--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't be common, the common man goes…" description: "\"You can't be common, the common man goes nowhere; you have to be uncommon\" — Herb Brooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/herb-brooks-17824_common_you-can-t-be-common-the-common-man-goes_985693.png" --- # You can't be common, the common man goes nowhere; you have… ![“You can't be common, the common man goes nowhere; you have to be uncommon” quote by Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/herb-brooks-17824_common_you-can-t-be-common-the-common-man-goes_985693.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/herb-brooks-17824_common_you-can-t-be-common-the-common-man-goes_985693.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/herb-brooks-17824_common_you-can-t-be-common-the-common-man-goes_985693.png) > “You can't be common, the common man goes nowhere; you have to be uncommon” [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excellence requires standing out; average effort leads nowhere. **In simple terms:** Be uncommon to succeed. Key Takeaway Pursue uniqueness. Themes achievement individuality determination Mood inspirational determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - sports competition - career advancement - creative projects Key Concepts excellence commonality Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance uniqueness with teamwork? - What risks come with striving to be uncommon? A Different Perspective Being different can alienate others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Monday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monday/) [Monday morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monday-morning/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) ## Related quotes > [The heroic cannot be the common, nor the common the heroic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-heroic-cannot-be-the-common-nor-the-common-the-heroic/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“CoMMOn SeNSe iS nOt sO cOmMOn aMoNg coMMon pEOPLe...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deols/common-sense-is-not-so-common-among-common-people/) DeOLs > [ “\[...\] and after those big strokes, what's to tell? We run out of things that make us individual very quickly; all of us have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-after-those-big-strokes-what-s-to-tell-we-run-out-of-things-that/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [No one got rich on a government program. Do not choose to be a common man. You can be uncommon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/no-one-got-rich-on-a-government-program-do-not-choose-to-be-a-common/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon - if I can. I seek opportunity -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-alfange/i-do-not-choose-to-be-a-common-man-it-is-my-right-to-be-uncommon-if-i-2/) [Dean Alfange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-alfange/) > [I am, to me, but a common man; that lives, dares, to be, uncommon things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/i-am-to-me-but-a-common-man-that-lives-dares-to-be-uncommon-things/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [Uncommon men require no common trust; give him but scope and he will set the bounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/uncommon-men-require-no-common-trust-give-him-but-scope-and-he-will/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [The greatest service we can do the common man is to abolish him and make all men uncommon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-angell/the-greatest-service-we-can-do-the-common-man-is-to-abolish-him-and/) [Norman Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-angell/) > [No organization can depend on genius; the supply is always scarce and unreliable. It is the test of an organization to make ordinary human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/no-organization-can-depend-on-genius-the-supply-is-always-scarce-and-2/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [To celebrate a festival means: to live out, for some special occasion and in an uncommon manner, the universal assent to the world as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/to-celebrate-a-festival-means-to-live-out-for-some-special-occasion/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [People were talking about songs of the common man in order to make the common man. With Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly, they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-guthrie/people-were-talking-about-songs-of-the-common-man-in-order-to-make/) [Arlo Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-guthrie/) > [In times of uncertainty there is a special breed of warrior ready to answer our Nation’s call; a common man with uncommon desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-luttrell/in-times-of-uncertainty-there-is-a-special-breed-of-warrior-ready-to/) [Marcus Luttrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-luttrell/) > [When we are sick, we want an uncommon doctor; when we have a construction job to do, we want an uncommon engineer, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/when-we-are-sick-we-want-an-uncommon-doctor-when-we-have-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [No organization can depend on genius; the supply is always scarce and unreliable. It is the test of an organization to make ordinary people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/no-organization-can-depend-on-genius-the-supply-is-always-scarce-and/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-common-man-marvels-at-uncommon-things-a-wise-man-marvels-at-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More by Herb Brooks > [You must have goals in your life, or otherwise be prepared to be used by those who do have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-must-have-goals-in-your-life-or-otherwise-be-prepared-to-be-used/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-don-t-have-enough-talent-to-win-on-talent-alone/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [“Play your game.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/play-your-game/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [What is courage? Let me tell you what I think it is. An indefinable quality that makes a man put out that extra something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/what-is-courage-let-me-tell-you-what-i-think-it-is-an-indefinable/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [You know, Willie Wonka said it best: we are the makers of dreams, the dreamers of dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-know-willie-wonka-said-it-best-we-are-the-makers-of-dreams-the/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [You were born to be a player. You were meant to be here. This moment is yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-were-born-to-be-a-player-you-were-meant-to-be-here-this-moment-is/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [Success is won by those who believe in winning and then prepare for that moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/success-is-won-by-those-who-believe-in-winning-and-then-prepare-for/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [The legs feed the wolf, gentlemen,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/the-legs-feed-the-wolf-gentlemen/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [If you give 99 percent, you will make my job very easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/if-you-give-99-percent-you-will-make-my-job-very-easy/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/this-is-your-time-their-time-is-done-it-s-over-i-m-sick-and-tired-of/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [Risk something or forever sit with your dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/risk-something-or-forever-sit-with-your-dreams/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [My recruiting key - I looked for PEOPLE first, athletes second. I wanted people with a sound value system as you cannot buy values.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/my-recruiting-key-i-looked-for-people-first-athletes-second-i-wanted/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [This, is your time! Now go out there and take it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/this-is-your-time-now-go-out-there-and-take-it/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [We need to look at what Europe is doing to get better and try to get better ourselves. We need to make some changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/we-need-to-look-at-what-europe-is-doing-to-get-better-and-try-to-get/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/we-should-be-dreaming-we-grew-up-as-kids-having-dreams-but-now-we-re/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) [Explore all 36 Herb Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) ## More Common quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) Browse all 7,866 Common quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't be common, the common man goes nowhere; you have to be uncommon", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herb Brooks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-can-t-be-common-the-common-man-goes-nowhere-you-have-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Common" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-can-t-be-common-the-common-man-goes-nowhere-you-have-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/herb-brooks-17824_common_you-can-t-be-common-the-common-man-goes_985693.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/herb-brooks-17824_common_you-can-t-be-common-the-common-man-goes_985693.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/herb-brooks-17824_common_you-can-t-be-common-the-common-man-goes_985693.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't be common, the common man goes nowhere; you have to be uncommon” — Herb Brooks", "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": "Herb Brooks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't be common, the common...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-can-t-be-common-the-common-man-goes-nowhere-you-have-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-can-t-be-common-the-common-man-goes-nowhere-you-have-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```