--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole point of getting things done is…" description: "\"The whole point of getting things done is knowing what to leave undone.\" — Oswald Chambers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/oswald-chambers-205_done_the-whole-point-of-getting-things-done-i_933745.png" --- # The whole point of getting things done is knowing what to… ![“The whole point of getting things done is knowing what to leave undone.” quote by Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/oswald-chambers-205_done_the-whole-point-of-getting-things-done-i_933745.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/oswald-chambers-205_done_the-whole-point-of-getting-things-done-i_933745.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/oswald-chambers-205_done_the-whole-point-of-getting-things-done-i_933745.png) > “The whole point of getting things done is knowing what to leave undone.” [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective productivity requires prioritizing essential tasks and consciously discarding lesser ones. **In simple terms:** Focus on what matters, ignore the rest. Key Takeaway Prioritize, then eliminate. Themes productivity focus decision-making Mood motivational pragmatic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - project planning - daily to-do lists - strategic retreats Key Concepts minimalism prioritization time management Questions to Reflect On - What can you let go of today? - Which tasks truly serve your goals? A Different Perspective Hard to know what truly can be; risk of over‑simplification. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Getting things done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-things-done/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-leave-979541/) [Leave Undone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-undone-1541632/) [Things Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-knowing-1027865/) [Undone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undone/) ## Related quotes > [Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/faced-with-what-is-right-to-leave-it-undone-shows-a-lack-of-courage/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Do nothing, and leave nothing undone. \["Doing nothing" is what happens when the doer disappears, it isn't something that one does or chooses not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/do-nothing-and-leave-nothing-undone-doing-nothing-is-what-happens/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Oh Lord, may I be directed what to do and what to leave undone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-fry/oh-lord-may-i-be-directed-what-to-do-and-what-to-leave-undone/) [Elizabeth Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-fry/) > [If there's something I can do and I feel it should be done, I just want to do it. I just don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-johnson/if-there-s-something-i-can-do-and-i-feel-it-should-be-done-i-just/) [Robert Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-johnson/) > [“Look not at the faults of others nor at what they do or leave undone; but only at your own deeds and deeds unachieved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guatama-buddha/look-not-at-the-faults-of-others-nor-at-what-they-do-or-leave-undone/) [Guatama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guatama-buddha/) > [Leave undone whatever you hesitate to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leave-undone-whatever-you-hesitate-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It isn't the thing you do, dear, it's the thing you leave undone which gives you a bit of heartache at the setting at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-elizabeth-sangster/it-isn-t-the-thing-you-do-dear-it-s-the-thing-you-leave-undone-which/) [Margaret Elizabeth Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-elizabeth-sangster/) > [One key to moving forward is knowing what to leave behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/one-key-to-moving-forward-is-knowing-what-to-leave-behind/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/the-wisdom-of-life-consists-in-the-elimination-of-non-essentials/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [“Knowing when to leave requires training.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-prowse/knowing-when-to-leave-requires-training/) [Jane Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-prowse/) > [Knowing what to take out and what to leave in is what separates the men from the boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-frazetta/knowing-what-to-take-out-and-what-to-leave-in-is-what-separates-the/) [Frank Frazetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-frazetta/) > [Knowing when to leave may be the smartest thing anyone can learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-bacharach/knowing-when-to-leave-may-be-the-smartest-thing-anyone-can-learn/) [Burt Bacharach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-bacharach/) > [The real art is knowing what to leave out, not what to put in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-real-art-is-knowing-what-to-leave-out-not-what-to-put-in/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“The secret to relationships is knowing when to leave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-frister/the-secret-to-relationships-is-knowing-when-to-leave/) [Roman Frister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-frister/) > [And I don't have any specific steps to take because I don't start the same way every time. But there is a knowing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/and-i-don-t-have-any-specific-steps-to-take-because-i-don-t-start-the/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) ## More by Oswald Chambers > [“If we deliberately choose to obey God, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-deliberately-choose-to-obey-god-then-he-will-tax-the-remotest/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/realize-that-the-lord-is-here-now-and-the-freedom-you-receive-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/you-will-never-cease-to-be-the-most-amazed-person-on-earth-at-what/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sorrow-burns-up-a-great-amount-of-shallowness/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/let-circumstances-take-you-where-they-will-but-keep-drawing-on-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-we-cannot-do-what-god-does-and/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God's children starving while actually seated at the Father's table.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-a-solemn-thing-and-no-small-scandal-in-the-kingdom-to-see-god-s/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/my-spiritual-history-must-have-as-its-underlying-foundation-a/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-always-have-visions-before-a-thing-is-made-real-when-we-realize/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-thing-that-awakens-the-deepest-fountain-of-gratitude-in-a-human/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The secret of the missionary is...I am His, and He is carrying out His work through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-secret-of-the-missionary-is-i-am-his-and-he-is-carrying-out-his/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) [Explore all 922 Oswald Chambers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) [Browse all 25,653 Done quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The whole point of getting things done is knowing what to leave undone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oswald Chambers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-whole-point-of-getting-things-done-is-knowing-what-to-leave-undone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Done" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-whole-point-of-getting-things-done-is-knowing-what-to-leave-undone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/oswald-chambers-205_done_the-whole-point-of-getting-things-done-i_933745.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/oswald-chambers-205_done_the-whole-point-of-getting-things-done-i_933745.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/oswald-chambers-205_done_the-whole-point-of-getting-things-done-i_933745.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The whole point of getting things done is knowing what to leave undone.” — Oswald Chambers", "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": "Oswald Chambers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The whole point of getting things...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-whole-point-of-getting-things-done-is-knowing-what-to-leave-undone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-whole-point-of-getting-things-done-is-knowing-what-to-leave-undone/#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 } } ] } ```