---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What matters is being a particular kind…"
description: "\"What matters is being a particular kind of person. At the most basic level, it matters that you are the kind of person who resolves problems with force..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/brendan-myers-21425_arms_what-matters-is-being-a-particular-kind_2634223.jpg"
---

#  What matters is being a particular kind of person. At the…

![“What matters is being a particular kind of person. At the most basic level, it matters that you are the kind of person who resolves problems with force of thought and feeling instead of with the force of arms.” quote by Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/brendan-myers-21425_arms_what-matters-is-being-a-particular-kind_2634223.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/brendan-myers-21425_arms_what-matters-is-being-a-particular-kind_2634223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/brendan-myers-21425_arms_what-matters-is-being-a-particular-kind_2634223.jpg)

> “What matters is being a particular kind of person. At the most basic level, it matters that you are the kind of person who resolves problems with force of thought and feeling instead of with the force of arms.”

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True character is defined by solving problems with intellect and empathy rather than violence.

**In simple terms:** Thoughtful problem‑solving over force.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate thoughtful conflict resolution.

Themes

ethics conflict resolution intellect

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- leadership
- mediation
- education

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you practice empathy in conflict?
- What intellectual tools help you resolve disputes?

A Different Perspective

Changing deep‑seated violent habits is difficult.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm very particular about the kind of music that I record and sing, and it would be the same way about the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-aldean/i-m-very-particular-about-the-kind-of-music-that-i-record-and-sing/)

[Jason Aldean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-aldean/)

> [There is a particular kind of pain which gives us pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnibin-banerjee/there-is-a-particular-kind-of-pain-which-gives-us-pleasure/)

Agnibin Banerjee

> [“It doesn’t matter who you are. The only thing that matters is how kind you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/it-doesn-t-matter-who-you-are-the-only-thing-that-matters-is-how-kind/)

[Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/)

> [The only courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one minute to the next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-only-courage-that-matters-is-the-kind-that-gets-you-from-one-2/)

[Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/)

> [“It's not so much what we do that matters, but what kind of person we choose to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/it-s-not-so-much-what-we-do-that-matters-but-what-kind-of-person-we/)

[Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/)

> [The only courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one moment to the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-only-courage-that-matters-is-the-kind-that-gets-you-from-one/)

[Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/)

> [We hope that the elected officials will respond positively to a ground swell of letters, phone calls, e-mails and visits from parents. The law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-hope-that-the-elected-officials-will-respond-positively-to-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [With post offices and postal workers already on the ground, USPS could partner with banks to make a critical difference for millions of Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/with-post-offices-and-postal-workers-already-on-the-ground-usps-could/)

[Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/)

> [During three decades from 1947 to 1977, the nation implemented what might be called a basic bargain with American workers. Employers paid them enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/during-three-decades-from-1947-to-1977-the-nation-implemented-what/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [Conservatism is about the basic rights of individuals. God created us. As far as the government goes, the Founding Fathers based the Constitution off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/conservatism-is-about-the-basic-rights-of-individuals-god-created-us/)

[Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/)

> [I firmly believe that if members of Congress fail to perform their most basic duty in passing a budget, then they do not deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-schrader/i-firmly-believe-that-if-members-of-congress-fail-to-perform-their/)

[Kurt Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-schrader/)

> [Once I get out onstage, it's the same sort of basic production that it is anywhere else. But I might be a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-snow/once-i-get-out-onstage-it-s-the-same-sort-of-basic-production-that-it/)

[Phoebe Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-snow/)

> [I'm not very interested in people. I recognize it in myself - there is a basic indifference toward people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-m-not-very-interested-in-people-i-recognize-it-in-myself-there-is-a/)

[Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/)

> [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/)

[Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/)

> [It turns out that this part of the brain is one of the first areas that's attacked by Alzheimer's disease. So we can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-keefe/it-turns-out-that-this-part-of-the-brain-is-one-of-the-first-areas/)

[John O'Keefe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-keefe/)

