60 Priorities Quotes on What Matters Most in Life

If you’re confused about who or what you should dedicate your time to, read these priorities quotes we’ve collected for you!

There’s a saying that goes, “So many things to do, so little time.” We fill our daily lives with a bunch of things that may or may not really be necessary.

Over time, these slowly pile up and make us think that we’re so busy and that there’s not enough space in our day to do what we want or need to do.

However, it’s all a matter of setting your priorities straight. What are the things you can’t live without? Who are the people that make you happy and whole?

When we can identify the things we need to focus on, we’ll see life in a whole new light. Suddenly, we have so much more time to spend on the things we value.

So, if you need help setting your priorities, then dive deep into our list below.

Let’s begin.

And make sure to read these focus quotes and success quotes.

Best Priorities Quotes

1. “Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions.” – Dallin H. Oaks

2. “Good things happen when you set your priorities straight.” – Scott Caan

3. “The mark of a great man is one who knows when to set aside the important things in order to accomplish the vital ones.” – Brandon Sanderson

4. “I learned that we can do anything, but we can’t do everything—at least not at the same time. So think of your priorities, not in terms of what activities you do, but when you do them. Timing is everything.” – Dan Millman

5. “You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically—to say ‘no’ to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside. The enemy of the ‘best’ is often the ‘good.’” – Anonymous

Famous Priorities Quotes

6. “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” – Stephen Covey

7. “Priorities will tell you everything you need to know about a person.” – Anonymous 

8. “If it’s a priority you’ll find a way. If it isn’t, you’ll find an excuse.” – Jim Rohn

9. “The first step to success is knowing your priorities.” – Aspesh

10. “Your priorities are your character.” – Anonymous

Also read: Famous Quotes, Positive Quotes

Meaningful Priorities Quotes to Guide You 

11. “It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials.” – Bruce Lee

12. “Persistence. Perfection. Patience. Power. Prioritize your passion. It keeps you sane.” – Criss Jami

13. “Be ambitious. Get things done. Keep your priorities straight, your mind right, and your head up.” – Anonymous

14. “When you have too many top priorities, you effectively have no top priorities.” – Stephen Covey

15. “Nobody’s life is ever all balanced. It’s a conscious decision to choose your priorities every day.” – Elisabeth Hasselbeck

16. “The Principle of Priority states a—you must know the difference between what is urgent and what is important, and b—you must do what’s important first.” – Steven Pressfield

Also read: Quotes to Live By

Priorities Quotes to Understand What You Need to Focus On

17. “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

18. “Our greatest danger in life is in permitting the urgent things to crowd out the important.” – Charles E. Hummel

19. “Let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the basis of that.” – Dalai Lama

20. “The life you have left is a gift. Cherish it. Enjoy it now, to the fullest. Do what matters, now.” – Leo Babauta

21. “Determine your priorities and focus on them.” – Eileen McDargh

Wise Priorities Quotes That Zoom in on Life

22. “To change your life, you need to change your priorities.” – Mark Twain

23. “What you prioritize defines your life.” – BossBabe

24. “Your priorities aren’t what you say they are. They are revealed by how you live.” – Anonymous

25. “Sometimes things in life happen that allow us to understand our priorities very clearly.” – Mariska Hargitay

26. “Often in life, we forget the things we should remember, and remember the things we should forget.” – Anonymous

27. “Life is short. Focus on what really matters most; you should change your priorities over time.” – Roy T. Bennett

28. “Our life is the sum total of all the decisions we make every day, and those decisions are determined by our priorities.” – Myles Munroe

29. “You just need to make a conscious decision to, each day, become aware anew of your true priorities. Your life does not choose you, but you choose your life.” – Isabelle Fallois

Priorities Quotes for Your Family and Loved Ones

30. “You need to make time for your family no matter what happens in your life.” – Matthew Quick

31. “I’m starting to judge success by the time I have for myself, the time I spend with family and friends. My priorities aren’t amending—they’re shifting.” – Brendan Fraser 

32. “Never put your family, friends, or significant other low on your priority list. Prefer a handful of truly close friends to a hundred acquaintances.” – Sam Altman

33. “Family has always been the number one priority no matter what happens anywhere else.” – Gloria Estefan

34. “I have a career, which is important, but my family is the priority. First family, and then career. It’s a delicate balance.” – Jimmy Cliff

