--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ability can get you to the top. It takes…" description: "\"“Ability can get you to the top. It takes character to maintain”\" — Adam McCauley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/adam-mccauley-216278_ability_ability-can-get-you-to-the-top-it-takes_348178.jpg" --- # Ability can get you to the top. It takes character to… ![“Ability can get you to the top. It takes character to maintain” quote by Adam McCauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/adam-mccauley-216278_ability_ability-can-get-you-to-the-top-it-takes_348178.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/adam-mccauley-216278_ability_ability-can-get-you-to-the-top-it-takes_348178.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/adam-mccauley-216278_ability_ability-can-get-you-to-the-top-it-takes_348178.jpg) > ““Ability can get you to the top. It takes character to maintain”” Adam McCauley ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skill can bring initial success; lasting achievement requires strong character. **In simple terms:** Ability gets you up, character keeps you there. Key Takeaway Cultivate character alongside ability. Themes ability character success leadership growth Mood inspirational pragmatic Type Ability:1 Character:1 Takes Character:0 Character Maintain:0 Ability Takes:0 When to use this quote - career advancement - team leadership - personal ambition Key Concepts personal development integrity resilience Questions to Reflect On - What character traits sustain success? - How do you develop character? A Different Perspective Character alone may not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ## Related quotes > [“Ability may take you to the top but it takes character to keep you there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/ability-may-take-you-to-the-top-but-it-takes-character-to-keep-you/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [Ability can take you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.. :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ability-can-take-you-to-the-top-but-it-takes-character-to-keep-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ability-may-get-you-to-the-top-but-it-takes-character-to-keep-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to be true to the character and maintain some consistency and give the audience what they love while at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-want-to-be-true-to-the-character-and-maintain-some-consistency-and/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [Everybody has talent, but ability takes hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/everybody-has-talent-but-ability-takes-hard-work/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [“All great events hang by a hair. The man of ability takes advantage of everything and neglects nothing that can give him a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/all-great-events-hang-by-a-hair-the-man-of-ability-takes-advantage-of/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The most important thing for any athlete is to know his ability. If you know your ability and have even a little bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-sehwag/the-most-important-thing-for-any-athlete-is-to-know-his-ability-if/) [Virender Sehwag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-sehwag/) > [I am not of the vein of actors - and I will not pretend to be one - that takes my character home with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-am-not-of-the-vein-of-actors-and-i-will-not-pretend-to-be-one-that/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [“It takes two people to build a relationship. It takes character and competence to make it strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/it-takes-two-people-to-build-a-relationship-it-takes-character-and/) Anyaele Sam Chiyson > [“Being violent is easy, too easy.” He brushed it off. “Holding back, being gentle, restraining your strength when it’s not needed, that takes—” “Character,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-w-hill/being-violent-is-easy-too-easy-he-brushed-it-off-holding-back-being/) [Joey W. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-w-hill/) > [Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/winning-takes-talent-to-repeat-takes-character/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Slater's a big star and he's been in the business a long time. He's always in a good mood and easygoing but he takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwe-boll/slater-s-a-big-star-and-he-s-been-in-the-business-a-long-time-he-s/) [Uwe Boll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwe-boll/) > [It takes character to withstand the rigours of indolence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-takes-character-to-withstand-the-rigours-of-indolence/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I personally prefer being a blonde, but whatever it takes for the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peta-wilson/i-personally-prefer-being-a-blonde-but-whatever-it-takes-for-the/) [Peta Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peta-wilson/) > [Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/any-fool-can-criticize-condemn-and-complain-but-it-takes-character/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Ability can get you to the top. It takes character to maintain”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam McCauley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mccauley/ability-can-get-you-to-the-top-it-takes-character-to-maintain/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mccauley/ability-can-get-you-to-the-top-it-takes-character-to-maintain/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/adam-mccauley-216278_ability_ability-can-get-you-to-the-top-it-takes_348178.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/adam-mccauley-216278_ability_ability-can-get-you-to-the-top-it-takes_348178.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/adam-mccauley-216278_ability_ability-can-get-you-to-the-top-it-takes_348178.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ability can get you to the top. It takes character to maintain” — Adam McCauley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam McCauley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mccauley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Ability can get you to the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mccauley/ability-can-get-you-to-the-top-it-takes-character-to-maintain/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mccauley/ability-can-get-you-to-the-top-it-takes-character-to-maintain/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```