--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To continue, I had to see the world with…" description: "\"“To continue, I had to see the world with clear eyes, to focus on the essential. We only pay attention to rare things, and death was not rare.”\" — Kevi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/kevin-powers-9351_clear-eyes_to-continue-i-had-to-see-the-world-with_1016019.png" --- # To continue, I had to see the world with clear eyes, to… ![“To continue, I had to see the world with clear eyes, to focus on the essential. We only pay attention to rare things, and death was not rare.” quote by Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/kevin-powers-9351_clear-eyes_to-continue-i-had-to-see-the-world-with_1016019.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/kevin-powers-9351_clear-eyes_to-continue-i-had-to-see-the-world-with_1016019.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c97/kevin-powers-9351_clear-eyes_to-continue-i-had-to-see-the-world-with_1016019.png) > ““To continue, I had to see the world with clear eyes, to focus on the essential. We only pay attention to rare things, and death was not rare.”” [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing mortality sharpens focus on what truly matters, urging clarity and essentialism. **In simple terms:** Seeing death makes us prioritize essential things. Key Takeaway Focus on what truly matters. Themes mortality clarity essentialism Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decision-making - leadership - creative projects - health priorities Key Concepts existentialism mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does awareness of death change daily choices? - What essential things are you overlooking? A Different Perspective Rare events still happen; overemphasis on rarity can cause neglect of everyday risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clear eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-eyes/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Rare things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rare-things/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [With all the clever brains in America it would be great to see more investment and focus on this essential research!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-burfitt-dons/with-all-the-clever-brains-in-america-it-would-be-great-to-see-more/) [Louise Burfitt-Dons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-burfitt-dons/) > [ \[James\] Baldwin is needed even more today because he helps you focus to the essential, to what is important. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-is-needed-even-more-today-because-he-helps-you-focus-to/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [If the world were clear, art would not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/if-the-world-were-clear-art-would-not-exist/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Leo is the best player in the world; that is very clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/leo-is-the-best-player-in-the-world-that-is-very-clear/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [This is a very noisy world, so we have to be very clear what we want them to know about us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/this-is-a-very-noisy-world-so-we-have-to-be-very-clear-what-we-want/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“They lived in a blurry world, those two, where clear, consistent intentions weren't required.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/they-lived-in-a-blurry-world-those-two-where-clear-consistent/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [Joe Paterno left this world with a clear conscience,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-paterno/joe-paterno-left-this-world-with-a-clear-conscience/) Jay Paterno > [“Sometimes she sat and let her mind go blank and her eyes go out of focus, so that she watched the slow, jerky movements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-goolrick/sometimes-she-sat-and-let-her-mind-go-blank-and-her-eyes-go-out-of/) [Robert Goolrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-goolrick/) > [“Practice alternating your focus between the big picture and small detail by allowing your eyes to focus broadly, then narrowing in on detail, going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/practice-alternating-your-focus-between-the-big-picture-and-small/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“True worship comes when we learn to close our eyes and focus only on Him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-balin/true-worship-comes-when-we-learn-to-close-our-eyes-and-focus-only-on/) Joel Balin > [“To kiss and to kill are similar words to eyes that focus with difficulty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-white/to-kiss-and-to-kill-are-similar-words-to-eyes-that-focus-with/) [Patrick White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-white/) > [Focus is not a camera issue or a problem with your eyes. Focus is what I'm about to do. - Novi Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novi-novak/focus-is-not-a-camera-issue-or-a-problem-with-your-eyes-focus-is-what/) [Novi Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novi-novak/) > [Close the eyes, and focus on the third eye, the heart chakra, or the navel center. It is a good idea to alternate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/close-the-eyes-and-focus-on-the-third-eye-the-heart-chakra-or-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Being perfect is not about that scoreboard out there. It's not about winning. It's about you and your relationship with yourself, your family and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/being-perfect-is-not-about-that-scoreboard-out-there-it-s-not-about/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [Try to see the joyful side of life. One must see the pain of life with clear eyes, and help all he can; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/try-to-see-the-joyful-side-of-life-one-must-see-the-pain-of-life-with/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) ## More by Kevin Powers > [There is a sharp distinction between what is remembered, what is told and what is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/there-is-a-sharp-distinction-between-what-is-remembered-what-is-told/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [I guess I find the boundaries between poetry and prose to be somewhat permeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/i-guess-i-find-the-boundaries-between-poetry-and-prose-to-be-somewhat/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [“I didn't want to be responsible for him. I had enough to worry about. I was disintegrating, too. How was I supposed to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/i-didn-t-want-to-be-responsible-for-him-i-had-enough-to-worry-about-i/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [I had the feeling that if I encountered anyone they would intuit my disgrace and would judge me instantly. Nothing is more isolating than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/i-had-the-feeling-that-if-i-encountered-anyone-they-would-intuit-my/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [“Through those drooping branches the city sprawled out haphazardly like a drunk on a sidewalk, fallen where he may.