--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are two rules for living in…" description: "\"“There are two rules for living in harmony. #1) Don’t sweat the small stuff and #2) It’s all small”\" — Richard Carlson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/richard-carlson-8710_peace_there-are-two-rules-for-living-in-harmon_2056190.jpg" --- # There are two rules for living in harmony. #1) Don’t sweat… ![“There are two rules for living in harmony. #1) Don’t sweat the small stuff and #2) It’s all small” quote by Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/richard-carlson-8710_peace_there-are-two-rules-for-living-in-harmon_2056190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/richard-carlson-8710_peace_there-are-two-rules-for-living-in-harmon_2056190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/richard-carlson-8710_peace_there-are-two-rules-for-living-in-harmon_2056190.jpg) > ““There are two rules for living in harmony. #1) Don’t sweat the small stuff and #2) It’s all small”” [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on what truly matters; minor irritations are insignificant in the grand scheme. **In simple terms:** Don’t let minor issues dominate you. Key Takeaway Prioritize peace over trivial concerns. Themes harmony stress management perspective Mood calm reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - daily work - relationships - travel - health - finance Key Concepts mindfulness cognitive reframing Questions to Reflect On - What minor irritation can you release today? - How does seeing everything as small change your reaction? A Different Perspective Even small problems can accumulate if ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ## Related quotes > [Don't sweat the small stuff...and it's all small stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-sweat-the-small-stuff-and-it-s-all-small-stuff/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I have two rules I follow religiously: #1. Don't sweat the small stuff. #2. It's all small stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-rose/i-have-two-rules-i-follow-religiously-1-don-t-sweat-the-small-stuff-2/) R. Rose > [“Don't sweat the small stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/don-t-sweat-the-small-stuff/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“Ask yourself this question: will this matter a year from now?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/ask-yourself-this-question-will-this-matter-a-year-from-now/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“In life, never spend more than 10 percent of your time on the problem, and spend at least 90 percent of your time on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-robbins/in-life-never-spend-more-than-10-percent-of-your-time-on-the-problem/) [Anthony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-robbins/) > [“I pulled out, making the driver in the battered BMW coming up behind me gesture in my direction with an angry scowl. Now, now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/i-pulled-out-making-the-driver-in-the-battered-bmw-coming-up-behind/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [Now, I don't sweat the small stuff, just the things that really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-di-maria/now-i-don-t-sweat-the-small-stuff-just-the-things-that-really-matter/) [Angel Di Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-di-maria/) > [God knows, God sees and He hears! Dont sweat the small stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-knows-god-sees-and-he-hears-dont-sweat-the-small-stuff/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is short. Laugh often, give hugs, play music out loud, breathe deep, visit friends and loved ones, see the beauty in all situations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frann/life-is-short-laugh-often-give-hugs-play-music-out-loud-breathe-deep/) [Frann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frann/) > [Sweat the small stuff. Without letting anyone see you sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/sweat-the-small-stuff-without-letting-anyone-see-you-sweat/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [Dont sweat the small stuff, life is hard enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-sweat-the-small-stuff-life-is-hard-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Rule No. 1 is, don't sweat the small stuff. Rule No. 2 is, it's all small stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eliot/rule-no-1-is-don-t-sweat-the-small-stuff-rule-no-2-is-it-s-all-small/) Robert Eliot > [“Bannon, for instance, even driven by his imperative just to get things done, did not use a computer. How did he do anything? Katie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/bannon-for-instance-even-driven-by-his-imperative-just-to-get-things/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [Dont sweat the small stuff. At the end of the day we all have so much to be thankful for. Things can be so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-sweat-the-small-stuff-at-the-end-of-the-day-we-all-have-so-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I used to say... 'Don't sweat the small stuff -- not even the big stuff.' At the end of the day, none of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-applegate/i-used-to-say-don-t-sweat-the-small-stuff-not-even-the-big-stuff-at/) [Christina Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-applegate/) ## More by Richard Carlson > [...when you let go of your expectations, when you accept life as it is, you're free.To hold on is to be serious and uptight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/when-you-let-go-of-your-expectations-when-you-accept-life-as-it-is/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“I’m merely talking about learning to be less bothered by the actions of people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/i-m-merely-talking-about-learning-to-be-less-bothered-by-the-actions/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“slowing down your responses and becoming a better listeners aids you in becoming a more peaceful person”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/slowing-down-your-responses-and-becoming-a-better-listeners-aids-you/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“Don't sweat the small stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/don-t-sweat-the-small-stuff/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [You are what you practice most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/you-are-what-you-practice-most/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [Life is a process--just one thing after another. When you lose it, just start again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/life-is-a-process-just-one-thing-after-another-when-you-lose-it-just/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [What interferes with this peaceful feeling is our expectation of reciprocity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/what-interferes-with-this-peaceful-feeling-is-our-expectation-of/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [One of the most dynamic and significant changes you can make in your life is to make the commitment to drop all