Also read: Family Quotes, Encouraging Quotes

Short Priorities Quotes That’ll Get You Back on Track

35. “Action expresses priorities.” – Mahatma Gandhi

36. “Priorities over conveniences.” – Jatain Neha

37. “Your decisions reveal your priorities.” – Jeff Van Gundy

38. “Lack of time is actually lack of priorities.” – Timothy Ferris

39. “We determine our destination by our priorities.” – Keith K. Hilbig

40. “Thinking changes priorities, Priorities change lives.” – Nitin Namdeo

Priorities Quotes to Remind You of What’s Important

41. “There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing.” – Brian Tracy

42. “There is no one busy in this world, it’s always about priorities. You will always find time for the things you feel important.” – Nishan Panwar

43. “When you know what’s most important to you, making a decision is quite simple.” – Anthony Robbins

44. “If you continually ask yourself, ‘What’s important now’ then you won’t waste time on the trivial.” – Lou Holtz

Priorities Quotes to Know if You’re Paying Attention to the Right Things

45. “Know what matters most to you and be unwilling to compromise those priorities at almost any price.” – Frank Sonnenberg

46. “The greatest reflection of your priorities is your time. Whatever you say about what matters to you, the true test is where you place your time.” – Nick Crocker

47. “There is no such thing as ‘I do not have the time.’ This is all just a matter of priorities.” – Maciej Aniserowicz

48. “Indeed, how we rank or prioritize our values is deeply important, since this gives direction to our lives. To this end, we want to choose our values wisely.” – Jennifer Wilson Mulnix

49. “The day we recognize we must let go and drop questionable priorities in life, we understand we must accept to follow our inner compass and find harmony with ourselves. Through the flow between buoyancy and acceptance, we can reach a state of awakening and enlightenment.” – Erik Pevernagie

50. “We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed, and the important things will not change if we keep our priorities in proper order.” – S. Truett Cathy

Priorities Quotes That’ll Motivate You to Act

51. “It’s a matter of priorities. Do you want to win, or would you like to sleep? Do you want to win, or would you like to take a day off?” – David Boies

52. “Be aware of your priorities and live by them not rigidly, but mindfully.” – Janet G. Woititz

53. “If you just make every effort to do the right thing, you’ll come out okay. It comes down to priorities and making good decisions.” – Archie Manning

54. “Get organized. Set priorities. Invest your time to get results.” – Manzoor R. Massey

55. “In managing priorities, you can be reactive, adaptive, or proactive.” – Keith Abraham

More Priorities Quotes You Need to Read Today

56. “Wise are those who learn that the bottom line doesn’t always have to be their top priority.” – William Arthur Ward

57. “The things which are most important don’t always scream the loudest.” – Bob Hawke

58. “Learn how to separate the majors and the minors. A lot of people don’t do well simply because they major in minor things.” – Jim Rohn

59. “Instead of saying, ‘I don’t have time’ try saying ‘It’s not a priority,’ and see how that feels.” – Laura Vanderkam

60. “Focus on your priorities before your priorities lose focus on you.” – Sarah Leigh

Have You Set Your Priorities Straight?

The lines between your wants and needs can easily get blurred. Because of this, you might think you don’t have time for the essential things in life. However, simply setting your priorities straight will give you all the time you need in the world.

It can get overwhelming, but identifying the essential things is quite easy. Create a list that highlights your non-negotiables in life—your loved ones, hobbies, work, or whatever it might be. But, don’t stop there; never comprise your list and create an action plan on how you can fully dedicate your time to each and every one.

By being able to set your priorities straight, your purpose in life will be much clearer. At the same time, the road to success will be within reach.

Bookmark this list of priorities quotes to have a guide within reach whenever you feel overwhelmed with what’s going on around you. Take it one step at a time and always keep the most important things—and persons—close to you.

Did these priorities quotes help you identify what to focus on? Which quotes were most relevant to you? Please, comment below.

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Karen Danao

Hi, I’m Karen, a content curator and writer for Quote Ambition; I’m also a marketing and advertising professional. Beyond the keyboard and the screen, I’m someone who’s out to enjoy every bit that life has to offer!

Poetry, philosophy, history, and movies are all topics I love writing about! However, my true passion is in traveling, photography, and finding common ground to which everyone from different cultures can relate.

With the many places I’ve been to, I found that love, inspiration, and happiness are some things that bring people together. No matter how different we are on the outside, I’m a true believer that our emotions don’t lie; if you dig deep into our psyche, we’re all the same inside.

This belief was further amplified when I joined Quote Ambition. Through the quotes I’ve read, collected, organized, and written about, I found that humans are resilient, creative, and compassionate.

We take from each others’ hearts and courage, and it’s through our individual experiences that we learn how to rise above our challenges and pain. In so many ways, Quote Ambition is a platform that allows people from all over the world to gain the inspiration they need anytime, anywhere!

You can find me on MuckRack and LinkedIn.