--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Example is not the main thing in…" description: "\"Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.\" — Albert Schweitzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/albert-schweitzer-701_example_example-is-not-the-main-thing-in-influen_1449358.jpg" --- # Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is… ![“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” quote by Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/albert-schweitzer-701_example_example-is-not-the-main-thing-in-influen_1449358.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/albert-schweitzer-701_example_example-is-not-the-main-thing-in-influen_1449358.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/albert-schweitzer-701_example_example-is-not-the-main-thing-in-influen_1449358.jpg) > “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Demonstrating behavior is more powerful than advice; actions shape others more than words. **In simple terms:** Actions influence others more than words. Key Takeaway Lead by example to inspire change. Themes leadership influence example behavior Mood inspirational educational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - parenting - management - mentoring - community service Key Concepts ethics social learning role modeling Questions to Reflect On - How can you model desired behavior? - What examples have impacted you? A Different Perspective Examples can be misinterpreted without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ## Related quotes > [One of the surest ways of making a friend and influencing the opinion of another is to give consideration to his opinion, to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/one-of-the-surest-ways-of-making-a-friend-and-influencing-the-opinion/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [What I look forward to the most is influencing an individual to go out into the world and make the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/what-i-look-forward-to-the-most-is-influencing-an-individual-to-go/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) > [Leadership is the art of controlling while politics is the art of influencing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lameck-k-kosgei/leadership-is-the-art-of-controlling-while-politics-is-the-art-of/) Lameck K Kosgei > [For me, words are a form of action, capable of influencing change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/for-me-words-are-a-form-of-action-capable-of-influencing-change/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/setting-an-example-is-not-the-main-means-of-influencing-another-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How am I influencing so many people on this stage rather than influencing the ones that I have back home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/how-am-i-influencing-so-many-people-on-this-stage-rather-than/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [Know the difference between impressing people and influencing them. Impressing them changes what they think. Influencing them changes what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/know-the-difference-between-impressing-people-and-influencing-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Influencing people is dangerous. Their acts and thoughts become your illegitimate children. You can't get away from them and Heaven knows what they mayn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bibesco/influencing-people-is-dangerous-their-acts-and-thoughts-become-your/) [Elizabeth Bibesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bibesco/) > [To be effective at selling ideas, at being a lobbyist, influencing other people, you have to be very sure of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/to-be-effective-at-selling-ideas-at-being-a-lobbyist-influencing/) [Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/) > [This is more in regards to celebrities. 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It is about credible capabilities. It is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-robert-kehler/deterrence-is-still-fundamentally-about-influencing-an-actor-s/) C. Robert Kehler > [God's Word must be so strongly fixed in our minds that it becomes the dominant influence in our thoughts, our attitudes, and our actions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/god-s-word-must-be-so-strongly-fixed-in-our-minds-that-it-becomes-the/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Words are a form of action, capable of influencing change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/words-are-a-form-of-action-capable-of-influencing-change/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) ## More by Albert Schweitzer > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Because I have confidence in the power of truth, and of the spirit, I have confidence in the future of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/because-i-have-confidence-in-the-power-of-truth-and-of-the-spirit-i/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Sincerity is the foundation of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/sincerity-is-the-foundation-of-the-spiritual-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I am life that wants to live, in the midst of life that wants to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-am-life-that-wants-to-live-in-the-midst-of-life-that-wants-to-live/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“ Bauer 's 'Criticism of the Gospel History' is worth a good dozen Lives of Jesus, because his work, as we are only now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/bauer-s-criticism-of-the-gospel-history-is-worth-a-good-dozen-lives/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility to everything that has life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-in-its-unqualified-form-extended-responsibility-to/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The only way out of today's misery is for people to become worthy of each other's trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-only-way-out-of-today-s-misery-is-for-people-to-become-worthy-of/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. 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The world will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-still-remain-convinced-that-truth-love-peaceableness-meekness-and/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Whatever you have received more than others-in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/whatever-you-have-received-more-than-others-in-health-in-talents-in/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Every start on an untrodden path is a venture which only in unusual circumstances looks sensible and likely to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-start-on-an-untrodden-path-is-a-venture-which-only-in-unusual/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) [Explore all 400 Albert Schweitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More Example quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. 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The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Popular culture as a whole is popular, but in today's fragmented market it's a jostle of competing unpopular popular cultures. As the critic Stanley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/popular-culture-as-a-whole-is-popular-but-in-today-s-fragmented/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [You can have examples of reasons to hate people, but if you analyze those reasons it's like, Oh, I'm hating that person based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlyne-yi/you-can-have-examples-of-reasons-to-hate-people-but-if-you-analyze/) [Charlyne Yi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlyne-yi/) > [The protestant world is in great need of examples (like these) that will beckon us to the fullness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bickle/the-protestant-world-is-in-great-need-of-examples-like-these-that/) [Mike Bickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bickle/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I'm not the most vocal guy, but I try to lead by example every single day with how I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/i-m-not-the-most-vocal-guy-but-i-try-to-lead-by-example-every-single/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) > [But actually theory is very practical. Gravity is a theory, for example. It allows you to predict that if you step off a cliff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/but-actually-theory-is-very-practical-gravity-is-a-theory-for-example/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [I had the best example set by my parents for what a couple can - and, in my opinion, should - be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-young/i-had-the-best-example-set-by-my-parents-for-what-a-couple-can-and-in/) [Brett Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-young/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. 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