---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is an old cliche, 'You can see the…"
description: "\"There is an old cliche, 'You can see the glass half empty, or you can see it half full.' You can focus on what's wrong in your life, or you can focus o..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/marianne-williamson-90_abundance_there-is-an-old-cliche-you-can-see-the-g_382745.png"
---

#  There is an old cliche, 'You can see the glass half empty…

![“There is an old cliche, 'You can see the glass half empty, or you can see it half full.' You can focus on what's wrong in your life, or you can focus on what's right. But whatever you focus on, you're going to get more of. Creation is an extension of thought. Think lack, and you get lack. Think…” quote by Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/marianne-williamson-90_abundance_there-is-an-old-cliche-you-can-see-the-g_382745.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/marianne-williamson-90_abundance_there-is-an-old-cliche-you-can-see-the-g_382745.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/marianne-williamson-90_abundance_there-is-an-old-cliche-you-can-see-the-g_382745.png)

> “There is an old cliche, 'You can see the glass half empty, or you can see it half full.' You can focus on what's wrong in your life, or you can focus on what's right. But whatever you focus on, you're going to get more of. Creation is an extension of thought. Think lack, and you get lack. Think abundance, and you get more.”

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

## About This Quote

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

Focusing on positive aspects attracts more positivity; focusing on negatives attracts more negativity, and mindset shapes outcomes.

**In simple terms:** Your focus determines what you attract.

Key Takeaway

Shift mindset to abundance.

Themes

mindset positivity law of attraction self‑fulfilling prophecy

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- career planning
- financial decisions
- health goals

Key Concepts

cognitive bias psychology personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- What are you currently focusing on?
- How could a balanced view improve outcomes?

A Different Perspective

Abundance thinking may overlook realistic challenges.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Abundance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abundance/) [Cliche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cliche/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Glass Half Empty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glass-half-empty/) [Half full](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-full/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [Age-old question: Is the glass half empty or half full? Answer: Who cares? Does it really matter whether the glass is half full or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/age-old-question-is-the-glass-half-empty-or-half-full-answer-who/)

[Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/)

> [“Some say that it also means that everything contains the seeds of its own destruction... or redemption - depending on if you are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-joy/some-say-that-it-also-means-that-everything-contains-the-seeds-of-its/)

[Amy Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-joy/)

> [“Glass half full, or glass half empty, what am I? The answer? I'm not the bloody glass, I'm the fucking tap! Meaning, whatever my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-tudeski/glass-half-full-or-glass-half-empty-what-am-i-the-answer-i-m-not-the/)

Jimmy Tudeski

> [Is the glass half empty, half full, or twice as large as it needs to be?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/is-the-glass-half-empty-half-full-or-twice-as-large-as-it-needs-to-be/)

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

> [“Republicans are a glass half full, and Democrats are a glass half empty. Either way, I want a new glass. I want it full,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/republicans-are-a-glass-half-full-and-democrats-are-a-glass-half/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [There are lots of things, including changing the kind of inner dialog, that can mitigate anxiety. And yes, there are people who have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/there-are-lots-of-things-including-changing-the-kind-of-inner-dialog/)

[Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/)

> [They always say you can look at life as glass half empty or full but isn't the top half empty and the bottom half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-always-say-you-can-look-at-life-as-glass-half-empty-or-full-but/)

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

> [“The optimist sees the glass half full. The pessimist sees the glass half empty. The chemist sees the glass completely full, half in liquid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weike-wang/the-optimist-sees-the-glass-half-full-the-pessimist-sees-the-glass/)

[Weike Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weike-wang/)

> [Am I glass half empty or glass half full. I no longer know the answer as you shattered my glass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-phillip-yeoman/am-i-glass-half-empty-or-glass-half-full-i-no-longer-know-the-answer/)

Keith Phillip Yeoman

> [“Perception can be one-sided or variant: "Glass half empty or half full." There usually is more than one way of perceiving. Thoroughly check your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/perception-can-be-one-sided-or-variant-glass-half-empty-or-half-full/)

[T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/)

> [“I never quite understood the question that says, is the glass half empty or half full? What’s the difference? Eventually it’ll end up empty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyndi-goodgame/i-never-quite-understood-the-question-that-says-is-the-glass-half/)

[Cyndi Goodgame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyndi-goodgame/)

> [Glass half empty, glass half full. Well, either way you won't be going thirsty, count your blessings not your flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-aquilina/glass-half-empty-glass-half-full-well-either-way-you-won-t-be-going/)

Lauren Aquilina

> [Is the glass half empty or half full? Life and relationships work better when the glass is half full. Below are some simple yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/is-the-glass-half-empty-or-half-full-life-and-relationships-work/)

[Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/)

> [“The problem is not if you consider the glass half empty or half full, but whether half a glass is enough to survive or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-de-judicibus/the-problem-is-not-if-you-consider-the-glass-half-empty-or-half-full/)

[Dario de Judicibus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-de-judicibus/)

