--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Think not of the amount to be…" description: "\"Think not of the amount to be accomplished, the difficulties to be overcome, or the end to be attained, but set earnestly at the little task at your el..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/william-osler-2992_accomplished_think-not-of-the-amount-to-be-accomplish_2712100.png" --- # Think not of the amount to be accomplished, the… ![“Think not of the amount to be accomplished, the difficulties to be overcome, or the end to be attained, but set earnestly at the little task at your elbow, letting that be sufficient for the day.” quote by William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/william-osler-2992_accomplished_think-not-of-the-amount-to-be-accomplish_2712100.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/william-osler-2992_accomplished_think-not-of-the-amount-to-be-accomplish_2712100.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/william-osler-2992_accomplished_think-not-of-the-amount-to-be-accomplish_2712100.png) > “Think not of the amount to be accomplished, the difficulties to be overcome, or the end to be attained, but set earnestly at the little task at your elbow, letting that be sufficient for the day.” [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) ## 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 the immediate small task rather than grand goals or obstacles; let that be enough for the day. **In simple terms:** Do the small task at hand each day. Key Takeaway Prioritize daily small tasks over distant ambitions. Themes productivity mindfulness focus daily routine Mood calm methodical Type practical philosophical When to use this quote - work tasks - study sessions - household chores Key Concepts psychology time management Questions to Reflect On - How can small tasks build toward big goals? - What prevents you from focusing on the present? A Different Perspective Neglecting long‑term planning can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth/) ## Related quotes > [Set yourself earnestly to see what you are made to do, and then set yourself earnestly to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/set-yourself-earnestly-to-see-what-you-are-made-to-do-and-then-set/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Set yourself earnestly to discover what you are made to do, and then give yourself passionately to the doing of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/set-yourself-earnestly-to-discover-what-you-are-made-to-do-and-then/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [A little person in a little place can use a little thing, perform a little task, and receive a great reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/a-little-person-in-a-little-place-can-use-a-little-thing-perform-a/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [Father, I beg of Thee a little task To dignify my days, 'tis all I ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/father-i-beg-of-thee-a-little-task-to-dignify-my-days-tis-all-i-ask/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [If I were to look back on my work, I think I accomplished probably about 70 to 75 percent of what I could have.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/if-i-were-to-look-back-on-my-work-i-think-i-accomplished-probably/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I don't think I have accomplished what I still have to accomplish. There is one thing that I would like to do, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/i-don-t-think-i-have-accomplished-what-i-still-have-to-accomplish/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [I think he's accomplished so much, I don't think it's fair to put me in the same category as Coach Payton. I think, hopefully,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mcvay/i-think-he-s-accomplished-so-much-i-don-t-think-it-s-fair-to-put-me/) [Sean McVay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mcvay/) > [Once I realized, I'm more than just a worker, I could create my own future - because your thoughts are your reality - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nle-choppa/once-i-realized-i-m-more-than-just-a-worker-i-could-create-my-own/) [NLE Choppa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nle-choppa/) > [“This," he said, "is a dance. We should savor every step. Think of all we have accomplished already, my friend, and here we've only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-towell/this-he-said-is-a-dance-we-should-savor-every-step-think-of-all-we/) Katy Towell > [I would think I'd accomplished it all if I could get to play Quasimodo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-koteas/i-would-think-i-d-accomplished-it-all-if-i-could-get-to-play-quasimodo/) [Elias Koteas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-koteas/) > [“They will have difficulties to overcome,' I admitted. 'Including the differences in their religions. However, marriage is always a chancy business, Katherine. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-peters/they-will-have-difficulties-to-overcome-i-admitted-including-the/) [Elizabeth Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-peters/) > [Life is indeed difficult, partly because of the real difficulties we must overcome in order to survive, and partly because of our own innate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/life-is-indeed-difficult-partly-because-of-the-real-difficulties-we/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [It certainly strikes the beholder with astonishment, to perceive what vast difficulties can be overcome by the pigmy arms of little mortal man, aided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-certainly-strikes-the-beholder-with-astonishment-to-perceive-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Difficulties can be overcome by not giving up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yunho/difficulties-can-be-overcome-by-not-giving-up/) [Yunho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yunho/) > [Difficulties are made to be overcome ~ Miss Felicity Lemon, Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Plymouth Express](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/difficulties-are-made-to-be-overcome-miss-felicity-lemon-agatha/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) ## More by William Osler > [As it can be maintained that all the great advances have come from men under forty, so the history of the world shows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/as-it-can-be-maintained-that-all-the-great-advances-have-come-from/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [No man is really happy or safe without a hobby ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/no-man-is-really-happy-or-safe-without-a-hobby/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [But whatever you do, take neither yourselves nor your fellow-creatures too seriously. There is tragedy enough in our daily routine, but there is room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/but-whatever-you-do-take-neither-yourselves-nor-your-fellow-creatures/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [Without egotism and full of feeling, laughter is the music of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/without-egotism-and-full-of-feeling-laughter-is-the-music-of-life/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [The librarian of today, and it will be true still more of the librarians of tomorrow, are not fiery dragons interposed between the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/the-librarian-of-today-and-it-will-be-true-still-more-of-the/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today's work superbly well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/the-best-preparation-for-tomorrow-is-to-do-today-s-work-superbly-well/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [Throw away all ambition beyond that of doing the day's work well. The travelers on the road to success live in the present, heedless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/throw-away-all-ambition-beyond-that-of-doing-the-day-s-work-well-the/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [The very first step towards success in any occupation is to become interested in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/the-very-first-step-towards-success-in-any-occupation-is-to-become/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/the-trained-nurse-has-become-one-of-the-great-blessings-of-humanity/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [He who studies medicine without books sails an uncharted sea, but he who studies medicine without patients does not go to sea at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/he-who-studies-medicine-without-books-sails-an-uncharted-sea-but-he/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [In seeking absolute truth we aim at the unattainable and must be content with broken portions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/in-seeking-absolute-truth-we-aim-at-the-unattainable-and-must-be/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [Shed, as you do your garments, your daily sins, whether of omission or commission, and you will wake a free man, with a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/shed-as-you-do-your-garments-your-daily-sins-whether-of-omission-or/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [He who knows syphilis knows medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/he-who-knows-syphilis-knows-medicine/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [Laughter is the music of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/laughter-is-the-music-of-life/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [Beware of people who call you 'Doc.' They rarely pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/beware-of-people-who-call-you-doc-they-rarely-pay-their-bills/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) [Explore all 143 William Osler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) ## More Accomplished quotes > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I'm proud of what I've accomplished and that is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/i-m-proud-of-what-i-ve-accomplished-and-that-is-empowering/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [We do not know today whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves indolent, we have afterwards discovered that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-know-today-whether-we-are-busy-or-idle-in-times-when-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I don't know Beyoncé, but I have the impression that she's sincere, that she really is a feminist and wanted to put the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-don-t-know-beyonc-but-i-have-the-impression-that-she-s-sincere-that/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-gain-in-self-confidence-of-having-accomplished-a-tiresome-labour/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [With Epcot Center, the Disney corporation has accomplished something I didn't think possible in today's world. They have created a land of make-believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-accomplished-something-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/) Amy Ridenour > [“Great things can be accomplished, when it doesnt matter who gets the credit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/great-things-can-be-accomplished-when-it-doesnt-matter-who-gets-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If I could inspire you for even a moment to be yourself and love yourself, and not let what anyone has to say hinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-neal-hartry/if-i-could-inspire-you-for-even-a-moment-to-be-yourself-and-love/) [Joshua Neal Hartry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-neal-hartry/) Browse all 1,379 Accomplished quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Think not of the amount to be accomplished, the difficulties to be overcome, or the end to be attained, but set earnestly at the little task at your elbow, letting that be sufficient for the day.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Osler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/think-not-of-the-amount-to-be-accomplished-the-difficulties-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplished" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/think-not-of-the-amount-to-be-accomplished-the-difficulties-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/william-osler-2992_accomplished_think-not-of-the-amount-to-be-accomplish_2712100.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/william-osler-2992_accomplished_think-not-of-the-amount-to-be-accomplish_2712100.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/william-osler-2992_accomplished_think-not-of-the-amount-to-be-accomplish_2712100.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Think not of the amount to be accomplished, the difficulties to be overcome, or the end to be attained, but…” — William Osler", "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": "William Osler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Think not of the amount to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/think-not-of-the-amount-to-be-accomplished-the-difficulties-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/think-not-of-the-amount-to-be-accomplished-the-difficulties-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```