--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Keep in mind that you are always saying…" description: "\"Keep in mind that you are always saying \"no\" to something. If it isn't to the apparent and urgent things in your life, it is probably to the most funda..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/stephen-covey-339_diplomat_keep-in-mind-that-you-are-always-saying_1499181.png" --- # Keep in mind that you are always saying "no" to something… ![“Keep in mind that you are always saying "no" to something. If it isn't to the apparent and urgent things in your life, it is probably to the most fundamental, highly important things.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/stephen-covey-339_diplomat_keep-in-mind-that-you-are-always-saying_1499181.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/stephen-covey-339_diplomat_keep-in-mind-that-you-are-always-saying_1499181.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8d/stephen-covey-339_diplomat_keep-in-mind-that-you-are-always-saying_1499181.png) > “Keep in mind that you are always saying "no" to something. If it isn't to the apparent and urgent things in your life, it is probably to the most fundamental, highly important things.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We constantly say “no” to things; if we reject only obvious, urgent matters, we may unintentionally reject deeper, more essential priorities. **In simple terms:** Rejecting surface issues can hide neglect of core values. Key Takeaway Prioritize fundamental, important matters. Themes prioritization values decision‑making Mood reflective strategic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career planning - personal goal setting - time management - strategic leadership Key Concepts core values urgent vs essential Questions to Reflect On - What are your most fundamental priorities? - How can you differentiate urgent from essential? A Different Perspective People often lack clarity on what truly matters, leading to misaligned choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Diplomat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomat/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspirational life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Parents sometimes simply don't have enough hands and time and attention to do all that is urgent. But in all things there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/parents-sometimes-simply-don-t-have-enough-hands-and-time-and/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [You must distinguish between what is urgent and what is important. You could accomplish all of the urgent things that you desire without accomplishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/you-must-distinguish-between-what-is-urgent-and-what-is-important-you/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [I wouldn't mind people saying, "You can't do this because this isn't enough."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-prince/i-wouldn-t-mind-people-saying-you-can-t-do-this-because-this-isn-t/) [Richard Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-prince/) > [Your situation and environment are ever changing, so be careful not to confuse things that are urgent with things that are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-situation-and-environment-are-ever-changing-so-be-careful-not-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Saying No gains you respect. When you say No, the other person may feel disappointed. But ultimately, they will respect you for taking good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/saying-no-gains-you-respect-when-you-say-no-the-other-person-may-feel/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [Hopeless cases: Executives who assert themselves by saying No when they should say Yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/hopeless-cases-executives-who-assert-themselves-by-saying-no-when/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [I've learned, I think, to be able to distinguish between the necessary and the unnecessary as far as my limited outside time is concerned.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/i-ve-learned-i-think-to-be-able-to-distinguish-between-the-necessary/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [Saying no can be the ultimate self-care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-black/saying-no-can-be-the-ultimate-self-care/) [Claudia Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-black/) > [One of the most painfully inauthentic ways we show up in our lives sometimes is saying "yes" when we mean "no," and saying "no"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/one-of-the-most-painfully-inauthentic-ways-we-show-up-in-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Saying no isn't easy, but it's a required skill if you wish to have any degree of focus in your life. If you say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/saying-no-isn-t-easy-but-it-s-a-required-skill-if-you-wish-to-have/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [Learn graceful ways of saying no and of pointing out that this pressure to do something is not in line with most people's wishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/learn-graceful-ways-of-saying-no-and-of-pointing-out-that-this/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“No is a complete sentence and so often we forget that. When we don't want to do something we can simply smile and say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-gregg/no-is-a-complete-sentence-and-so-often-we-forget-that-when-we-don-t/) [Susan Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-gregg/) > [If you believe that saying no will get you shot, well, what a fine way to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-block/if-you-believe-that-saying-no-will-get-you-shot-well-what-a-fine-way/) [Peter Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-block/) > [Focusing is about saying No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/focusing-is-about-saying-no/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Saying no to something is actually much more powerful than saying yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/saying-no-to-something-is-actually-much-more-powerful-than-saying-yes/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. 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Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Diplomat quotes > [How much more comfortable it is to say 'Yes, and...' than 'Yes, but...'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-fagg/how-much-more-comfortable-it-is-to-say-yes-and-than-yes-but/) [Lawrence Fagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-fagg/) > [Too many of us fail to fulfill our needs because we say no rather than yes, or perhaps later in life, yes when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/too-many-of-us-fail-to-fulfill-our-needs-because-we-say-no-rather/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [In truth, the degree of anyone's success depends on how often they can say the word yes and hear the word no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/in-truth-the-degree-of-anyone-s-success-depends-on-how-often-they-can/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I know firsthand from my experience working counterintelligence investigations for the FBI that kicking a diplomat out of the country is no small thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/i-know-firsthand-from-my-experience-working-counterintelligence/) [Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/) > [“You don't have to say yes to everything, you know. It's okay to say no.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-gurtler/you-don-t-have-to-say-yes-to-everything-you-know-it-s-okay-to-say-no/) [Janet Gurtler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-gurtler/) > [Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/never-allow-a-person-to-tell-you-no-who-doesn-t-have-the-power-to-say/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [a diplomat ... is not worthy of the name unless he can say 'no' and make the other person like it - or at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-wilson/a-diplomat-is-not-worthy-of-the-name-unless-he-can-say-no-and-make/) [Margery Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-wilson/) > [“Just remember that every “yes” is actually a “no” to something else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-reardon/just-remember-that-every-yes-is-actually-a-no-to-something-else/) [Hank Reardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-reardon/) > [“When the world says “no” it means a “yes”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumedha-mahajan/when-the-world-says-no-it-means-a-yes/) [Sumedha Mahajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumedha-mahajan/) > [“The word 'NO' is the best motivation there is for the storyteller in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-kuykendall/the-word-no-is-the-best-motivation-there-is-for-the-storyteller-in-you/) [A.K. Kuykendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-k-kuykendall/) > [Your capacity to say "No" determines your capacity to say "Yes" to greater things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/your-capacity-to-say-no-determines-your-capacity-to-say-yes-to/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [I majored in political communications, so I intended to be a diplomat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-ramirez/i-majored-in-political-communications-so-i-intended-to-be-a-diplomat/) [Edgar Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-ramirez/) > [Saying no to something is actually much more powerful than saying yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/saying-no-to-something-is-actually-much-more-powerful-than-saying-yes/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [My father was a diplomat and served as Pakistan's ambassador to 14 countries. I was born in London and grew up there and studied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adnan-sami/my-father-was-a-diplomat-and-served-as-pakistan-s-ambassador-to-14/) [Adnan Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adnan-sami/) > [“Did I want him to act? Or would I prefer a lifetime of longing provided we both kept this little Ping-Pong game going: not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/did-i-want-him-to-act-or-would-i-prefer-a-lifetime-of-longing/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) [Browse all 340 Diplomat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Keep in mind that you are always saying \"no\" to something. 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