--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In many ways ideas are more important…" description: "\"In many ways ideas are more important than people - they are much more permanent.\" — Charles Kettering" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd5/charles-kettering-5294_ideas_in-many-ways-ideas-are-more-important-th_2343788.png" --- # In many ways ideas are more important than people - they… ![“In many ways ideas are more important than people - they are much more permanent.” quote by Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd5/charles-kettering-5294_ideas_in-many-ways-ideas-are-more-important-th_2343788.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd5/charles-kettering-5294_ideas_in-many-ways-ideas-are-more-important-th_2343788.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd5/charles-kettering-5294_ideas_in-many-ways-ideas-are-more-important-th_2343788.png) > “In many ways ideas are more important than people - they are much more permanent.” [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas have lasting impact, outliving individuals, and shape progress over time. **In simple terms:** Ideas outlast people. Key Takeaway Cultivate enduring ideas. Themes innovation legacy creativity Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - product development - education - research institutions - policy making Key Concepts Intellectual property long‑term vision Questions to Reflect On - How can ideas be kept relevant? - What processes sustain innovative thinking? A Different Perspective Ideas may become obsolete without adaptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Important people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Lesbian and gay people are a permanent part of the American workforce, who currently have no protection from the arbitrary abuse of their rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/lesbian-and-gay-people-are-a-permanent-part-of-the-american-workforce/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [I try to find creative ways to put ideas out to make the ground fertile for organizers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/i-try-to-find-creative-ways-to-put-ideas-out-to-make-the-ground/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [God has done more than I could ask or even imagine on more occasions than I could ever recount. His ways are higher than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/god-has-done-more-than-i-could-ask-or-even-imagine-on-more-occasions/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [“Memory is life. It is always carried by groups of living people, and therefore it is in permanent evolution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-j-hobsbawm/memory-is-life-it-is-always-carried-by-groups-of-living-people-and/) Eric J. Hobsbawm > [The dead are the only people to have permanent dwellings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/the-dead-are-the-only-people-to-have-permanent-dwellings/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [With fame, you know, you can read about yourself, somebody else's ideas about you, but what's important is how you feel about yourself -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/with-fame-you-know-you-can-read-about-yourself-somebody-else-s-ideas/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [It's important to discuss ideas but it's more important to surrender control and preconceptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-schaechter/it-s-important-to-discuss-ideas-but-it-s-more-important-to-surrender/) [Judith Schaechter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-schaechter/) > [“It's not all that important that you be able to originate brilliant ideas... The more important talent is to be able to recognize good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/it-s-not-all-that-important-that-you-be-able-to-originate-brilliant/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [“And then sometimes Actors have what they call “ideas.” Usually it involves them talking more, or, in the case of more experienced actors, sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/and-then-sometimes-actors-have-what-they-call-ideas-usually-it/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [The Here-and-Now demands attention, is more present to us. We dismiss the inner world of our ideas as less important, although most of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/the-here-and-now-demands-attention-is-more-present-to-us-we-dismiss/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [I think pushing the ideas is important. I wouldn't say it's more important than action. You can't really separate the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/i-think-pushing-the-ideas-is-important-i-wouldn-t-say-it-s-more/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [In all seriousness, people think that it's the ideas that are important. Well, everyone has ideas, all the time. I tend to write mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/in-all-seriousness-people-think-that-it-s-the-ideas-that-are/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I think game theory creates ideas that are important in solving and approaching conflict in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aumann/i-think-game-theory-creates-ideas-that-are-important-in-solving-and/) [Robert Aumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aumann/) > [When you know in your heart that you and your ideas are important, you will give every idea you have a fighting chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cooper/when-you-know-in-your-heart-that-you-and-your-ideas-are-important-you/) [Sarah Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cooper/) > [Ideas are very important to the shaping of society. In fact, they are more powerful than bombings or armies or guns. And this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/ideas-are-very-important-to-the-shaping-of-society-in-fact-they-are/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) ## More by Charles Kettering > [Research is an organized method of trying to find out what you are going to do after you cannot do what you are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/research-is-an-organized-method-of-trying-to-find-out-what-you-are/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [The sure ways to create new ventures of discovery are to keep an open mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/the-sure-ways-to-create-new-ventures-of-discovery-are-to-keep-an-open/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [If a fellow wants to be nobody in the business world, let him neglect sending the mailman to somebody on his behalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/if-a-fellow-wants-to-be-nobody-in-the-business-world-let-him-neglect/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/every-time-you-tear-a-leaf-off-a-calendar-you-present-a-new-place-for/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [Great steps in human progress are made by things that don't work the way philosophy thought they should. If things always worked the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/great-steps-in-human-progress-are-made-by-things-that-don-t-work-the/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [Education is man's going forward from cocksure ignorance to thoughtful uncertainty.Where there is an open mind there will always be a frontier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/education-is-man-s-going-forward-from-cocksure-ignorance-to/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [you must take the problem as it is, and let it be what it wants to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/you-must-take-the-problem-as-it-is-and-let-it-be-what-it-wants-to-be/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [It is man's destiny to ponder on the riddle of existence and, as a byproduct of his wonderment, to create a new life on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/it-is-man-s-destiny-to-ponder-on-the-riddle-of-existence-and-as-a/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [We must look forward to the future as that is where most of us will be spending the rest of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/we-must-look-forward-to-the-future-as-that-is-where-most-of-us-will/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [There is a great difference between knowing and understanding: you can know a lot about something and not really understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/there-is-a-great-difference-between-knowing-and-understanding-you-can/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [If I want to stop a research program I can always do it by getting a few experts to sit in on the subject,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/if-i-want-to-stop-a-research-program-i-can-always-do-it-by-getting-a/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [There will always be a frontier where there is an open mind and a willing hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/there-will-always-be-a-frontier-where-there-is-an-open-mind-and-a/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [Obsolescence is a factor which says that the new thing I bring you is worth more than the unused value of the old thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/obsolescence-is-a-factor-which-says-that-the-new-thing-i-bring-you-is/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [Nothing ever built arose to touch the skies unless some man dreamed that it should, some man believed that it could, and some man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/nothing-ever-built-arose-to-touch-the-skies-unless-some-man-dreamed/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [What I believe is that, by proper effort, we make the future almost anything we want to make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/what-i-believe-is-that-by-proper-effort-we-make-the-future-almost/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) [Explore all 102 Charles Kettering quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) ## More Ideas quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It revealed a cruelty that really made one wonder if the universe was such a good idea after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-revealed-a-cruelty-that-really-made-one-wonder-if-the-universe-was/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 24,908 Ideas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In many ways ideas are more important than people - they are much more permanent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Kettering" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/in-many-ways-ideas-are-more-important-than-people-they-are-much-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ideas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/in-many-ways-ideas-are-more-important-than-people-they-are-much-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd5/charles-kettering-5294_ideas_in-many-ways-ideas-are-more-important-th_2343788.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd5/charles-kettering-5294_ideas_in-many-ways-ideas-are-more-important-th_2343788.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd5/charles-kettering-5294_ideas_in-many-ways-ideas-are-more-important-th_2343788.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In many ways ideas are more important than people - they are much more permanent.” — Charles Kettering", "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": "Charles Kettering", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In many ways ideas are more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/in-many-ways-ideas-are-more-important-than-people-they-are-much-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/in-many-ways-ideas-are-more-important-than-people-they-are-much-more/#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 } } ] } ```