frightful-things-you-see-when-you-take-your-eyes/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
