--- title: "9 Internals Quotes By Stephen Covey" description: "9 Internals quotes by Stephen Covey. Plus more from Stephen Covey and more Internals sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/stephen-covey-339_inspirational_internal-victories-precede-external-vict_1961127.png" --- > [Internal victories precede external victories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/internal-victories-precede-external-victories/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/stephen-covey-339_inspirational_internal-victories-precede-external-vict_1961127.png) > [Be governed by your internal compass, not by some clock on the wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-governed-by-your-internal-compass-not-by-some-clock-on-the-wall/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/stephen-covey-339_clock_be-governed-by-your-internal-compass-not_3195311.png) > [We exhaust ourselves more from the tension and the consequences of internal disharmony than from hard, unremitting work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-exhaust-ourselves-more-from-the-tension-and-the-consequences-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/stephen-covey-339_consequence_we-exhaust-ourselves-more-from-the-tensi_482079.png) > [An abundance mentality springs from internal security, not from external rankings, comparisons, opinions, possessions, or associations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/an-abundance-mentality-springs-from-internal-security-not-from/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/stephen-covey-339_abundance_an-abundance-mentality-springs-from-inte_3058588.png) > [Before a performance, a sales presentation, a difficult confrontation, or the daily challenge of meeting a goal, see it clearly, vividly, relentlessly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/before-a-performance-a-sales-presentation-a-difficult-confrontation/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/stephen-covey-339_challenges_before-a-performance-a-sales-presentatio_1892608.png) > [If you can hire people whose passion intersects with the job, they won't require any supervision at all. They will manage themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-can-hire-people-whose-passion-intersects-with-the-job-they-won/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/stephen-covey-339_fire_if-you-can-hire-people-whose-passion-int_684123.png) > [Principles are natural laws that are external to us and that ultimately control the consequences of our actions. Values are internal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/principles-are-natural-laws-that-are-external-to-us-and-that/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/stephen-covey-339_action_principles-are-natural-laws-that-are-ext_2944221.png) > [The creative process is also the most terrifying part because you don't know exactly what's going to happen or where it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-creative-process-is-also-the-most-terrifying-part-because-you-don/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/stephen-covey-339_adventure_the-creative-process-is-also-the-most-te_2921241.jpg) > [Character grows in the soil of experience with the fertilization of example, the moisture of ambition, and the sunshine of satisfaction. Character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/character-grows-in-the-soil-of-experience-with-the-fertilization-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/stephen-covey-339_academic_character-grows-in-the-soil-of-experienc_2477194.jpg) ## Other authors on Internals ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internals/stephen-covey/#itemlist", "name": "9 Internals Quotes By Stephen Covey", "numberOfItems": 9, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Internal victories precede external victories.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/internal-victories-precede-external-victories/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/stephen-covey-339_inspirational_internal-victories-precede-external-vict_1961127.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/stephen-covey-339_inspirational_internal-victories-precede-external-vict_1961127.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/stephen-covey-339_inspirational_internal-victories-precede-external-vict_1961127.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Internal victories precede external victories.” — Stephen Covey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be governed by your internal compass, not by some clock on the wall.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-governed-by-your-internal-compass-not-by-some-clock-on-the-wall/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/stephen-covey-339_clock_be-governed-by-your-internal-compass-not_3195311.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/stephen-covey-339_clock_be-governed-by-your-internal-compass-not_3195311.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/stephen-covey-339_clock_be-governed-by-your-internal-compass-not_3195311.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be governed by your internal compass, not by some clock on the wall.” — Stephen Covey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We exhaust ourselves more from the tension and the consequences of internal disharmony than from hard, unremitting work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-exhaust-ourselves-more-from-the-tension-and-the-consequences-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/stephen-covey-339_consequence_we-exhaust-ourselves-more-from-the-tensi_482079.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/stephen-covey-339_consequence_we-exhaust-ourselves-more-from-the-tensi_482079.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/stephen-covey-339_consequence_we-exhaust-ourselves-more-from-the-tensi_482079.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We exhaust ourselves more from the tension and the consequences of internal disharmony than from hard…” — Stephen Covey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An abundance mentality springs from internal security, not from external rankings, comparisons, opinions, possessions, or associations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/an-abundance-mentality-springs-from-internal-security-not-from/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/stephen-covey-339_abundance_an-abundance-mentality-springs-from-inte_3058588.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/stephen-covey-339_abundance_an-abundance-mentality-springs-from-inte_3058588.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/stephen-covey-339_abundance_an-abundance-mentality-springs-from-inte_3058588.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An abundance mentality springs from internal security, not from external rankings, comparisons, opinions…” — Stephen Covey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before a performance, a sales presentation, a difficult confrontation, or the daily challenge of meeting a goal, see it clearly, vividly, relentlessly, over and over again. 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You don't know what new dangers and challenges you'll find. It takes an enormous amount of internal security to begin with the spirit of adventure, discovery, and creativity. 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Character cannot be purchased, bargained for, inherited, rented or imported from afar. It must be home-grown. Purely intellectual development without commensurate internal character development makes as much sense as putting a high-powered sports car in the hands of a teenager who is high on drugs. 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