## More by Marianne Williamson

> [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. The cosmic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-reason-so-many-of-us-are-obsessed-with-becoming-stars-is-because/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [Great people are not people who have never fallen down. Greatness has to do with how you get back up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/great-people-are-not-people-who-have-never-fallen-down-greatness-has/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [I feel that if your soul was branded by the sixties, you never lost the brand. It's like going into a nightclub and having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-feel-that-if-your-soul-was-branded-by-the-sixties-you-never-lost/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [Until we have met the monsters in ourselves, we keep trying to slay them in the outer world. And we find that we cannot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/until-we-have-met-the-monsters-in-ourselves-we-keep-trying-to-slay/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [No matter how sad we might be, the universe is still planning our happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/no-matter-how-sad-we-might-be-the-universe-is-still-planning-our/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [Love is who we are, and when we deviate from that love we're deviating from our ultimate, essential, eternal reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/love-is-who-we-are-and-when-we-deviate-from-that-love-we-re-deviating/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [For many, many people, getting married is one of the most important things they will ever do in the pursuit of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/for-many-many-people-getting-married-is-one-of-the-most-important/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [As all of us are only too aware, the loud and frantic voices of the outer world easily drown out the small, still loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/as-all-of-us-are-only-too-aware-the-loud-and-frantic-voices-of-the/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [It is not too late. You are not too old. You are right on time-And you are better than you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/it-is-not-too-late-you-are-not-too-old-you-are-right-on-time-and-you/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [I tell my mother I went to God in spite of my religious education. I feel that my religious education was inadequate, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-tell-my-mother-i-went-to-god-in-spite-of-my-religious-education-i/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [You don't have to be a spiritual seeker, you can be a businessman dealing with the revolution in computers. You could be a congressman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-spiritual-seeker-you-can-be-a-businessman/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [Dear God, I surrender this thought to you, for I would see the miracle that lies behind it. Amen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/dear-god-i-surrender-this-thought-to-you-for-i-would-see-the-miracle/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [Sex is not the ultimate high, but the ultimate high hangs out around sex. The ultimate high is the dance with another person, played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/sex-is-not-the-ultimate-high-but-the-ultimate-high-hangs-out-around/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

[Explore all 1,347 Marianne Williamson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

## More Abundance quotes

> [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/)

[John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/)

> [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/)

[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

> [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/)

[Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/)

> [“Life is open to us all. No one will ever see life exactly the same as another. Some folks will argue that one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sereda-aleta-dailey/life-is-open-to-us-all-no-one-will-ever-see-life-exactly-the-same-as/)

[Sereda Aleta Dailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sereda-aleta-dailey/)

> [Our obsession with material things and lack of self-worth is evident in our need for an abundance of momentary luxuries and must-have amenities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/our-obsession-with-material-things-and-lack-of-self-worth-is-evident/)

T.I

> [Like the sea itself, the unconscious yields an endless and self-replenishing abundance of creatures, a wealth beyond our fathoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/like-the-sea-itself-the-unconscious-yields-an-endless-and-self/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [There are times when born hollandaise heads, as well as nouveaux turbot freaks and recherche escargotphiles alike crave the saignet abundance of a New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-greene/there-are-times-when-born-hollandaise-heads-as-well-as-nouveaux/)

[Gael Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-greene/)

> [I always tell Asian actors, especially Filipinos wanting to break into Hollywood, to study, study and study and show their best. I haven't stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-always-tell-asian-actors-especially-filipinos-wanting-to-break-into/)

[Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/)

> [“Without darkness, we may never know how bright the stars shine. Without battles, we could not know what victory feels like. Without adversity, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne/without-darkness-we-may-never-know-how-bright-the-stars-shine-without/)

[Julie-Anne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne/)

> [It is no small honour that God for our sake has so magnificently adorned the world, in order that we may not only be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/it-is-no-small-honour-that-god-for-our-sake-has-so-magnificently/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [frustration, complication and misery are available in abundance, but so is God's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/frustration-complication-and-misery-are-available-in-abundance-but-so/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [I dreamt a limitless book, A book unbound, Its leaves scattered in fantastic abundance On every line there was a new horizon drawn, New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-dreamt-a-limitless-book-a-book-unbound-its-leaves-scattered-in/)

[Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/)

> [I used to be a columnist for 'Golf Monthly' and have contributed articles for national newspapers based on the humour that is in abundance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-carrott/i-used-to-be-a-columnist-for-golf-monthly-and-have-contributed/)

[Jasper Carrott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-carrott/)

> [Remember, whatever you focus upon, increases...When you focus on the things you need, you'll find those needs increasing. If you concentrate your thoughts on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/remember-whatever-you-focus-upon-increases-when-you-focus-on-the/)

[Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/)

> [Don't measure the height of your Christmas tree. Measure the abundance of the love present in your heart! Have a Blessed Christmas!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-measure-the-height-of-your-christmas-tree-measure-the-abundance/)

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

[Browse all 1,251 Abundance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abundance/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There is an old cliche, 'You can see the glass half empty, or you can see it half full.' You can focus on what's wrong in your life, or you can focus on what's right. But whatever you focus on, you're going to get more of. Creation is an extension of thought. Think lack, and you get lack. Think abundance, and you get more.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marianne Williamson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/there-is-an-old-cliche-you-can-see-the-glass-half-empty-or-you-can/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Abundance"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/there-is-an-old-cliche-you-can-see-the-glass-half-empty-or-you-can/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/marianne-williamson-90_abundance_there-is-an-old-cliche-you-can-see-the-g_382745.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/marianne-williamson-90_abundance_there-is-an-old-cliche-you-can-see-the-g_382745.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/marianne-williamson-90_abundance_there-is-an-old-cliche-you-can-see-the-g_382745.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is an old cliche, 'You can see the glass half empty, or you can see it half full.' You can focus on…” — Marianne Williamson",
                "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": "Marianne Williamson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There is an old cliche, 'You...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/there-is-an-old-cliche-you-can-see-the-glass-half-empty-or-you-can/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/there-is-an-old-cliche-you-can-see-the-glass-half-empty-or-you-can/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
