There is no real excellence in all this world which can be separated from right living.
-- David Starr Jordan (Part 1 paragraph Page 23)

Importance: This epigram captures one of the tenets of the author’s theories about the habits of effective people.

The term paradigm shift was introduced by Thomas Kuhn in his highly influential landmark book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Kuhn shows how almost every significant breakthrough in the field of scientific endeavor is first a break with tradition, with old ways of thinking, with old paradigms.
-- Author (Part 1 paragraph Page 37)

Importance: Covey references Thomas Kuhn who coined the phrase, “paradigm shift,” which is an important and continuing element of Covey’s work.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
-- Aristotle (Part 1 paragraph Page 54)

Importance: Aristotle sets the stage for the premise of “The 7 Habits of Effective People.” The ancient philosopher saw the importance of the concept long ago.

Knowledge is the theoretical paradigm, the what to do...
-- Author (Part 1 paragraph Page 55)