Stephen R. Covey quotes
123 6
Stephen R. Covey
Birthdate: 24. October 1932
Date of death: 16. July 2012
Stephen Richards Covey was an American educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker. His most popular book is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. His other books include First Things First, Principle-Centered Leadership, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, The 8th Habit, and The Leader In Me — How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time. In 1996, Time magazine named him one of the 25 most influential people. He was a professor at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University at the time of his death.
Works
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen R. Covey
First Things First
Stephen R. Covey
The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
Stephen R. CoveyQuotes Stephen R. Covey
„Give no answer to contentious arguments or irresponsible accusations.“
Source: Principle-Centered Leadership (1992), Ch. 11
Context: Give no answer to contentious arguments or irresponsible accusations. Let such things "fly out open windows" until they spend themselves.
„Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.“
— Stephen R. Covey, book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Source: The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People (1989), p. 101
„But until a person can say deeply and honestly, "I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday," that person cannot say, "I choose otherwise.“
— Stephen R. Covey, book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Source: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
„Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.“
— Stephen R. Covey, book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Source: The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People (1989), p. 239
Source: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
„Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and
he will become as he can and should be.“
— Stephen R. Covey, book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Source: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
„Principles are universal — that is, they transcend culture and geography. They're also timeless, they never change“
— Stephen R. Covey, book The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
principles such as fairness, kindness, respect, honesty, integrity, service, contribution. Different cultures may translate these principles into different practices and over time may even totally obscure these principles through the wrongful use of freedom. Nevertheless, they are present. Like the law of gravity, they operate constantly.
p. 47
The 8th Habit : From Effectiveness to Greatness (2004)
„Are your values based upon principles?“
— Stephen R. Covey, book The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
Source: The 8th Habit : From Effectiveness to Greatness (2004), p. 49
Context: Values are social norms — they're personal, emotional, subjective, and arguable. All of us have values. Even criminals have values. The question you must ask yourself is, Are your values based upon principles? In the last analysis, principles are natural laws — they're impersonal, factual, objective and self-evident. Consequences are governed by principles and behavior is governed by values; therefore, value principles!
„Consequences are governed by principles and behavior is governed by values; therefore, value principles!“
— Stephen R. Covey, book The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
The 8th Habit : From Effectiveness to Greatness (2004)
Context: Values are social norms — they're personal, emotional, subjective, and arguable. All of us have values. Even criminals have values. The question you must ask yourself is, Are your values based upon principles? In the last analysis, principles are natural laws — they're impersonal, factual, objective and self-evident. Consequences are governed by principles and behavior is governed by values; therefore, value principles!
p. 49
„Selfless service has always been one of the most powerful methods of influence.“
Source: Principle-Centered Leadership (1992), Ch. 11
Context: Perform anonymous service. Whenever we do good for others anonymously, our sense of intrinsic worth and self-respect increases. … Selfless service has always been one of the most powerful methods of influence.
„Let natural consequences teach responsible behavior.“
Source: Principle-Centered Leadership (1992), Ch. 11
Context: Let natural consequences teach responsible behavior. One of the kindest things we can do is to let the natural or logical consequences of people's actions teach them responsible behavior. They may not like it or us, but popularity is a fickle standard by which to measure character development. Insisting on justice demands more true love, not less. We care enough for their growth and security to suffer their displeasure.
„Retire from your job but never from meaningful projects.“
— Stephen R. Covey, book The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
The 8th Habit : From Effectiveness to Greatness (2004)
Context: Retire from your job but never from meaningful projects. If you want to live a long life, you need eustress, that is, a deep sense of meaning and contribution to worthy projects and causes, particularly your intergenerational family.
The 8th Habit : From Effectiveness to Greatness (2004), p. 63
„It's not enough to have values without vision; you want to be good, but you want to be good for something. On the other hand, vision without values can create a Hitler.“
— Stephen R. Covey, book First Things First
Source: First Things First (1994), p. 113
Context: It's not enough to have values without vision; you want to be good, but you want to be good for something. On the other hand, vision without values can create a Hitler. An empowering mission statement deals with both character and competence; what you want to be and what you want to do in your life.
„We present a dramatically different approach to time management. This is a principle-centered approach.“
— Stephen R. Covey, book First Things First
Source: First Things First (1994), p. 12 <!-- Originally added as : Instead of taking two watches, take compass. It is not important how fast you are moving, but where you are moving. -->
Context: We present a dramatically different approach to time management. This is a principle-centered approach. It transcends the traditional prescriptions of faster, harder, smarter, and more. Rather than offering you another clock, this approach provides you with a compass — because more important than how fast you're going, is where you're headed.
„Different cultures may translate these principles into different practices and over time may even totally obscure these principles through the wrongful use of freedom. Nevertheless, they are present. Like the law of gravity, they operate constantly.“
— Stephen R. Covey, book The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
The 8th Habit : From Effectiveness to Greatness (2004)
Context: Principles are universal — that is, they transcend culture and geography. They're also timeless, they never change — principles such as fairness, kindness, respect, honesty, integrity, service, contribution. Different cultures may translate these principles into different practices and over time may even totally obscure these principles through the wrongful use of freedom. Nevertheless, they are present. Like the law of gravity, they operate constantly.
p. 47
„Trust is the glue that holds everything together.“
— Stephen R. Covey, book First Things First
Source: First Things First (1994), p. 243 <!-- Originally added as a paraphrase : The moment of making choice is the moment of truth! -->
Context: Trust is the glue that holds everything together. It creates the environment in which all of the other elements — win-win stewardship agreements, self-directing individuals and teams, aligned structures and systems, and accountability — can flourish.
„Values are social norms — they're personal, emotional, subjective, and arguable. All of us have values. Even criminals have values.“
— Stephen R. Covey, book The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
The 8th Habit : From Effectiveness to Greatness (2004)
Context: Values are social norms — they're personal, emotional, subjective, and arguable. All of us have values. Even criminals have values. The question you must ask yourself is, Are your values based upon principles? In the last analysis, principles are natural laws — they're impersonal, factual, objective and self-evident. Consequences are governed by principles and behavior is governed by values; therefore, value principles!
p. 49
