--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's nice to be important, but more…" description: "\"It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice. You don't know who your top customers will be five years from now or where you will be in 10 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/harvey-mackay-1775_be-nice_it-s-nice-to-be-important-but-more-impor_1598103.png" --- # It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice… ![“It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice. You don't know who your top customers will be five years from now or where you will be in 10 years. You may have a fancy title, but you will always need help from the people around you.” quote by Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/harvey-mackay-1775_be-nice_it-s-nice-to-be-important-but-more-impor_1598103.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/harvey-mackay-1775_be-nice_it-s-nice-to-be-important-but-more-impor_1598103.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/harvey-mackay-1775_be-nice_it-s-nice-to-be-important-but-more-impor_1598103.png) > “It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice. You don't know who your top customers will be five years from now or where you will be in 10 years. You may have a fancy title, but you will always need help from the people around you.” [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Importance lies in kindness over status; future value of relationships exceeds titles. **In simple terms:** Being nice matters more than being important. Key Takeaway Prioritize kindness in professional life. Themes humility relationships longterm value Mood encouraging thoughtful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - customer service - team management - career planning Key Concepts social capital empathy networking Questions to Reflect On - Who can you help today to build future goodwill? - How does humility affect long‑term success? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on status can alienate allies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-nice/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [It's nice to be important, but it's important to always be nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-milano/it-s-nice-to-be-important-but-it-s-important-to-always-be-nice/) [Alyssa Milano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-milano/) > [Its nice to be important, but its important to be nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-nice-to-be-important-but-its-important-to-be-nice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its nice to be important but its more important to be nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-run-2/its-nice-to-be-important-but-its-more-important-to-be-nice/) [Rev Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-run-2/) > [It's nice to be important but it's even more important to be nice. I grew up in a world where there were a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/it-s-nice-to-be-important-but-it-s-even-more-important-to-be-nice-i/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [It's nice to be important, but it's also important to be nice. Never forget that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-baron-cohen/it-s-nice-to-be-important-but-it-s-also-important-to-be-nice-never/) [Sacha Baron Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-baron-cohen/) > [It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice to somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-nice-to-be-important-but-it-s-more-important-to-be-nice-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-nice-to-be-important-but-it-s-more-important-to-be-nice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is nice to be important, but it is very important for you to be nice to people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herdeymorlah/it-is-nice-to-be-important-but-it-is-very-important-for-you-to-be/) Herdeymorlah > [Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up, Because It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/never-look-down-on-anybody-unless-you-re-helping-him-up-because-it-s/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice and show some humanity, care and dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-s-nice-to-be-important-but-it-s-more-important-to-be-nice-and-show/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [“It is important to be nice but its more nice to be Important”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli/it-is-important-to-be-nice-but-its-more-nice-to-be-important/) Anatoli > [“It's nice to be important , but more important ot be nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-winston/it-s-nice-to-be-important-but-more-important-ot-be-nice/) [george winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-winston/) > [The outside-in discipline requires that you have an explicit customer-based reason for everything you do in the marketplace. Managers need to create what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bund/the-outside-in-discipline-requires-that-you-have-an-explicit-customer/) [Barbara Bund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bund/) > [Most of all, I discovered that in order to succeed with a product, you must truly get to know your customers and build something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-benioff/most-of-all-i-discovered-that-in-order-to-succeed-with-a-product-you/) [Marc Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-benioff/) > [I always want to know whether the customers are satisfied; customer satisfaction is, after all, my ultimate goal!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/i-always-want-to-know-whether-the-customers-are-satisfied-customer/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) ## More by Harvey Mackay > [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. It only matters if you say you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-if-they-say-you-can-t-do-it-it-only-matters-if-you/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don’t. Believe everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/life-is-too-short-to-wake-up-with-regrets-so-love-the-people-who/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Be like the turtle. If he didn't stick his neck out, he wouldn't get anywhere at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/be-like-the-turtle-if-he-didn-t-stick-his-neck-out-he-wouldn-t-get/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Keep the customer actively involved throughout your presentation, and watch your results improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/keep-the-customer-actively-involved-throughout-your-presentation-and/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Your workforce is your most valuable asset. The knowledge and skills they have represent the fuel that drives the engine of business - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/your-workforce-is-your-most-valuable-asset-the-knowledge-and-skills/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I've learned that