By Maxime Lagacé
Maxime is the founder of WisdomQuotes. He has been collecting quotes since 2004. His goal? To help you develop a calm and peaceful mind. Learn more about him on his about page.
Quotes – Summary – Is Atomic Habits actually helpful?
Here are 73 of the best Atomic Habits quotes, plus a summary.
Why should you read this book by James Clear?
But most importantly, you’ll learn:
- How to create new habits effortlessly
- Why habits can make or break your life
- Why you should have systems instead of goals
I hope you’ll enjoy these quotes as much as I did.
Let’s get started!
Buy the book here: Audio – Hardcover – Paperback
The most practical way to change who you are is to change what you do. James Clear
Focusing on the overall system, rather than a single goal, is one of the core themes of this book. James Clear
Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. Getting 1 percent better every day counts for a lot in the long-run. James Clear
If you want to master a habit, the key is to start with repetition, not perfection. James Clear
This is the meaning of the phrase atomic habits — a regular practice or routine that is not only small and easy to do, but also the source of incredible power; a component of the system of compound growth. James Clear
Make your habits as easy as possible to start. Anyone can meditate for one minute, read one page, or put one item of clothing away. James Clear
The only way to make progress, the only choice I had, was to start small. James Clear
All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. James Clear
The process of behavior change always starts with awareness. You need to be aware of your habits before you change them. James Clear
Be the designer of your world and not merely the consumer of it. James Clear
The only way to become excellent is to be endlessly fascinated by doing the same thing over and over. You have to fall in love with boredom. James Clear
Sometimes success is less about making good habits easy and more about making bad habits hard. James Clear
The costs of your good habits are in the present. The costs of your bad habits are in the future. James Clear
Never miss twice. If you miss one day, try to get back on the tracks as quickly as possible. James Clear
You should be far more concerned with your current trajectory than with your current results. James Clear
The greatest threat to success is not failure but boredom. We get bored with habits because they stop delighting us. James Clear
Professionals stick to the schedule; amateurs let life get in the way. James Clear
The most effective way to change your habits is to focus not on what you want to achieve, but on who you wish to become. James Clear
No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity. James Clear
It’s better to do less than you hoped than to do nothing at all. James Clear
With a big enough why you can overcome any how. James Clear
A lack of self-awareness is poison. Reflection and review is the antidote. James Clear
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Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. James Clear
Redesign your life so the actions that matter most are also the actions that are easiest to do. James Clear
Decide the type of person you want to be. Prove it to yourself with small wins. James Clear
Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress. James Clear
If you want better results, then forget about setting goals. Focus on your system instead. James Clear
The problem with a goals-first mentality is that you’re continually putting happiness off until the next milestone. James Clear
Good habits can make rational sense, but if they conflict with your identity, you will fail to put them into action. James Clear
Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior. James Clear
Success is the product of daily habits — not once-in-a-lifetime transformations. James Clear
Ultimately, it is your commitment to the process that will determine your progress. James Clear
Really successful people feel the same lack of motivation as everyone else. The difference is that they still find a way to show up despite the feelings of boredom. James Clear
One of the most effective things you can do to build better habits is to join a culture where your desired behavior is the normal behavior. James Clear
One of the most practical ways to eliminate a bad habit is to reduce exposure to the cue that causes it. James Clear
The amount of time you have been performing a habit is not as important as the number of times you have performed it. James Clear
Repeating a habit leads to clear physical changes in the brain. James Clear
The process of building habits is actually the process of becoming yourself. James Clear
The road less traveled is the road of delayed gratification. James Clear
Good habits make time your ally. Bad habits make time your enemy. James Clear
The first mistake is never the one that ruins you. It’s the spiral of repeated mistakes that follows. James Clear
Each habit is like a suggestion, ‘Hey maybe this is who I am.’ James Clear
Quite literally, you become your habits. James Clear
Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate. Carl Jung
Your habits shape your identity, and your identity shapes your habits. James Clear
Motivation is overrated, environment often matters more. James Clear
When you fall in love with the process rather than the product, you don’t have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy. You can be satisfied anytime your system is running. James Clear
Your outcomes are a lagging measure of your habits. Your net worth is a lagging measure of your financial habits. Your weight is a lagging measure of your eating habits. […] You get what you repeat. James Clear
Instead of trying to engineer a perfect habit from the start, do the easy thing on a more consistent basis. You have to standardize before you can optimize. James Clear
One of the most satisfying feelings is the feeling of making progress. James Clear
The holy grail of habit change is not a single 1 percent improvement, but a thousand of them. It’s a bunch of atomic habits stacking up, each one a fundamental unit of the overall system. James Clear
You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. James Clear
The Four Laws of Behavior Change are a simple set or rules we can use to build better habits. They are (1) make it obvious, (2) make it attractive, (3) make it easy, and (4) make it satisfying.