## More by Brendan Myers

> [We immerse ourselves in escapist mass entertainment, such as 'reality T.V.' programs. We support fanatical politicians and preachers. Our politicians, in turn, support dictators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/we-immerse-ourselves-in-escapist-mass-entertainment-such-as-reality-t/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [Homer, Hesiod, Pythagoras, Plato, and Cicero, just to name a few, all lived in pagan societies. Some of the greatest political and military leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/homer-hesiod-pythagoras-plato-and-cicero-just-to-name-a-few-all-lived/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [The gods, if they exist, are just the people who happen to live on the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/the-gods-if-they-exist-are-just-the-people-who-happen-to-live-on-the/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [For those who struggle with anti-pagan prejudices and stereotypes, Humanist Paganism might be a powerful educational tool. It can show that a pagan can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/for-those-who-struggle-with-anti-pagan-prejudices-and-stereotypes/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [“If one believes that God is up there in heaven, separate from the world, and is preparing a reward for you in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/if-one-believes-that-god-is-up-there-in-heaven-separate-from-the/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [I've invented several games for use as teaching tools in my classroom: one of them, a game called 'Iron Age: Council of the Clans,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/i-ve-invented-several-games-for-use-as-teaching-tools-in-my-classroom/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [The philosophical spirit is not satisfied to simply accept what it is told, no matter how much prestige the teller seems to have. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/the-philosophical-spirit-is-not-satisfied-to-simply-accept-what-it-is/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [It's clear to me that anyone, anywhere, can experience loneliness, isolation, solitude, and estrangement; and most people probably do encounter these things at some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/it-s-clear-to-me-that-anyone-anywhere-can-experience-loneliness/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [People in minority religious communities, like Paganism, often feel isolated and even marginalized by others because of the lifestyle differences associated with their spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/people-in-minority-religious-communities-like-paganism-often-feel/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [There is nothing natural, inevitable, or necessary about the labyrinth of fear. We can liberate ourselves. There are better ways to live. Someone has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/there-is-nothing-natural-inevitable-or-necessary-about-the-labyrinth/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [If loneliness is part of our essence, that is, our essential nature, that is only because of the way, in practical terms, we actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/if-loneliness-is-part-of-our-essence-that-is-our-essential-nature/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [The point of a philosophical spirit is to rely primarily upon one's own thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/the-point-of-a-philosophical-spirit-is-to-rely-primarily-upon-one-s/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [The birthplace of 'Western' civilization is generally agreed to be Greece, and its birth date is generally agreed to be some time during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/the-birthplace-of-western-civilization-is-generally-agreed-to-be/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [I do not bow. I do not obey. I do not 'worship.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/i-do-not-bow-i-do-not-obey-i-do-not-worship/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

> [My first Kickstarter project created a book called 'Clear and Present Thinking', a college-level textbook on logic and critical reasoning, which was made available…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/my-first-kickstarter-project-created-a-book-called-clear-and-present/)

[Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

[Explore all 29 Brendan Myers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/)

## More Arms quotes

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

Brian Reade

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/)

[Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/)

> [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/)

[Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/)

> [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/)

[Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/)

> [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/)

[Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/)

> [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/)

[Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/)

Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What matters is being a particular kind of person. At the most basic level, it matters that you are the kind of person who resolves problems with force of thought and feeling instead of with the force of arms.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brendan Myers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/what-matters-is-being-a-particular-kind-of-person-at-the-most-basic/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arms"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/what-matters-is-being-a-particular-kind-of-person-at-the-most-basic/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/brendan-myers-21425_arms_what-matters-is-being-a-particular-kind_2634223.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/brendan-myers-21425_arms_what-matters-is-being-a-particular-kind_2634223.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/brendan-myers-21425_arms_what-matters-is-being-a-particular-kind_2634223.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What matters is being a particular kind of person. At the most basic level, it matters that you are the kind…” — Brendan Myers",
                "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": "Brendan Myers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What matters is being a particular...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/what-matters-is-being-a-particular-kind-of-person-at-the-most-basic/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/what-matters-is-being-a-particular-kind-of-person-at-the-most-basic/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