people will seldom let you down if they understand that your destiny is in their hands, and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-ve-learned-that-people-will-seldom-let-you-down-if-they-understand/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [People begin to become successful the minute they decide to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/people-begin-to-become-successful-the-minute-they-decide-to-be/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I have ten marathons under my belt, including four New York races and one Boston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-have-ten-marathons-under-my-belt-including-four-new-york-races-and/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Southwest Airlines is successful because the company understands it's a customer service company. It also happens to be an airline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/southwest-airlines-is-successful-because-the-company-understands-it-s/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Pay attention to those employees who respectfully ask why. They are demonstrating an interest in their jobs and exhibiting a curiosity that could eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/pay-attention-to-those-employees-who-respectfully-ask-why-they-are/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [The employees who share innovative ideas may also be the folks who have some hidden talents that would help incorporate their suggestions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/the-employees-who-share-innovative-ideas-may-also-be-the-folks-who/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Leadership does not mean getting people to do their job. It means getting people to do their best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/leadership-does-not-mean-getting-people-to-do-their-job-it-means/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [It's only lonely at the top if you forget all the people you met along the way and fail to acknowledge their contributions to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-s-only-lonely-at-the-top-if-you-forget-all-the-people-you-met/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [If you walk backwards, you will never stub your toe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-walk-backwards-you-will-never-stub-your-toe/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [As you schedule individual tasks, give yourself a cushion. Mark the due date a few days ahead of the actual deadline so you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/as-you-schedule-individual-tasks-give-yourself-a-cushion-mark-the-due/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) [Explore all 209 Harvey Mackay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## More Be nice quotes > [I don't think they need to be nice to reporters, but the White House seems to imagine that releasing information is like a tap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/i-don-t-think-they-need-to-be-nice-to-reporters-but-the-white-house/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [People have said to me, 'It must be nice to prove so many people wrong,' but I've never really cared about proving anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bryan/people-have-said-to-me-it-must-be-nice-to-prove-so-many-people-wrong/) [Daniel Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bryan/) > [I seem to find different material every four to six months and I frequently forget it which is a shame because it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-kottke/i-seem-to-find-different-material-every-four-to-six-months-and-i/) [Leo Kottke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-kottke/) > [Obama can't change his cool disposition, though it would be nice if he lost the vaguely grudging air he gives off that problems of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/obama-can-t-change-his-cool-disposition-though-it-would-be-nice-if-he/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [I know if I'm nervous or excited to do something before I'm doing it that there's gonna be nice energy there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/i-know-if-i-m-nervous-or-excited-to-do-something-before-i-m-doing-it/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [I do have to take care of myself, not only because I'm in the movies, just for mental health reasons. I exercise for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-do-have-to-take-care-of-myself-not-only-because-i-m-in-the-movies/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [Sometimes I feel it would be nice to have a bit more privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-sugg/sometimes-i-feel-it-would-be-nice-to-have-a-bit-more-privacy/) [Zoe Sugg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-sugg/) > [I really miss having a routine because now I've been on the road constantly for several months. I like routines, so it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-really-miss-having-a-routine-because-now-i-ve-been-on-the-road/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [Grand Slam losses are hard. I treat myself after losses though, I usually go to McDonald's and I have a hamburger and you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/grand-slam-losses-are-hard-i-treat-myself-after-losses-though-i/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [The injunction to be nice is used to deflect criticism and stifle the legitimate anger of dissent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-injunction-to-be-nice-is-used-to-deflect-criticism-and-stifle-the/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [You have to create characters - certainly in series TV - who people engage with. They don't have to be nice; you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/you-have-to-create-characters-certainly-in-series-tv-who-people/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [I've won the British title and although it would be nice to win it outright, I want to push on to the next level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-fielding/i-ve-won-the-british-title-and-although-it-would-be-nice-to-win-it/) [Rocky Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-fielding/) > [My best parenting advice would be not to take the job too seriously. Teach your kids to be nice, and everything else falls into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-falcone/my-best-parenting-advice-would-be-not-to-take-the-job-too-seriously/) [Ben Falcone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-falcone/) > [It is a good thing to be nice but to get to a certain level you have to have that bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/it-is-a-good-thing-to-be-nice-but-to-get-to-a-certain-level-you-have/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) Browse all 274 Be nice quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice. You don't know who your top customers will be five years from now or where you will be in 10 years. 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