#Incremental Progress
Quotes tagged #Incremental Progress
Quotes: 76

Crafting Progress: Attention, Exactness, and Steady Belief
Finally, translating belief into routine sustains progress. Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Manifesto (2009) demonstrates how simple checklists reduce errors—exactness operationalized. Many creators use brief, focused intervals (Pomodoro) to protect attention, or daily pages (Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, 1992) to keep the hand moving. Coupled with tight feedback loops—draft, review, refine—these habits cultivate the temperament Sontag names: careful, unhurried, and confident that tomorrow’s 1% will meet today’s. In time, the accumulation becomes unmistakable. [...]
Created on: 11/6/2025

The Quiet Power of Patient, Persistent Forces
Practically, begin by shrinking the action until it’s easier to do than to avoid—one paragraph per day, one push-up, one outreach email. Use the “two-minute” start to defeat inertia (Clear, 2018), then let consistency take over. Track lead measures you control—minutes practiced, pages drafted—so progress stays visible. Finally, remove friction: prepare tools the night before, schedule protected blocks, and pair the habit with an existing routine. With time as your collaborator, these small, persistent forces will move your personal continents. [...]
Created on: 11/4/2025

Small Steps, Steady Discipline, and the Highest Peaks
Finally, translating the maxim into daily life calls for minimal, repeatable commitments. Define the smallest version of the practice that moves the needle, and attach it to a reliable cue. Shape the environment—lay out tools the night before, remove friction where lapses occur. Track streaks lightly to keep attention on process, and schedule periodic reviews to refine the system rather than redefine the goal. In time, the habit carries the weight your willpower once held. Step by patient step, the “peaks” that eluded grand plans come within reach not because you leapt higher, but because you kept climbing. [...]
Created on: 11/2/2025

Nothing Is Particularly Hard If You Divide It Into Small Jobs - Henry Ford
Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing through the assembly line, which broke down car production into small, repeatable tasks. This quote reflects his belief in the transformative power of simplifying complexity—a principle that defined much of his work. [...]
Created on: 12/9/2024

Courage Is Only an Accumulation of Small Steps - George Konrad
As a Hungarian writer and activist, George Konrad experienced personal and political adversities. His perspective on courage might reflect his belief in persistence and resilience amidst challenges in his own life. [...]
Created on: 12/4/2024

It Is the Greatest of All Mistakes to Do Nothing Because You Can Only Do Little – Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith, an English writer and clergyman, was known for his practical wisdom. This quote reflects his worldview that real progress is made through consistent action, rather than waiting for perfect circumstances or grand solutions. [...]
Created on: 11/16/2024

Do a Little More Each Day Than You Think You Can – Lowell Thomas
Lowell Thomas was a prominent American writer, broadcaster, and adventurer throughout the 20th century. His life’s work reflected his belief in exploration, hard work, and achieving more than one thinks is possible. [...]
Created on: 10/18/2024

One May Walk Over the Highest Mountain One Step at a Time - John Wanamaker
John Wanamaker was an American businessman and a pioneer in marketing. His quote reflects the mindset required in both business and life: achieving great things requires time, perseverance, and methodical effort. [...]
Created on: 10/14/2024

A Little Progress Each Day Adds Up to Big Results — Satya Nani
This quote aligns with motivational and self-improvement philosophies that advocate for building habits through incremental improvements. It encourages individuals to focus on progress rather than perfection. [...]
Created on: 10/3/2024

Little Things Make Big Days - Izzy Winters
Izzy Winters captures a philosophy of life that resonates with many, reminding us that happiness is not only found in grand achievements but also in the simple joys of everyday life, which is a recurring theme in various cultural and literary narratives. [...]
Created on: 8/25/2024

Take Action: Every Step Counts - Auliq Ice
Auliq Ice is known for his inspirational quotes that promote personal development and self-improvement. His words resonate with individuals seeking motivation to pursue their ambitions. [...]
Created on: 8/17/2024

Real Change Happens One Step at a Time - Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a trailblazing Supreme Court Justice and advocate for gender equality and civil liberties. Her work and life reflect the notion that social justice and legal reforms often require steady, gradual effort to achieve lasting results. [...]
Created on: 8/16/2024

Take Action Every Day, and You Will Make Progress Every Day - Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg, as a prominent figure in the corporate world, motivates others through her philosophy. Her words reflect a proactive approach to personal and professional growth, making it relevant for anyone looking to enhance their lives. [...]
Created on: 8/9/2024

Step by Step and the Thing Is Done - Charles Atlas
Charles Atlas, a well-known bodybuilder and fitness icon, used this belief to inspire others to improve their physical fitness through gradual, consistent effort. It serves as motivational advice for personal development. [...]
Created on: 7/12/2024

The One Who Moves a Mountain Begins by Carrying Away Small Stones - Chinese Proverb
This Chinese proverb reflects the value placed on perseverance and hard work in Chinese culture. It teaches that great achievements are the accumulation of many small efforts. [...]
Created on: 6/28/2024

Every Small Step in the Right Direction Counts - Unknown
It underscores the importance of moving in the right direction. More than the speed or size of progress, what matters is that each step is aligned with the ultimate goal. [...]
Created on: 6/28/2024

Start by Doing What's Necessary; Then Do What's Possible; and Suddenly You Are Doing the Impossible - Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar, deacon, and preacher in the 12th and 13th centuries. Known for his humility and dedication to a life of poverty and service, his teachings often revolved around simplicity and incremental progress towards spiritual and practical goals. [...]
Created on: 6/22/2024

Start by Doing What's Necessary; Then Do What's Possible; and Suddenly You Are Doing the Impossible - Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi, an Italian Catholic friar and preacher, founded the Franciscan Order in the early 13th century. His teachings often emphasized humility, simplicity, and gradual progress in spiritual and practical matters. [...]
Created on: 6/22/2024

Great Things Are Not Done By Impulse, But By A Series of Small Things Brought Together - Vincent Van Gogh
Van Gogh, a renowned painter, exemplified this philosophy in his art. His works, known for their detail and complexity, were created through careful, methodical effort rather than impulsive strokes. [...]
Created on: 6/21/2024

Great Things Are Done by a Series of Small Things Brought Together - Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent Van Gogh was a post-impressionist painter known for his bold colors and emotional honesty. His experiences as an artist taught him that remarkable pieces of art are the result of countless careful brushstrokes over time. [...]
Created on: 6/21/2024

Perseverance is Many Short Races - Walter Elliot
Walter Elliot was a Scottish Unionist politician and writer. His perspective reflects the understanding that success is built through cumulative efforts rather than a single, unbroken effort. [...]
Created on: 6/13/2024

A Mountain Is Not Conquered in a Day
Philosophically, this quote speaks to the idea that life's journey, including its struggles and efforts, is more meaningful and formative than the mere attainment of goals. [...]
Created on: 6/13/2024

A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step
Attributed to Lao Tzu, an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, the quote reflects the Taoist philosophy of Lao Tzu, emphasizing simplicity, patience, and the natural progression of life. [...]
Created on: 5/27/2024

The Small Things, If Put Together, Are Greater Than the Big Things - Henry Barbusse
Henry Barbusse, a French novelist and World War I soldier, often reflected on human experiences and the interconnectedness of small actions in his works. This quote reflects his philosophical view on the significance of seemingly minor elements in life. [...]
Created on: 5/25/2024