--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important thing when you're…" description: "\"The most important thing when you're working with greatness is to learn from it, not challenge it.\" — Jeremy Brett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jeremy-brett-33023_challenges_the-most-important-thing-when-you-re-wor_2468711.jpg" --- # The most important thing when you're working with… ![“The most important thing when you're working with greatness is to learn from it, not challenge it.” quote by Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jeremy-brett-33023_challenges_the-most-important-thing-when-you-re-wor_2468711.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jeremy-brett-33023_challenges_the-most-important-thing-when-you-re-wor_2468711.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jeremy-brett-33023_challenges_the-most-important-thing-when-you-re-wor_2468711.jpg) > “The most important thing when you're working with greatness is to learn from it, not challenge it.” [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning from great people is more valuable than trying to outdo them. **In simple terms:** Learn from greatness, don’t challenge it. Key Takeaway Observe and emulate excellence. Themes learning humility collaboration Mood respectful inspirational Type advice reflective When to use this quote - team projects - career development - artistic pursuits - leadership training Key Concepts Mentorship role models growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply insights from mentors without feeling inferior? - What barriers prevent you from seeking guidance? A Different Perspective Greatness may be inaccessible or intimidating, limiting practical learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [One of my favorite things about being the host of 'The School of Greatness' is that I get to learn from the best minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-howes/one-of-my-favorite-things-about-being-the-host-of-the-school-of/) [Lewis Howes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-howes/) > [Being popular is the most important thing in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/being-popular-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [An ex-girlfriend once got upset when I told her that music is the most important thing in my life. It's more important than anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/an-ex-girlfriend-once-got-upset-when-i-told-her-that-music-is-the/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [The important thing in life is to have a great aim, and the determination to attain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-important-thing-in-life-is-to-have-a-great-aim-and-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Education is the most important thing you can have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-smith/education-is-the-most-important-thing-you-can-have/) [Torrey Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-smith/) > [Winning is not the most important thing; it's everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-not-the-most-important-thing-it-s-everything/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [The most important thing about Jazz at Lincoln Center is the fact that it's the first time that perhaps the most important art form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/the-most-important-thing-about-jazz-at-lincoln-center-is-the-fact/) [Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/) > [I think the most important thing to do is to recognize the fundamentally different circumstances of pursuing growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/i-think-the-most-important-thing-to-do-is-to-recognize-the/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [The most important thing is a person. A person who incites your curiosity and feeds your curiosity; and machines cannot do that in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-most-important-thing-is-a-person-a-person-who-incites-your/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The most important thing for a director is being able to communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/the-most-important-thing-for-a-director-is-being-able-to-communicate/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [The important thing is that he shook hands with us over the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ball/the-important-thing-is-that-he-shook-hands-with-us-over-the-phone/) [Alan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ball/) > [Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/since-death-is-certain-and-the-time-of-death-is-uncertain-what-is-the/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. Basically, to not give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irena-a-hoffman/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-stay-hopeful-to-believe/) [Irena A. Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irena-a-hoffman/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [You know, right now, the most important thing in my life is to make sure you understand that, first of all, I thank God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-ray-vaughan/you-know-right-now-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-is-to-make/) [Stevie Ray Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-ray-vaughan/) ## More by Jeremy Brett > [I'm not looking and I don't go hunting. I'm the type who's got to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/i-m-not-looking-and-i-don-t-go-hunting-i-m-the-type-who-s-got-to-be/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [The provocation with Holmes is the fact that he's described by Doyle as a man without a heart - all brain... and that's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/the-provocation-with-holmes-is-the-fact-that-he-s-described-by-doyle/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [Holmes has become the dark side of the moon for me. He is moody and solitary and underneath I am really sociable and gregarious.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/holmes-has-become-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-for-me-he-is-moody-and/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [Trying to be Sherlock Holmes is like trying to catch an arrow in mid-flight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/trying-to-be-sherlock-holmes-is-like-trying-to-catch-an-arrow-in-mid/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [To me, the Sherlock Holmes stories are about a great friendship. Without Watson, Holmes might well have burnt out on cocaine long ago. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/to-me-the-sherlock-holmes-stories-are-about-a-great-friendship/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [You must have a twinkle in your eye, a naughtiness - and the audience must realize your mind is working faster than your words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/you-must-have-a-twinkle-in-your-eye-a-naughtiness-and-the-audience/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [One of the wonderful things about this glorious holiday trip I'm on is that I'm in public with people. It hasn't been inclined... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/one-of-the-wonderful-things-about-this-glorious-holiday-trip-i-m-on/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [I mean, money people are usually quite brisk, but mine aren't, and they keep on giving me spaces so that I've been able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/i-mean-money-people-are-usually-quite-brisk-but-mine-aren-t-and-they/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [I've done 33 Sherlock Holmes stories and bits of them are all right. But the definitive Sherlock Holmes is really in everyone's head. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/i-ve-done-33-sherlock-holmes-stories-and-bits-of-them-are-all-right/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [I meditate and do yoga. I sit cross-legged and try not to levitate too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/i-meditate-and-do-yoga-i-sit-cross-legged-and-try-not-to-levitate-too/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [Don't be too brave. Bravery is a fine thing on some occasions, but sometimes it can be quite a dangerous thing. The stiff upper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/don-t-be-too-brave-bravery-is-a-fine-thing-on-some-occasions-but/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [Villains are very, very boring to do. They're so much easier than heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/villains-are-very-very-boring-to-do-they-re-so-much-easier-than-heroes/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [They are a great essay in male friendship, which has gone now. Men's friendship has been debased. One of the lovely things about Holmes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/they-are-a-great-essay-in-male-friendship-which-has-gone-now-men-s/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [I think the greatest star in American at the moment is Kevin Costner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/i-think-the-greatest-star-in-american-at-the-moment-is-kevin-costner/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) [Explore all 15 Jeremy Brett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) ## More Challenges quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/) Whitney Gaskell > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) [Browse all 8,851 Challenges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most important thing when you're working with greatness is to learn from it, not challenge it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeremy Brett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/the-most-important-thing-when-you-re-working-with-greatness-is-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Challenges" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/the-most-important-thing-when-you-re-working-with-greatness-is-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jeremy-brett-33023_challenges_the-most-important-thing-when-you-re-wor_2468711.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jeremy-brett-33023_challenges_the-most-important-thing-when-you-re-wor_2468711.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jeremy-brett-33023_challenges_the-most-important-thing-when-you-re-wor_2468711.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most important thing when you're working with greatness is to learn from it, not challenge it.” — Jeremy Brett", "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": "Jeremy Brett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most important thing when you're...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/the-most-important-thing-when-you-re-working-with-greatness-is-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/the-most-important-thing-when-you-re-working-with-greatness-is-to/#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 } } ] } ```