--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't build a great building on a…" description: "\"You can't build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you're going to have a strong superstructure.\" — Gordon B. H..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/gordon-b-hinckley-331_building_you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-we_689892.png" --- # You can't build a great building on a weak foundation. You… ![“You can't build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you're going to have a strong superstructure.” quote by Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/gordon-b-hinckley-331_building_you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-we_689892.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/gordon-b-hinckley-331_building_you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-we_689892.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/gordon-b-hinckley-331_building_you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-we_689892.png) > “You can't build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you're going to have a strong superstructure.” [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A strong result or achievement requires a reliable base; without it, the whole structure is unstable. **In simple terms:** Great things need solid foundations. Key Takeaway Build a reliable base first. Themes foundation strength construction leadership Mood determined serious Type motivational practical When to use this quote - starting a business - personal development - team building - architectural design Key Concepts systems thinking resilience risk management Questions to Reflect On - What foundations are you overlooking? - How can you reinforce existing bases? A Different Perspective Neglecting ongoing maintenance can weaken even a good foundation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Castles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/castles/) [Solid foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solid-foundation/) [Weak foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-foundation/) ## Related quotes > [You can't build a great building on a weak foundation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-weak-foundation/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“Lies are not a good foundation for a solid relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-casey/lies-are-not-a-good-foundation-for-a-solid-relationship/) [Elle Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-casey/) > [I'm an architect. Before you start pouring the concrete, you build a foundation that is solid so that when you take the scaffolding down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-menken/i-m-an-architect-before-you-start-pouring-the-concrete-you-build-a/) [Alan Menken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-menken/) > [“Love is a solid foundation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/love-is-a-solid-foundation/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The Omega Point Theory can be a solid foundation of support for all of the great human religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-tipler/the-omega-point-theory-can-be-a-solid-foundation-of-support-for-all/) [Frank Tipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-tipler/) > [One can compare art education to the solid foundation for a house - once it's built properly, it will hold any shape or form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-babailov/one-can-compare-art-education-to-the-solid-foundation-for-a-house/) [Igor Babailov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-babailov/) > [The physical evidence does not change because of public pressure or personal agenda. Physical evidence does not look away as events unfold nor does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-p-mcculloch/the-physical-evidence-does-not-change-because-of-public-pressure-or/) [Robert P. McCulloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-p-mcculloch/) > [While they're building a solid foundation that will support whatever is coming down the road, Todd and I are itching to see further, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wood/while-they-re-building-a-solid-foundation-that-will-support-whatever/) [Sam Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wood/) > [“The time spent building a solid foundation will pay for itself ten-fold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-varndell/the-time-spent-building-a-solid-foundation-will-pay-for-itself-ten/) Darren Varndell > [One must have first of all a solid foundation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/one-must-have-first-of-all-a-solid-foundation/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/humility-is-the-solid-foundation-of-all-virtues/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Building a solid foundation in the early years of a child's life will not only help him or her reach their reach their full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novak-djokovic/building-a-solid-foundation-in-the-early-years-of-a-child-s-life-will/) [Novak Djokovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novak-djokovic/) > [A solid foundation in genetics is increasingly important for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-wojcicki/a-solid-foundation-in-genetics-is-increasingly-important-for-everyone/) [Anne Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-wojcicki/) > [Integrity is the core of our character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/integrity-is-the-core-of-our-character/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [Stand on your truth and what you believe in. Don't let anyone alter that because you can't build a house on weak foundation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-hall/stand-on-your-truth-and-what-you-believe-in-don-t-let-anyone-alter/) [Andrea Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-hall/) ## More by Gordon B. Hinckley > [“Now we are at war. Great forces have been mobilized and will continue to be. Political alliances are being forged. We do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/now-we-are-at-war-great-forces-have-been-mobilized-and-will-continue/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“Do not trade your birthright as a mother for some bauble of passing value. Let your first interest be in your home. The baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/do-not-trade-your-birthright-as-a-mother-for-some-bauble-of-passing/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Some husbands regard it as their prerogative to compel their wives to fit their standards of what they think to be the ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/some-husbands-regard-it-as-their-prerogative-to-compel-their-wives-to/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [There have been times when a particularly heavy dose of such cynicism has caused me to reflect that surely this is the age and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-have-been-times-when-a-particularly-heavy-dose-of-such-cynicism/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [We must work harder to build mutual respect, an attitude of tolerance, with forbearance one for another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/we-must-work-harder-to-build-mutual-respect-an-attitude-of-tolerance/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Who can calculate the wounds inflicted, their depth and pain, by harsh and mean words spoken in anger? How pitiful a sight is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/who-can-calculate-the-wounds-inflicted-their-depth-and-pain-by-harsh/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [If you will make your first concern the comfort, the well-being, and the happiness of your companion, sublimating any personal concern to that loftier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/if-you-will-make-your-first-concern-the-comfort-the-well-being-and/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/get-on-your-knees-and-pray-then-get-on-your-feet-and-work/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [I have now been an officer in this Church for a very long time. I am an old man who cannot deny the calendar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/i-have-now-been-an-officer-in-this-church-for-a-very-long-time-i-am/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Books represent the accumulated workings of the human mind, the endless treasures of man's thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/books-represent-the-accumulated-workings-of-the-human-mind-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [The Voice of Heaven is a still small voice. The voice of peace in the home is a quiet voice. There is need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-voice-of-heaven-is-a-still-small-voice-the-voice-of-peace-in-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [We wear on our faces the results of what we believe and how we behave, and such behavior is most evident in the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/we-wear-on-our-faces-the-results-of-what-we-believe-and-how-we-behave/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [You are great young people. I have said again and again, we have the finest generation of young people ever in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/you-are-great-young-people-i-have-said-again-and-again-we-have-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Work without vision is drudgery. Vision without work is dreaming. Work plus vision-this is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/work-without-vision-is-drudgery-vision-without-work-is-dreaming-work/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [There is no association richer than the companionship of husband and wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-is-no-association-richer-than-the-companionship-of-husband-and/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) [Explore all 669 Gordon B. Hinckley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) ## More Building quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [I'm 30. I'm about to hit my prime now. I need to act and keep building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-m-30-i-m-about-to-hit-my-prime-now-i-need-to-act-and-keep-building/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Practically every time I speak up at a school conference, a political event, or my apartment building association's annual meeting, I'm met with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/practically-every-time-i-speak-up-at-a-school-conference-a-political/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) Browse all 5,974 Building quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you're going to have a strong superstructure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gordon B. Hinckley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-weak-foundation-you-must-have-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Building" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-weak-foundation-you-must-have-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/gordon-b-hinckley-331_building_you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-we_689892.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/gordon-b-hinckley-331_building_you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-we_689892.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/gordon-b-hinckley-331_building_you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-we_689892.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you're going to…” — Gordon B. Hinckley", "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": "Gordon B. Hinckley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't build a great building...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-weak-foundation-you-must-have-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/you-can-t-build-a-great-building-on-a-weak-foundation-you-must-have-a/#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 } } ] } ```