The secret to getting results that last is to never stop making improvements. It’s remarkable what you can build if you just don’t stop. James Clear
Happiness is the absence of desire. Happiness is not about the achievement of pleasure, but about the lack of desire. It arrives when you have no urge to feel differently. It’s the state you enter when you no longer want to change your state. James Clear
Small changes in context can lead to large changes in behavior over time. James Clear
Rewards require sacrifice. Sacrifice always precedes the reward. You only get the runner’s high after the hard run. The reward only comes after the energy is spent. James Clear
Our expectations determine our satisfaction. If you expect $10 and get $100, you’ll feel great. If you expect $100 and get $10, you’ll feel disappointed. James Clear
A very small shift in direction can lead to a very meaningful change in destination. James Clear
The work that hurts you less than it hurts others is the work you were made to do. James Clear
Maximum motivation occurs when facing a challenge of just manageable difficulty. James Clear
Building habits in the present allows you to do more of what you want in the future. James Clear
Success is not a goal to reach or a finish line to cross. It is a system to improve, an endless process to refine. James Clear
Habits are like the atoms of our lives. Each one is a fundamental unit that contributes to your overall improvement. James Clear
Your culture sets your expectation for what is “normal.” Surround yourself with people who have the habits you want to have yourself. James Clear
Small habits don’t add up. They compound. James Clear
Breakthrough moments are often the result of many previous actions, which build up the potential required to unleash a major change. James Clear
Becoming the best version of yourself requires you to continuously edit your beliefs, and to upgrade and expand your identity. James Clear
Incentives can start a habit. Identity sustains a habit. James Clear
The human brain evolved to prioritize immediate rewards over delayed rewards. James Clear
Create an environment where doing the right thing is as easy as possible. James Clear
A genius is not born, but is educated and trained. James Clear
Conclusion: Atomic Habits Quotes
Change can take years before it happens all at once. James Clear
Summary – What Does Atomic Habits Say?
- You’re a habit machine.
- The quality of your habits is the quality of your life.
- Goals are great. But systems are better.
- Consistency is better than intensity. Have the mindset of “putting in the rep”.
- Willpower is important. But tweaking your environment is smarter.
- Building a habit is not about time. It’s about repetition.
- To make a habit stick, make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying.
- To break bad habits, do the opposite of the previous tip.
- Making daily improvements is what ultimately brings success.
Is Atomic Habits Actually Helpful?
Atomic Habits is truly helpful.
It teaches you two of the most important skills in life:
- creating new and good habits
- breaking bad habits
Another good thing about this book is that it’s easy to understand and apply.
You don’t need a master’s degree.
You simply need to read, take notes, and apply.
Hope you’ll like it as much as I did.
Buy the book here: Audio – Hardcover – Paperback
Further Readings
- Topic: Education and Learning
- More self-help books about life and happiness:
- 73 The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Quotes by Mark Manson
- 12 Rules For Life Quotes And Summary (Book by Jordan Peterson)
- 73 Man’s Search For Meaning Quotes, Summary (Viktor Frankl)
- 81 The Alchemist Quotes And Summary (Book by Paulo Coelho)
- 95+ Stillness Is The Key Quotes (+Summary) by Ryan Holiday
- 75+ The Power Of Now Quotes by Eckhart Tolle (+Summary)
- 100 Education Quotes That Will Inspire You To Keep Growing
- 65 Growth Mindset Quotes (To Improve Your Life)
- James Clear’s website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
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I hope you liked these Atomic Habits quotes by James Clear. If you did, please share them with a friend today who could benefit from having better habits!
Do you have bad habits? What’s your favorite Atomic Habits quote? And remember: words can transform your life, if you find the right ones.
