--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only time I really become discouraged…" description: "\"The only time I really become discouraged is when I think of all the things I would like to do and the little time I have in which to do them.\" — Thoma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/thomas-a-edison-866_discouraged_the-only-time-i-really-become-discourage_2021723.jpg" --- # The only time I really become discouraged is when I think… ![“The only time I really become discouraged is when I think of all the things I would like to do and the little time I have in which to do them.” quote by Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/thomas-a-edison-866_discouraged_the-only-time-i-really-become-discourage_2021723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/thomas-a-edison-866_discouraged_the-only-time-i-really-become-discourage_2021723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/thomas-a-edison-866_discouraged_the-only-time-i-really-become-discourage_2021723.jpg) > “The only time I really become discouraged is when I think of all the things I would like to do and the little time I have in which to do them.” [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling discouraged arises when aspirations outpace perceived time, leading to overwhelm. **In simple terms:** Too many goals and too little time cause discouragement. Key Takeaway Prioritize and schedule. Themes productivity motivation time management Mood reflective inspirational Type motivational self-help When to use this quote - career planning - personal projects - daily routines Key Concepts goal setting prioritization focus Questions to Reflect On - What can you realistically achieve today? - How can you reframe limited time? A Different Perspective Time perception is subjective; flexibility helps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged/) [Discouraged Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged-think-3582488/) [Little time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-time/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Only time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only-time/) [Really Discouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-discouraged-3665520/) [Think Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-things/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Don't get discouraged, and think positive all the time. Don't get down on yourself if you lose out a couple of times. It's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larisa-oleynik/don-t-get-discouraged-and-think-positive-all-the-time-don-t-get-down/) [Larisa Oleynik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larisa-oleynik/) > [Don't be discouraged if you think you're not a great writer because terrible writers are successful in Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/don-t-be-discouraged-if-you-think-you-re-not-a-great-writer-because/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [“If you make a choice in this conference and you stick to it to be an excellent person in everything you do and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/if-you-make-a-choice-in-this-conference-and-you-stick-to-it-to-be-an/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can't afford to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/time-is-really-the-only-capital-that-any-human-being-has-and-the-only/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/nearly-every-man-who-develops-an-idea-works-it-up-to-the-point-where/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Mr. Edison worked endlessly on a problem, using the method of elimination. If a person asked him if he were discouraged because so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/mr-edison-worked-endlessly-on-a-problem-using-the-method-of/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/every-wrong-attempt-discarded-is-another-step-forward/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Never be discouraged, because every wrong turn attempt, when left behind you, is another step forward taking you closer to your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/never-be-discouraged-because-every-wrong-turn-attempt-when-left/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [A reporter called on Edison to interview him about a substitute for lead in the manufacture of storage batteries that the scientist was seeking.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/a-reporter-called-on-edison-to-interview-him-about-a-substitute-for/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/results-why-man-i-have-gotten-lots-of-results-if-i-find-10-000-ways/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [When we start focusing on things we can do and don't think so much about the things we can't do, things really start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/when-we-start-focusing-on-things-we-can-do-and-don-t-think-so-much/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“I think the best way to escape your head isn’t to think about things that aren’t real, it’s to think about things that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-brooks/i-think-the-best-way-to-escape-your-head-isn-t-to-think-about-things/) [Ben Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-brooks/) > [Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/madness-is-to-think-of-too-many-things-in-succession-too-fast-or-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [If your life's at a juncture and you need to think about things, there's nowhere better than home. However old you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/if-your-life-s-at-a-juncture-and-you-need-to-think-about-things-there/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) ## More by Thomas A. Edison > [We are striking it big in the electric light, better than my vivid imagination first conceived. Where this thing is going to stop Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/we-are-striking-it-big-in-the-electric-light-better-than-my-vivid/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I will not say I failed 1000 times, I will say that I discovered there are 1000 ways that can cause failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-will-not-say-i-failed-1000-times-i-will-say-that-i-discovered-there/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Friendship is the heaven of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/friendship-is-the-heaven-of-life/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Even