--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important exam you will ever…" description: "\"The most important exam you will ever have to pass in life is choosing values that will stand the test of time.\" — Ash Sweeney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/ash-sweeney-731_choices_the-most-important-exam-you-will-ever-ha_2444482.jpg" --- # The most important exam you will ever have to pass in life… ![“The most important exam you will ever have to pass in life is choosing values that will stand the test of time.” quote by Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/ash-sweeney-731_choices_the-most-important-exam-you-will-ever-ha_2444482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/ash-sweeney-731_choices_the-most-important-exam-you-will-ever-ha_2444482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/ash-sweeney-731_choices_the-most-important-exam-you-will-ever-ha_2444482.jpg) > “The most important exam you will ever have to pass in life is choosing values that will stand the test of time.” [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing enduring values is the greatest life test; they must withstand time. **In simple terms:** Pick timeless values. Key Takeaway Identify and live by lasting principles. Themes values integrity longevity Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - personal relationships - leadership Key Concepts ethics character decision-making Questions to Reflect On - Which values guide you? - How do you test a value's durability? A Different Perspective Values may conflict with societal pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-lesson/) [Test of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test-of-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [It's absolutely crucial for the Democrats to have a sense of their history, of who they are, in order to be able to project…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-blumenthal/it-s-absolutely-crucial-for-the-democrats-to-have-a-sense-of-their/) [Sidney Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-blumenthal/) > [Forgiveness doesn't mean being a wimp. It doesn't mean being weak. It doesn't mean having no principles and no values. Sometimes we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/forgiveness-doesn-t-mean-being-a-wimp-it-doesn-t-mean-being-weak-it/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [That is the difference we make in the world. And our own safety - our own security - depends upon our willingness to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-the-difference-we-make-in-the-world-and-our-own-safety-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I'm truly convinced that by living up to the values we stand for, we can serve as a moral inspiration for others, just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-truly-convinced-that-by-living-up-to-the-values-we-stand-for-we/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [“I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated & helping those in need. To me, those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-stand-for-honesty-equality-kindness-compassion-treating-people-the-2/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [Family values stand up to injustice and power outside the household.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/family-values-stand-up-to-injustice-and-power-outside-the-household/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Lieutenant al-Kaseasbeh's dedication, courage and service to his country and family represent universal human values that stand in opposition to the cowardice and depravity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/lieutenant-al-kaseasbeh-s-dedication-courage-and-service-to-his/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Here are the values that I stand for: honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated and helping those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/here-are-the-values-that-i-stand-for-honesty-equality-kindness/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [To fight evil one must also recognize one's own responsibility. The values for which we stand must be expressed in the way we think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrix-of-the-netherlands/to-fight-evil-one-must-also-recognize-one-s-own-responsibility-the/) Beatrix of the Netherlands > [“Trust is a fragile commodity. Know your code of conduct and the values you stand for. Remember: if you wouldn’t want to explain it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/trust-is-a-fragile-commodity-know-your-code-of-conduct-and-the-values/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [America's values call us to stand by a peaceful democracy fighting for its life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/america-s-values-call-us-to-stand-by-a-peaceful-democracy-fighting/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Who you are, what your values are, what you stand forthey are your anchor, your north star. You won't find them in a book.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-m-mulcahy/who-you-are-what-your-values-are-what-you-stand-forthey-are-your/) [Anne M. Mulcahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-m-mulcahy/) > [I want to be clear and here are the values that I stand for. I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-want-to-be-clear-and-here-are-the-values-that-i-stand-for-i-stand/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [I believe very strongly that in this world you have to have values and you have to stand up for your interests and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-believe-very-strongly-that-in-this-world-you-have-to-have-values/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [I think, all in all, the Obama administration and what President Obama has focused on has lived up to our need to protect American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-think-all-in-all-the-obama-administration-and-what-president-obama/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) ## More by Ash Sweeney > [You can close the windows and darken your room, and you can open the windows and let light in. It is a matter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/you-can-close-the-windows-and-darken-your-room-and-you-can-open-the/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Tomorrow can be better or worse but will never be same as today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/tomorrow-can-be-better-or-worse-but-will-never-be-same-as-today/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [What is it with people nowadays, you claim you want something real' when it's staring at your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/what-is-it-with-people-nowadays-you-claim-you-want-something-real/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [The real reason you struggling with letting go is because you keep holding on to what they use to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-letting-go-is-because-you-keep/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [It's one of those things that people say, you can't move on until you let go of the past. Letting go is the easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/it-s-one-of-those-things-that-people-say-you-can-t-move-on-until-you/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Half of being happy is being happy with what you've got, the other half is being happy no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/half-of-being-happy-is-being-happy-with-what-you-ve-got-the-other/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [I like these words -- they seem to suggest action: If you hear a kind word spoken Of some worthy soul you know, It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/i-like-these-words-they-seem-to-suggest-action-if-you-hear-a-kind/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Everyday I wake up, knowing that the thought of you will carry me through the morning. As I reach the middle of my day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/everyday-i-wake-up-knowing-that-the-thought-of-you-will-carry-me/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Facebook isn't a waste of time, it's important, it um, let's me, um, yeah OK it's a waste of time but you do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/facebook-isn-t-a-waste-of-time-it-s-important-it-um-let-s-me-um-yeah/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [The blind leading the blind are those which think they can see into the heart of another. But are blinded by love and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-blind-leading-the-blind-are-those-which-think-they-can-see-into/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [When you feel like quitting, think about why you started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/when-you-feel-like-quitting-think-about-why-you-started/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/some-people-come-into-our-lives-and-quickly-go-some-people-move-our/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [If we spend a lifetime searching for the meaning of life, we will truly miss out on everything meaningful and beautiful around us. Live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/if-we-spend-a-lifetime-searching-for-the-meaning-of-life-we-will/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Even though we are separated by distance at this time, I am content knowing we are both looking at the same beautiful moon tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/even-though-we-are-separated-by-distance-at-this-time-i-am-content/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Sometimes people only give you one chance. You mess up once , and you're done. Please treat the person you admire the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/sometimes-people-only-give-you-one-chance-you-mess-up-once-and-you-re/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) [Explore all 389 Ash Sweeney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [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/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most important exam you will ever have to pass in life is choosing values that will stand the test of time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ash Sweeney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-most-important-exam-you-will-ever-have-to-pass-in-life-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-most-important-exam-you-will-ever-have-to-pass-in-life-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/ash-sweeney-731_choices_the-most-important-exam-you-will-ever-ha_2444482.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/ash-sweeney-731_choices_the-most-important-exam-you-will-ever-ha_2444482.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/ash-sweeney-731_choices_the-most-important-exam-you-will-ever-ha_2444482.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most important exam you will ever have to pass in life is choosing values that will stand the test of…” — Ash Sweeney", "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": "Ash Sweeney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most important exam you will...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-most-important-exam-you-will-ever-have-to-pass-in-life-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-most-important-exam-you-will-ever-have-to-pass-in-life-is/#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 } } ] } ```