35 Note-Worthy Atomic Habits Quotes With Page Numbers

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35 Note-Worthy Atomic Habits Quotes By James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear has not only been a popular book for making and breaking habits but is also well-known for its motivating and thought-provoking quotes. 

If you haven’t heard already, Atomic Habits is a self-help book that teaches you how to form good habits and get rid of bad habits by following four laws of behaviour change. 

atomic habits quotes

The four laws to form a positive habit are – make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy and make it satisfying. 

This is based on four aspects that correlates with the law of behaviour change – cue, craving, response and reward. 

In my opinion, this book is a great self-help book for anyone who rarely reads the genre. It is simple to understand and has definitely helped me to take small actions to build better habits.

These best lines from Atomic Habits will stick with me forever, and I hope they’ll help you too!

More On Atomic Habits: 11 Books Like Atomic Habits by James Clear and if you’re running a book club, Atomic Habits Book Club Questions

Best Atomic Habits Quotes

There are many insightful quotes written by James Clear about habits, goals and motivation. Here are some of my favourite quotes in Atomic Habits.

Improving by 1% isn’t particularly notable, sometimes it isn’t even noticeable – but it can be far more meaningful, especially in the long run.

James Clear

Atomic habits quotes on 1% improvement in any aspect of life have been life changing for many. The idea is to get 1% better everyday at something you’re working on and eventually it accumulates to make you way better at it in the long run. 

Taking small steps each day instead of having this “all-or-nothing” mindset can help you become better at something. 

On the contrary, if you become 1% worse at something everyday, the immediate effects are not noticeable but in the long-run you might be heavily impacted by it.

Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.

James Clear (Page 16)

Habits are a double-edged sword. Bad habits can cut you down just as easily as good habits can build you up.

James Clear (Page 18)

Goals are about the results you want to achieve. Systems are about the processes that lead to those results.

James Clear (Page 23)

The purpose of setting goals is to win the game. The purpose of building systems is to continue playing the game.

James Clear (This is the very famous Atomic Habits systems quote) (Page 27)
atomic habits quotes

It is your commitment to the process that will determine your progress.

James Clear (Page 27)
atomic habits quotes

Behind every system of actions, are a system of beliefs.

James Clear (Page 32)

As a psychology student, I can verify that this is correct. Most of the time we forget that our thoughts and actions are influenced by our believes. 

A lot of time therapists may dig deeper into your believe system before helping you form a solution to the problem. This is because sometimes the belief system is the problem itself.

Every action you take is a vote on the type of person you wish to become.

James Clear (Page 38)
atomic habits quotes

Habits are mental shortcuts learned from experience.

James Clear

You don’t have to be the victim of your environment. You can also be the architect of it.

James Clear (Page 84)

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

You do not rise to the level of your goals.  You fall to the level of your systems.

James Clear (Page 27)

Be the designer of your world and not merely the consumer of it.

James Clear (Page 87)

When preparation becomes a form of procrastination, you need to change something.

James Clear

This is definitely something I catch myself doing and I know a lot of people probably to the same. We are so caught up with planning and organising that it actually distracts us from taking action.

If you want to master a habit, the key is to start with repetition, not perfection.

James Clear
atomic habits quotes

Your habits are modern-day solutions to ancient desires.

James Clear (Page 128)

Sometimes success is less about making good habits easy and more about making bad habits hard.

James Clear (Page 169)

Decide the type of person you want to be. Prove it to yourself with small wins.

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

The costs of your good habits are in the present. The costs of your bad habits are in the future.

James Clear (Page 189)

This quote really spoke to me. It made me realize that I need to start putting myself in social circles where people are taking actions that I would want to adopt. 

Associate myself among readers, writers and content creators because their behaviour is my desired behaviour.

Once your pride gets involved, you’ll fight tooth and nail to maintain your habits.

James Clear (Page 33)

Success is the product of daily habits – not once-in-a-lifetime transformations.

James Clear (Page 17)

The road less traveled is the road of delayed gratification.

James Clear (Page 190)
atomic habits quotes

But just because you can measure something doesn’t mean it’s the most important thing. And just because you cannot measure something doesn’t mean it’s not important at all.

James Clear

When you can’t win by being better, you can win by being different.

James Clear (Page 225)
atomic habits quotes

The greatest threat to success is not failure but boredom.

James Clear (Page 234)

With outcome-based habits, the focus is on what you want to achieve. With identity-based habits, the focus is on who you wish to become.

James Clear

You do it because it’s who you are and it feels good to be you. The more a habit becomes part of your life, the less you need outside encouragement to follow through. Incentives can start a habit. Identity sustains a habit.

James Clear

Never miss twice.

James Clear

A lack of self-awareness is poison. Reflection and review is the antidote.

James Clear

“n order to improve for good, you need to solve problems at the systems level. Fix the inputs and the outputs will fix themselves.

James Clear (Page 25)

It’s hard to change your habits if you never change the underlying beliefs that led to your past behavior. You have a new goal and a new plan, but you haven’t changed who you are.

James Clear (Page 33)

“The work that hurts you less than it hurts others is the work you were made to do.”

James Clear (Page 224)

“People get so caught up in the fact that they have limits that they rarely exert the effort required to get close to them.”

James Clear (Page 227)

Wrap Up: Best Quotes from Atomic Habits Quotes With Page Numbers

These James Cleat quotes from the Atomic Habits has definitely made me re-think whatever I know about Habits. 

As a psychology student, I could easily grasp the 4 laws as some of them are based on actual psychology theory we learn in classes. 

However, with real life examples and further details provided by the author, I think I have a better understanding on how to implement these learnings into my daily life. 

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to start taking control of their lives and not be the victim of the habits. If you’ve already read this book, check out these books similar to Atomic Habits.

One of my favourite Youtubers, Ali Abdaal recommends Atomic Habits and many other great non-fiction books that’ll be worth your time reading.

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