though I am nearly deaf, I seem to be gifted with a kind of inner hearing which enables me to detect sounds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/even-though-i-am-nearly-deaf-i-seem-to-be-gifted-with-a-kind-of-inner/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/being-busy-does-not-always-mean-real-work-the-object-of-all-work-is/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The very first thing an executive must have is a fine memory. Of course it does not follow that a man with a fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-very-first-thing-an-executive-must-have-is-a-fine-memory-of/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Personally, I enjoy working about 18 hours a day. Besides the short catnaps I take each day, I average about four to five hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/personally-i-enjoy-working-about-18-hours-a-day-besides-the-short/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The brain can be developed just the same as the muscles can be developed, if on will only take the pains to train the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-brain-can-be-developed-just-the-same-as-the-muscles-can-be/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“People who will not turn a shovel full of dirt on the project nor contribute a pound of material, will collect more money from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/people-who-will-not-turn-a-shovel-full-of-dirt-on-the-project-nor/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [When I have fully decided that a result is worth getting I go ahead of it and make trial after trial until it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/when-i-have-fully-decided-that-a-result-is-worth-getting-i-go-ahead/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I remember that I was never able to get along at school. I was at the foot of the class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-remember-that-i-was-never-able-to-get-along-at-school-i-was-at-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Invention is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/invention-is-10-inspiration-and-90-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [There seems to be no limit to which some men will go to avoid the labor of thinking. Thinking is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/there-seems-to-be-no-limit-to-which-some-men-will-go-to-avoid-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Somewhere between the ages of eleven and fifteen, the average child begins to suffer from an atrophy, the paralysis of curiosity and the suspension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/somewhere-between-the-ages-of-eleven-and-fifteen-the-average-child/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Not only will atomic power be released, but someday we will harness the rise and fall of the tides and imprison the rays of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/not-only-will-atomic-power-be-released-but-someday-we-will-harness/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) [Explore all 345 Thomas A. Edison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) ## More Discouraged quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Many persons have been confused and discouraged at the very outset of the study by the great variety and the delicate distinctions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-staunton/many-persons-have-been-confused-and-discouraged-at-the-very-outset-of/) [Howard Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-staunton/) > [I think it's very easy to get discouraged early on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-lowe/i-think-it-s-very-easy-to-get-discouraged-early-on/) [Alice Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-lowe/) > [I am profoundly in the D's - discouraged, depressed, disheartened, disgusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dunbar-nelson/i-am-profoundly-in-the-d-s-discouraged-depressed-disheartened/) [Alice Dunbar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dunbar-nelson/) > [Well, I do expect a lot of myself. I'm a harsh critic because I know what I'm capable of. I have hit those occasional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-stevens/well-i-do-expect-a-lot-of-myself-i-m-a-harsh-critic-because-i-know/) [Dave Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-stevens/) > [I've taken my bumps and bruises, but you've got to be willing to get knocked down and pick yourself up. You can't get discouraged.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-o-neal/i-ve-taken-my-bumps-and-bruises-but-you-ve-got-to-be-willing-to-get/) [Jermaine O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-o-neal/) > [I am a little discouraged and irritated at the welfare recipient families growing in size all the time. Those of us who work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilmar-moore/i-am-a-little-discouraged-and-irritated-at-the-welfare-recipient/) [Hilmar Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilmar-moore/) > [“The way you pass through the land of Learning is that you try a bunch of things. Fear would love for you to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/the-way-you-pass-through-the-land-of-learning-is-that-you-try-a-bunch/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [I do what I believe the Lord did, and that is walk in love with all mankind, which I don't see a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-smith/i-do-what-i-believe-the-lord-did-and-that-is-walk-in-love-with-all/) [Tasha Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-smith/) > [You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/you-need-never-be-discouraged-or-afraid-the-way-through-difficulties/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Lift up your eyes, discouraged one. 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I think often people feel that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-sometimes-am-discouraged-by-what-seems-to-be-a-sort-of-conventional/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 540 Discouraged quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only time I really become discouraged is when I think of all the things I would like to do and the little time I have in which to do them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas A. 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