--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To say no at the right time, and then…" description: "\"To say no at the right time, and then stand by it, is the first element of success. He is the wise man who, for all his life, can keep mind and soul a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/david-starr-jordan-27134_body_to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-sta_123226.jpg" --- # To say no at the right time, and then stand by it, is the… ![“To say no at the right time, and then stand by it, is the first element of success. He is the wise man who, for all his life, can keep mind and soul and body clean.” quote by David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/david-starr-jordan-27134_body_to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-sta_123226.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/david-starr-jordan-27134_body_to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-sta_123226.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/david-starr-jordan-27134_body_to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-sta_123226.jpg) > “To say no at the right time, and then stand by it, is the first element of success. He is the wise man who, for all his life, can keep mind and soul and body clean.” [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Timely refusal and steadfast commitment to that decision are foundational to success; wisdom lies in maintaining mental, spiritual, and physical purity throughout life. **In simple terms:** Saying no at the right moment and staying true to it builds success. Key Takeaway Disciplined refusal and inner cleanliness foster achievement. Themes self‑discipline wisdom success integrity mind‑body Mood steady thoughtful resolute Type aphorism motivational quote When to use this quote - declining a tempting but harmful offer - maintaining a healthy lifestyle - refusing peer pressure - sticking to a long‑term plan - protecting mental health Key Concepts willpower ethical consistency Practical Applications - practice saying no in low‑stakes situations - create a personal code of conduct Questions to Reflect On - When does saying no become a barrier to opportunity? - How can I keep my mind, soul, and body aligned? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind and soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-and-soul/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Soul and body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul-and-body/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [I should consider it a greater success to interest one wise and earnest soul, than a million unwise and frivolous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-should-consider-it-a-greater-success-to-interest-one-wise-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Look, it makes sense to be able to take part of what you've earned in this life and have it grow. And I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-draiman/look-it-makes-sense-to-be-able-to-take-part-of-what-you-ve-earned-in/) [David Draiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-draiman/) > [Know for a certainty that if men understood how terrible is even one solitary sin, they would rather be cast into a heated furnace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-of-genoa/know-for-a-certainty-that-if-men-understood-how-terrible-is-even-one/) [Catherine of Genoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-of-genoa/) > [There is nothing that Nature has made necessary which is more easy than death; we are longer a-coming into the world than going out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-nature-has-made-necessary-which-is-more-easy/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [God aims first to renew man's darkened spirit by imparting life to it, because it is this spirit which God originally designed to receive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/god-aims-first-to-renew-man-s-darkened-spirit-by-imparting-life-to-it/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [By the artificial separation of soul and body men have invented a Realism that is vulgar and an Idealism that is void.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/by-the-artificial-separation-of-soul-and-body-men-have-invented-a/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The journey of Soul... by the lessons gained in the physical experience... it may take (its) place in the realms of soul activity in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/the-journey-of-soul-by-the-lessons-gained-in-the-physical-experience/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [Exercise cannot secure us from that dissolution to which we are decreed; but while the soul and body continue united, it can make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/exercise-cannot-secure-us-from-that-dissolution-to-which-we-are/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The manufacturing corporation, except in comparatively few instances, no longer represents a protecting care, a parental influence, over its operatives. It is too often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-hanson-robinson/the-manufacturing-corporation-except-in-comparatively-few-instances/) Harriet Hanson Robinson > [I would remind my countrymen, that they are to be men first, and Americans only at a late and convenient hour. No matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-would-remind-my-countrymen-that-they-are-to-be-men-first-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [My being consists of matter and form, that is, of soul and body; annihilation will reach neither of them, for they were never produced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-being-consists-of-matter-and-form-that-is-of-soul-and-body/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Man is of soul and body, formed for deeds Of high resolve; on fancy's boldest wing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/man-is-of-soul-and-body-formed-for-deeds-of-high-resolve-on-fancy-s/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The soul and body are joint-sharers in every thing they get: A man cannot dress, but his ideas get cloath'd at the same time;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-soul-and-body-are-joint-sharers-in-every-thing-they-get-a-man/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [We need the historian and philosopher to give us with trenchant pen, the story of our forefathers, and let our soul and body, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arturo-alfonso-schomburg/we-need-the-historian-and-philosopher-to-give-us-with-trenchant-pen/) [Arturo Alfonso Schomburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arturo-alfonso-schomburg/) > [Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/faith-and-works-are-necessary-to-our-spiritual-life-as-christians-as/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## More by David Starr Jordan > [There is no real excellence in all this word which can be separated from right living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-this-word-which-can-be-separated/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [There is no real excellence in all of this world which can be separated from right living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-this-world-which-can-be/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [No one can afford to look downward for his enjoyments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/no-one-can-afford-to-look-downward-for-his-enjoyments/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [When a dog barks at the moon, then it is religion; but when he barks at strangers, it is patriotism!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/when-a-dog-barks-at-the-moon-then-it-is-religion-but-when-he-barks-at/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [The physiological law of Transfer of Energy is the basis of human success and happiness. There is no action without expenditure of energy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/the-physiological-law-of-transfer-of-energy-is-the-basis-of-human/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/wisdom-is-knowing-what-to-do-next-virtue-is-doing-it/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Whatever you attempt, go at it with spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/whatever-you-attempt-go-at-it-with-spirit/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Be a life long or short, its completeness depends on what it was lived for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/be-a-life-long-or-short-its-completeness-depends-on-what-it-was-lived/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Our country is now at war and the only way out is forward. I would not change one word I have spoken against war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/our-country-is-now-at-war-and-the-only-way-out-is-forward-i-would-not/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows whither he is going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/the-world-turns-aside-to-let-any-man-pass-who-knows-whither-he-is/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [The problem of life is not to make life easier, but to make men stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/the-problem-of-life-is-not-to-make-life-easier-but-to-make-men/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Whatever is not nailed down is mine." This is the motto of the exploiter. "Whatever can be pried loose is not nailed down." This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/whatever-is-not-nailed-down-is-mine-this-is-the-motto-of-the/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [No one is really miserable who has not tried to cheapen life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/no-one-is-really-miserable-who-has-not-tried-to-cheapen-life/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [There is no pleasure in life equal to that of the conquest of a vicious habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-pleasure-in-life-equal-to-that-of-the-conquest-of-a/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/wisdom-is-knowing-what-to-do-next-skill-is-knowing-how-to-do-it-and-2/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) [Explore all 21 David Starr Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [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/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To say no at the right time, and then stand by it, is the first element of success. He is the wise man who, for all his life, can keep mind and soul and body clean.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Starr Jordan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-stand-by-it-is-the-first-element/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-stand-by-it-is-the-first-element/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/david-starr-jordan-27134_body_to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-sta_123226.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/david-starr-jordan-27134_body_to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-sta_123226.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/david-starr-jordan-27134_body_to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-sta_123226.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To say no at the right time, and then stand by it, is the first element of success. He is the wise man who…” — David Starr Jordan", "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": "David Starr Jordan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To say no at the right...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-stand-by-it-is-the-first-element/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-stand-by-it-is-the-first-element/#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 } } ] } ```