Quotes about clarity principles

If you want to get something off your mind, you have to put it somewhere - David Allen
Your brain is a terrible office. It's a brilliant idea generator, but a lousy filing cabinet. This quote means that mental clarity is achieved not by trying to remember everything, but by externalizing your commitments.
Anything that causes you to overreact or underreact Meaning Factcheck Usage

Awareness Quote

Anything that causes you to overreact or underreact can control you, and often does - David Allen
Your reactions, not the events themselves, are what truly hold power over you. When your response is out of proportion, you've handed over the reins.

Quotes about action principles

There is an inverse relationship between how much something is on your mind and how much it’s getting done - David Allen
The core message is brutally simple: if it's constantly on your mind, it's probably not moving forward. Your brain uses reminders as a crutch, which blocks focused action.

Quotes about attention principles

If you don’t pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves - David Allen
At its core, this is about the high cost of mental procrastination. It means that the unresolved tasks and nagging thoughts you push aside don't just disappear; they actively drain your cognitive resources.
It is much easier to act yourself into Meaning Factcheck Usage

Action Quote

It is much easier to act yourself into a new way of thinking than to think yourself into a new way of acting - David Allen
At its heart, this quote flips conventional wisdom on its head. It means that action is the most reliable catalyst for a genuine mental shift, not the other way around.

Boundaries Quote

You can do anything, but not everything - David Allen
This quote is about the fundamental difference between potential and capacity. You have the potential to achieve incredible things, but you have a finite capacity to execute them at any given moment.