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/through-those-drooping-branches-the-city-sprawled-out-haphazardly/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [“I've come to accept that parts of life are constant, that just because something happens on two different days doesn't make it a goddamn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/i-ve-come-to-accept-that-parts-of-life-are-constant-that-just-because/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [I think a lot of the guys I know and a lot of people I've talked to, what they want is very often what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/i-think-a-lot-of-the-guys-i-know-and-a-lot-of-people-i-ve-talked-to/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [The war tried to kill us in the spring. As grass greened the plains of Nineveh and the weather warmed, we patrolled the low-slung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/the-war-tried-to-kill-us-in-the-spring-as-grass-greened-the-plains-of/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [“People are going to die," he said flatly. "It's statistics." Then he got up and left the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/people-are-going-to-die-he-said-flatly-it-s-statistics-then-he-got-up/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [“It's lovely to think that snow can be special. we're always told it is. Of all those million million flakes that fall, no two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/it-s-lovely-to-think-that-snow-can-be-special-we-re-always-told-it-is/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [The details of the world in which we live are always secondary to the fact that we must live in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/the-details-of-the-world-in-which-we-live-are-always-secondary-to-the/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [It reminded me of talking, how what is said is never quite what was thought, and what is heard is never quite what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/it-reminded-me-of-talking-how-what-is-said-is-never-quite-what-was/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [“He waited, as if waiting for whichever last shadow would cause evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/he-waited-as-if-waiting-for-whichever-last-shadow-would-cause-evening/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [“A moment is never long enough to account for tragedy when you are in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/a-moment-is-never-long-enough-to-account-for-tragedy-when-you-are-in/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) > [“I smelled the clean house and the wood-frame bed. It was all filler. The noise, the sound, they existed just to take up space.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-powers/i-smelled-the-clean-house-and-the-wood-frame-bed-it-was-all-filler/) [Kevin Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) [Explore all 73 Kevin Powers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-powers/) ## More Clear eyes quotes > [Try to see the joyful side of life. One must see the pain of life with clear eyes, and help all he can; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/try-to-see-the-joyful-side-of-life-one-must-see-the-pain-of-life-with/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Being perfect is not about that scoreboard out there. It's not about winning. It's about you and your relationship with yourself, your family and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/being-perfect-is-not-about-that-scoreboard-out-there-it-s-not-about/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [I'm not going to wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to Russia, or Mr. Putin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-m-not-going-to-wear-rose-colored-glasses-when-it-comes-to-russia-or/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Sometimes tears help us clear our eyes so we can clearly see the good things ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anmol-andore/sometimes-tears-help-us-clear-our-eyes-so-we-can-clearly-see-the-good/) [Anmol Andore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anmol-andore/) > [It is thyself, mine own self's better part; Mine eye's clear eye, my dear heart's dearer heart; My food, my fortune, and my sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/it-is-thyself-mine-own-self-s-better-part-mine-eye-s-clear-eye-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Iran is the greatest national security threat America faces. Russia does continue to battle us in the U.N. time and time again. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/iran-is-the-greatest-national-security-threat-america-faces-russia/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Great God, I ask thee for no meaner pelf Than that I may not disappoint myself, That in my action I may soar as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/great-god-i-ask-thee-for-no-meaner-pelf-than-that-i-may-not/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Sometimes we (people) lose site of what is realy important in our lives..with all that is going on in the world and around us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-thomson/sometimes-we-people-lose-site-of-what-is-realy-important-in-our-lives/) Glenn Thomson > [Out of your awareness you cannot become soldiers in a war because you will be able to see, with clear eyes, that you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/out-of-your-awareness-you-cannot-become-soldiers-in-a-war-because-you/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Every man at some point in his life is gonna lose a battle. He's gonna fight and he's gonna lose. But what makes him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-taylor/every-man-at-some-point-in-his-life-is-gonna-lose-a-battle-he-s-gonna/) [Eric Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-taylor/) > [Now, God be thanked Who has matched us with His hour, And caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping, With hand made sure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/now-god-be-thanked-who-has-matched-us-with-his-hour-and-caught-our/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [“We must look the world in the face with calm and clear eyes even though the eyes of the world are bloodshot to-day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/we-must-look-the-world-in-the-face-with-calm-and-clear-eyes-even/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Industry stakeholders have said to us, which we've heard loud and clear, as we move forward on the climate change discussions we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-notley/industry-stakeholders-have-said-to-us-which-we-ve-heard-loud-and/) [Rachel Notley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-notley/) > [Wit,--the pupil of the soul's clear eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-john-davies/wit-the-pupil-of-the-soul-s-clear-eye/) [Sir John Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-john-davies/) > [If you can't see with your clear eyes then look through your heart, instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/if-you-can-t-see-with-your-clear-eyes-then-look-through-your-heart/) Unkown [Browse all 24 Clear eyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-eyes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To continue, I had to see the world with clear eyes, to focus on the essential. 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