---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Generally speaking, ego isn't a good…"
description: "\"Generally speaking, ego isn't a good thing. Humility is the most important quality in a human being.\" — John Barnes"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/john-barnes-2996_ego_generally-speaking-ego-isn-t-a-good-thin_2295563.png"
---

#  Generally speaking, ego isn't a good thing. Humility is…

![“Generally speaking, ego isn't a good thing. Humility is the most important quality in a human being.” quote by John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/john-barnes-2996_ego_generally-speaking-ego-isn-t-a-good-thin_2295563.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/john-barnes-2996_ego_generally-speaking-ego-isn-t-a-good-thin_2295563.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/john-barnes-2996_ego_generally-speaking-ego-isn-t-a-good-thin_2295563.png)

> “Generally speaking, ego isn't a good thing. Humility is the most important quality in a human being.”

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Humility is valued over ego because it fosters growth, cooperation, and realistic self‑assessment, whereas ego can blind and isolate.

**In simple terms:** Being humble is more important than being arrogant.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate humility in daily interactions.

Themes

humility ego personal growth

Mood

reflective motivational

Type

philosophical self‑help

When to use this quote

- teamwork
- leadership
- personal development

Key Concepts

self‑awareness collaboration

Questions to Reflect On

- In what ways can humility improve teamwork?
- When might ego be beneficial?

A Different Perspective

Ego can sometimes motivate achievement when balanced.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/)

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Metropolitan Hilarion Dorostolski

> [Humility is a do thing, not a feel thing. Humility is an action, not a style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/humility-is-a-do-thing-not-a-feel-thing-humility-is-an-action-not-a/)

[James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/)

> [In the mercy of God, the little thing done with humility will enable us to be found in the same place as the saints…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorotheus-of-gaza/in-the-mercy-of-god-the-little-thing-done-with-humility-will-enable/)

[Dorotheus of Gaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorotheus-of-gaza/)

> [“Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing (of humility), and manifests it to all the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/therefore-the-sage-holds-in-his-embrace-the-one-thing-of-humility-and/)

[Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/)

> [Should you ask me what is the first thing in religion, I should reply that the first, second, and third thing therein is humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/should-you-ask-me-what-is-the-first-thing-in-religion-i-should-reply/)

[Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/)

> [When you're a politician, someone always wants something from you, so they're constantly telling you how smart or great you are, and that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/when-you-re-a-politician-someone-always-wants-something-from-you-so/)

[Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/)

> [“Humility is as important, or even more important, as having the strengths yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/humility-is-as-important-or-even-more-important-as-having-the/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [When you're out in the field and spending time in these different places around the world, humility is one of the most important assets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-ward/when-you-re-out-in-the-field-and-spending-time-in-these-different/)

[Clarissa Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-ward/)

> [Humility is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-schwartz/humility-is-important/)

[Daniel Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-schwartz/)

> [Humility is the most important quality in the spiritual life. When it is lacking spiritual growth stops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-is-the-most-important-quality-in-the-spiritual-life-when-it/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Humility is a very important trait in a critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-giddins/humility-is-a-very-important-trait-in-a-critic/)

[Gary Giddins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-giddins/)

> [I think living with humility, and serving with humility, is one of the most important things humans can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-kim/i-think-living-with-humility-and-serving-with-humility-is-one-of-the/)

[Jonny Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-kim/)

## More by John Barnes

> [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [For a long time, images of black men with big lips and a round head were used to make us feel inferior, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/for-a-long-time-images-of-black-men-with-big-lips-and-a-round-head/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [Normally when you look at the Ballon d'Or winners, they're either attacking midfield players or centre-forwards. They are goalscorers and eye-catching players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/normally-when-you-look-at-the-ballon-d-or-winners-they-re-either/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [This is not the way these tales end," Calliope said firmly. "This is not the way that things end when they get to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/this-is-not-the-way-these-tales-end-calliope-said-firmly-this-is-not/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [“Where did you find construction guys swapping dirty jokes in proto-Númenorean?” Aura asked. “On construction sites. Is that coffee ready?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/where-did-you-find-construction-guys-swapping-dirty-jokes-in-proto-n/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [Young English managers don't get enough time, young black managers aren't given enough time, there are a lot of reasons why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/young-english-managers-don-t-get-enough-time-young-black-managers/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [I felt I had to take the Celtic opportunity. You quickly learn that any managerial vacancy attracts up to 60 or 70 applicants, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-felt-i-had-to-take-the-celtic-opportunity-you-quickly-learn-that/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [You have to give 100 per cent in every game and you cannot give more than 100 per cent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/you-have-to-give-100-per-cent-in-every-game-and-you-cannot-give-more/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [African society and culture varies much more than European society but it's just considered 'Africa' as if they are all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/african-society-and-culture-varies-much-more-than-european-society/)

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> [Football is all about scoring goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/football-is-all-about-scoring-goals/)

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> [The truth is that those at the top of British football do not care about getting rid of racism, they just don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/the-truth-is-that-those-at-the-top-of-british-football-do-not-care/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

[Explore all 143 John Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

## More Ego quotes

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

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[Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/)

> [I love playing ego and insecurity combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/i-love-playing-ego-and-insecurity-combined/)

[Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/)

> [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [I'm a straight shooter, and most of the time my ego doesn't interrupt my relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-macht/i-m-a-straight-shooter-and-most-of-the-time-my-ego-doesn-t-interrupt/)

[Gabriel Macht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-macht/)

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[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/)

[David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/)

> [“There are two kinds of people: goal-oriented and ego-oriented. Goal-oriented people work together and get things gone. Ego-oriented people don’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-goal-oriented-and-ego-oriented-goal/)

[Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/)

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[Rutger Hauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-hauer/)

> [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

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[E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/)

> [Our real nature is not our imaginary, limited ego. Our true nature is vast, all-comprehensive, and intangible as empty space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anagarika-govinda/our-real-nature-is-not-our-imaginary-limited-ego-our-true-nature-is/)

[Anagarika Govinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anagarika-govinda/)

> [The man of wisdom is devoid of ego even though he may appear to use it. His vacant or fasting mind is neither doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramesh-s-balsekar/the-man-of-wisdom-is-devoid-of-ego-even-though-he-may-appear-to-use/)

[Ramesh S Balsekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramesh-s-balsekar/)

> [Show me success without ego!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivana-trump/show-me-success-without-ego/)

[Ivana Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivana-trump/)

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