negative references…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/one-of-the-most-dynamic-and-significant-changes-you-can-make-in-your/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [ Minding your own business . . . includes \[avoiding\] eavesdropping, gossiping, talking behind other people's backs, and analyzing or trying to figure out other people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/minding-your-own-business-includes-avoiding-eavesdropping-gossiping/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [If, however, you take a moment to observe how you actually feel immediately after you criticise someone, you'll notice that you will feel a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/if-however-you-take-a-moment-to-observe-how-you-actually-feel/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“In our relationships, weatherproofing typically plays itself out like this: You meet someone and all is well. You are attracted to his or her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/in-our-relationships-weatherproofing-typically-plays-itself-out-like/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“Get Comfortable Not Knowing There once was a village that had among its people a very wise old man. The villagers trusted this man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/get-comfortable-not-knowing-there-once-was-a-village-that-had-among/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [The trick is to be grateful when your mood is high and graceful when it is low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/the-trick-is-to-be-grateful-when-your-mood-is-high-and-graceful-when/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [Retirement can and will be a glorious time in your life. You'll love the freedom and ability to try new things. It's a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/retirement-can-and-will-be-a-glorious-time-in-your-life-you-ll-love/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [If someone throws you the ball, you don't have to catch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/if-someone-throws-you-the-ball-you-don-t-have-to-catch-it/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) [Explore all 78 Richard Carlson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) ## More Harmony quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I'm proud to stand with U.S. Impact Team in their initiative to create harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-stanton-king/i-m-proud-to-stand-with-u-s-impact-team-in-their-initiative-to-create/) [Angela Stanton-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-stanton-king/) > [Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/most-of-us-want-to-live-in-harmony-and-peace-and-be-good-to-others/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [It is easy to speak words of love, or to meditate lovingly upon those people with whom you are in harmony. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ponder/it-is-easy-to-speak-words-of-love-or-to-meditate-lovingly-upon-those/) [Catherine Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ponder/) > [“Disharmony at home or work is toxic to a person’s physical disposition and mental health.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/disharmony-at-home-or-work-is-toxic-to-a-person-s-physical/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [What a strange power the perception of beauty is! It seems to ebb and flow like some secret tide, independent alike of health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-benson/what-a-strange-power-the-perception-of-beauty-is-it-seems-to-ebb-and/) [A. C. Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-benson/) > [If you want to find greater happiness and fulfillment in your life, you must begin to understand and live in harmony with the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-want-to-find-greater-happiness-and-fulfillment-in-your-life/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [If you long for peace, act in peace and harmony. If you want the world to change, start with the person in the mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-long-for-peace-act-in-peace-and-harmony-if-you-want-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The spirit of the West, of America, is different than the East. The cultural conditioning is very different. It seems to be harder for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-spirit-of-the-west-of-america-is-different-than-the-east-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Life is always great, when shared in a spirit of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/life-is-always-great-when-shared-in-a-spirit-of-love/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The peace of God is with them whose mind and soul are in harmony, who are free from desire and wrath, who know their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-peace-of-god-is-with-them-whose-mind-and-soul-are-in-harmony-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every marriage is different, but the most important factor in a strong relationship is the love and harmony between the couple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hema-malini/every-marriage-is-different-but-the-most-important-factor-in-a-strong/) [Hema Malini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hema-malini/) > [“We're supposed to strive for harmony, and that's what the art of tea is supposed to accomplish... but harmony is very, very difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koushun-takami/we-re-supposed-to-strive-for-harmony-and-that-s-what-the-art-of-tea/) [Koushun Takami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koushun-takami/) [Browse all 2,638 Harmony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are two rules for living in harmony. #1) Don’t sweat the small stuff and #2) It’s all small”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Carlson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/there-are-two-rules-for-living-in-harmony-1-don-t-sweat-the-small/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Harmony" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/there-are-two-rules-for-living-in-harmony-1-don-t-sweat-the-small/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/richard-carlson-8710_peace_there-are-two-rules-for-living-in-harmon_2056190.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/richard-carlson-8710_peace_there-are-two-rules-for-living-in-harmon_2056190.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/richard-carlson-8710_peace_there-are-two-rules-for-living-in-harmon_2056190.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are two rules for living in harmony. #1) Don’t sweat the small stuff and #2) It’s all small” — Richard Carlson", "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": "Richard Carlson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There are two rules for living...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/there-are-two-rules-for-living-in-harmony-1-don-t-sweat-the-small/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/there-are-two-rules-for-living-in-harmony-1-don-t-sweat-the-small/#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 } } ] } ```