--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know I have a first-rate mind, but…" description: "\"I know I have a first-rate mind, but that's no source of pride to me. Intelligent people are a dime a dozen. But I am proud of having character.\" — Dwi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f2/dwight-l-moody-1085_character_i-know-i-have-a-first-rate-mind-but-that_1955406.png" --- # I know I have a first-rate mind, but that's no source of… ![“I know I have a first-rate mind, but that's no source of pride to me. Intelligent people are a dime a dozen. But I am proud of having character.” quote by Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f2/dwight-l-moody-1085_character_i-know-i-have-a-first-rate-mind-but-that_1955406.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f2/dwight-l-moody-1085_character_i-know-i-have-a-first-rate-mind-but-that_1955406.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f2/dwight-l-moody-1085_character_i-know-i-have-a-first-rate-mind-but-that_1955406.png) > “I know I have a first-rate mind, but that's no source of pride to me. Intelligent people are a dime a dozen. But I am proud of having character.” [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence is common, but character is rare and worthy of pride; true worth lies in moral qualities, not mental ability. **In simple terms:** Character matters more than being smart. Key Takeaway Value character above intellect. Themes character humility virtue Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - career - personal growth - community service Key Concepts moral development self‑esteem leadership Questions to Reflect On - How does character influence success? - Can intellect and character coexist? A Different Perspective Intellect can still be valuable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Intelligent people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-people/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [So somebody has talent? So what? Dime a dozen. And we're overpopulated. Actually we have more food than we have people and more art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/so-somebody-has-talent-so-what-dime-a-dozen-and-we-re-overpopulated/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [In a society where the roles everyone plays are obvious, the refusal to conform to any standard will excite interest. Be both masculine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/in-a-society-where-the-roles-everyone-plays-are-obvious-the-refusal/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Heartthrobs are a dime a dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/heartthrobs-are-a-dime-a-dozen/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [Ideas are cheap. A dime a dozen, as they say. It's the implementation that's important! The trick isn't just to have a computer game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/ideas-are-cheap-a-dime-a-dozen-as-they-say-it-s-the-implementation/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Before you go into what is essentially a competition, you have to have that confidence. You have to ask yourself, "Are they looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/before-you-go-into-what-is-essentially-a-competition-you-have-to-have/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [That's the power of great insights. Insights, not ideas. There's a difference. Ideas, valuable though they may be, are a dime a dozen in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/that-s-the-power-of-great-insights-insights-not-ideas-there-s-a/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) > [People (a group that in my opinion has always attracted an undue amount of attention) have often been likened to snowflakes. This analogy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/people-a-group-that-in-my-opinion-has-always-attracted-an-undue/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Ideas are a dime a dozen, but people who put them into effect are extremely rare. Be the minority and make it happen!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-but-people-who-put-them-into-effect-are/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Wins and losses come a dime a dozen. But effort, nobody can judge effort. Because effort is between you and you. Effort ain't got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lewis/wins-and-losses-come-a-dime-a-dozen-but-effort-nobody-can-judge/) [Ray Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lewis/) > [Smart people are a dime a dozen. What matters is the ability to think different... to think out of the box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/smart-people-are-a-dime-a-dozen-what-matters-is-the-ability-to-think/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [Ministers who do not spend two hours a day in prayer are not worth a dime a dozen - degrees or no degrees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/ministers-who-do-not-spend-two-hours-a-day-in-prayer-are-not-worth-a/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [But actors with political views are a dime a dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/but-actors-with-political-views-are-a-dime-a-dozen/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [I'm proud of having been one of the first to recognize that states and the federal government have a duty to protect our natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-m-proud-of-having-been-one-of-the-first-to-recognize-that-states/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I am proud of having done what I've done. Very proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-am-proud-of-having-done-what-i-ve-done-very-proud/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Holding her hand in public, is just another way of saying you're proud of having her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makayla-mason/holding-her-hand-in-public-is-just-another-way-of-saying-you-re-proud-2/) [Makayla Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makayla-mason/) ## More by Dwight L. Moody > [Christ never preached any funeral sermons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/christ-never-preached-any-funeral-sermons/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [What makes the Dead Sea dead? Because it is all the time receiving, never giving out anything. Why is it that many Christians are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/what-makes-the-dead-sea-dead-because-it-is-all-the-time-receiving/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [Many a professing Christian is a stumbling-block because his worship is divided. On Sunday he worships God; on weekdays God has little or no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/many-a-professing-christian-is-a-stumbling-block-because-his-worship/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [I never yet have known the Spirit of God to work where the Lord's people were divided.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/i-never-yet-have-known-the-spirit-of-god-to-work-where-the-lord-s/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [I believe many a man is praying to God to fill him, when he is full already with something else. Before we pray that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/i-believe-many-a-man-is-praying-to-god-to-fill-him-when-he-is-full/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [If Jesus bore the cross, and died on it for me, ought I not to be willing to take it up for Him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/if-jesus-bore-the-cross-and-died-on-it-for-me-ought-i-not-to-be/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [The voice of sin is loud, but the voice of forgiveness is louder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/the-voice-of-sin-is-loud-but-the-voice-of-forgiveness-is-louder/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [To be tempted is not to sin. The strongest attacks are made on the strongest forts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/to-be-tempted-is-not-to-sin-the-strongest-attacks-are-made-on-the/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [If you have so much business to attend to that you have no time to pray, depend upon it that you have more business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/if-you-have-so-much-business-to-attend-to-that-you-have-no-time-to/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [“God has left us down here to shine. We are not here to buy and sell and get gain, to accumulate wealth, to acquire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/god-has-left-us-down-here-to-shine-we-are-not-here-to-buy-and-sell/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [Right now I'm having so much trouble with D.L. Moody that I don't have time to find fault with the other fellow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/right-now-i-m-having-so-much-trouble-with-d-l-moody-that-i-don-t-have/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [There is no better evangelist in the world than the Holy Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/there-is-no-better-evangelist-in-the-world-than-the-holy-spirit/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [Faith makes all things possible. Love makes them easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/faith-makes-all-things-possible-love-makes-them-easy/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [Excuses are the cradle ... that Satan rocks men off to sleep in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/excuses-are-the-cradle-that-satan-rocks-men-off-to-sleep-in/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [If you do not feel a fervent love and profound pity for humanity, be assured that the gift of Christian eloquence has been denied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/if-you-do-not-feel-a-fervent-love-and-profound-pity-for-humanity-be/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) [Explore all 295 Dwight L. Moody quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know I have a first-rate mind, but that's no source of pride to me. 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