--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Smart leaders believe only half of what…" description: "\"Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear. Discerning leaders know which have to believe.\" — John C. Maxwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/john-c-maxwell-113_believe_smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what_2560404.jpg" --- # Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear… ![“Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear. Discerning leaders know which have to believe.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/john-c-maxwell-113_believe_smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what_2560404.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/john-c-maxwell-113_believe_smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what_2560404.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/john-c-maxwell-113_believe_smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what_2560404.jpg) > “Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear. Discerning leaders know which have to believe.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leaders filter information, accepting only what aligns with truth and purpose. **In simple terms:** Leaders listen selectively. Key Takeaway Discern and act on reliable information. Themes leadership critical thinking communication Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice leadership When to use this quote - team meetings - media consumption - strategic planning Key Concepts information hygiene decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify what you hear? - What criteria guide your belief? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on intuition can miss important data. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-half-438131/) [Discerning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discerning/) [Discerning Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discerning-leaders-1600415/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-believe-1600414/) [Leaders Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-know-306421/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-leaders-1179348/) ## Related quotes > [“When countries negotiate with one another, they typically operate as if they are opponents in a chess match or merchants in a bazaar in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/when-countries-negotiate-with-one-another-they-typically-operate-as/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“Whenever we look around the world, we see smart leaders – in politics, in business, in media – making terrible decisions. What they're lacking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/whenever-we-look-around-the-world-we-see-smart-leaders-in-politics-in/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [“No matter how smart our leaders are, there are problems they cannot solve. This is one of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joelle-charbonneau/no-matter-how-smart-our-leaders-are-there-are-problems-they-cannot/) [Joelle Charbonneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joelle-charbonneau/) > [The best leaders are readers of people. They have the intuitive ability to understand others by discerning how they feel and recognizing what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-best-leaders-are-readers-of-people-they-have-the-intuitive/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Bad leaders believe that they have to project control at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/bad-leaders-believe-that-they-have-to-project-control-at-all-times/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Certain black leaders would believe that you have to go through their prism: 'If I lay my hand on you, you're OK.' So many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/certain-black-leaders-would-believe-that-you-have-to-go-through-their/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [Our reverence for workaholism has produced corporate leaders who believe they don't need sleep, and neither should anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-coren/our-reverence-for-workaholism-has-produced-corporate-leaders-who/) [Stanley Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-coren/) > [I'm glad to know that we do have political leaders that believe in God, and that has been true from the days of George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-m-glad-to-know-that-we-do-have-political-leaders-that-believe-in/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Value-based leaders believe in democratic workplaces in which employees participate in decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/value-based-leaders-believe-in-democratic-workplaces-in-which/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [Great leaders give everyone something to believe in, not something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/great-leaders-give-everyone-something-to-believe-in-not-something-to/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [In order to restore our country to the principles on which it was founded, we need to elect leaders that believe in the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-o-donnell/in-order-to-restore-our-country-to-the-principles-on-which-it-was/) [Christine O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-o-donnell/) > [...perhaps the most distinguishing trait of visionary leaders is that they believe in a goal that benefits not only themselves, but others as well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/perhaps-the-most-distinguishing-trait-of-visionary-leaders-is-that/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Once again, America finds itself with some leaders who believe we can ignore the world without consequences here at home. Apparently they're oblivious to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/once-again-america-finds-itself-with-some-leaders-who-believe-we-can/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“God's leaders believe the impossible and move in the eternal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-k-white/god-s-leaders-believe-the-impossible-and-move-in-the-eternal/) [Sherry K. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-k-white/) > [Bad leaders believe their team works for them. Great leaders believe they work for their team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-den-heijer/bad-leaders-believe-their-team-works-for-them-great-leaders-believe/) [Alexander Den Heijer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-den-heijer/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Vision is a picture of a desired future; a picture of something that I don't possess right now, but it is something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/vision-is-a-picture-of-a-desired-future-a-picture-of-something-that-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you want to make your mother happy, talk to her. If you want to make your father happy, listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-want-to-make-your-mother-happy-talk-to-her-if-you-want-to-make/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Experiences isn't the best teacher - evaluated experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/experiences-isn-t-the-best-teacher-evaluated-experience-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-big-man-is-one-who-makes-us-feel-bigger-when-we-are-with-him/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I thought if I was open and honest, it would help the reader to get open and honest, and they also would realize sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-thought-if-i-was-open-and-honest-it-would-help-the-reader-to-get/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A person who has a dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-person-who-has-a-dream-knows-what-he-is-willing-to-give-up-in-order/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Explore all 1,233 John C. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear. Discerning leaders know which have to believe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John C. Maxwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what-they-hear-discerning-leaders/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what-they-hear-discerning-leaders/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/john-c-maxwell-113_believe_smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what_2560404.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/john-c-maxwell-113_believe_smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what_2560404.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/john-c-maxwell-113_believe_smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what_2560404.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear. Discerning leaders know which have to believe.” — John C. Maxwell", "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": "John C. Maxwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Smart leaders believe only half of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what-they-hear-discerning-leaders/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what-they-hear-discerning-leaders/#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 } } ] } ```