---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't be a smart cookie if you have a…"
description: "\"You can't be a smart cookie if you have a crummy attitude.\" — John C. Maxwell"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fac/john-c-maxwell-113_attitude_you-can-t-be-a-smart-cookie-if-you-have_1571417.jpg"
---

#  You can't be a smart cookie if you have a crummy attitude.

![“You can't be a smart cookie if you have a crummy attitude.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fac/john-c-maxwell-113_attitude_you-can-t-be-a-smart-cookie-if-you-have_1571417.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fac/john-c-maxwell-113_attitude_you-can-t-be-a-smart-cookie-if-you-have_1571417.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fac/john-c-maxwell-113_attitude_you-can-t-be-a-smart-cookie-if-you-have_1571417.jpg)

> “You can't be a smart cookie if you have a crummy attitude.”

[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.

A positive attitude is essential; a bad attitude undermines intelligence.

**In simple terms:** Attitude determines effectiveness.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate a positive mindset.

Themes

leadership attitude self-improvement

Mood

motivational practical

Type

leadership self-help

When to use this quote

- team management
- personal growth
- coaching
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

psychology motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you take to improve your attitude?
- How does attitude affect decision making?

A Different Perspective

A good attitude alone may not guarantee success.

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## Related quotes

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> [Instead of slashing my wrists, I just write a bunch of really crummy songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-steele/instead-of-slashing-my-wrists-i-just-write-a-bunch-of-really-crummy/)

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> [It's a lot of work to read a crummy script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/it-s-a-lot-of-work-to-read-a-crummy-script/)

[Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/)

> [Writing is pretty crummy on the nerves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/writing-is-pretty-crummy-on-the-nerves/)

[Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/)

> [Attitude: It is our best friend or our worst enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/attitude-it-is-our-best-friend-or-our-worst-enemy/)

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> [I played in a couple of really crummy bands, including one in the dorm I was in at MIT, for a year or two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-played-in-a-couple-of-really-crummy-bands-including-one-in-the-dorm/)

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> [My family can always tell when I'm well into a novel because the meals get very crummy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/my-family-can-always-tell-when-i-m-well-into-a-novel-because-the/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [A Trump presidency feels as if we've crawled between the covers of a really crummy book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/a-trump-presidency-feels-as-if-we-ve-crawled-between-the-covers-of-a/)

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## 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/)

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> [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/)

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> [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/)

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## More Attitude quotes

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