--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Making one brilliant decision and a whole…" description: "\"Making one brilliant decision and a whole bunch of mediocre ones isn't as good as making a whole bunch of generally smart decisions throughout the whol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/john-carmack-15030_brilliant_making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whol_3128262.jpg" --- # Making one brilliant decision and a whole bunch of… ![“Making one brilliant decision and a whole bunch of mediocre ones isn't as good as making a whole bunch of generally smart decisions throughout the whole process.” quote by John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/john-carmack-15030_brilliant_making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whol_3128262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/john-carmack-15030_brilliant_making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whol_3128262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/john-carmack-15030_brilliant_making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whol_3128262.jpg) > “Making one brilliant decision and a whole bunch of mediocre ones isn't as good as making a whole bunch of generally smart decisions throughout the whole process.” [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistently making many good choices outweighs occasional brilliance. **In simple terms:** Many smart choices beat one great one. Key Takeaway Focus on steady, solid decisions. Themes decision making consistency strategy Mood pragmatic focused Type advice strategic When to use this quote - software development - business planning - personal finance - career growth Key Concepts incremental improvement risk management optimization Questions to Reflect On - How can you build habits that ensure consistently good choices? - What processes help you evaluate decisions daily? A Different Perspective One brilliant decision can be undone by many poor ones. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-decisions/) ## Related quotes > [What makes a nation great is not primarily its great men, but the stature of its innumerable mediocre ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/what-makes-a-nation-great-is-not-primarily-its-great-men-but-the/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [Scores only matter if they’re very good, no one pays much attention to the bad or mediocre ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/scores-only-matter-if-they-re-very-good-no-one-pays-much-attention-to/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Scores only matter if theyre very good, no one pays much attention to the bad or mediocre ones. -Portia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunger-games/scores-only-matter-if-theyre-very-good-no-one-pays-much-attention-to/) [Hunger Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunger-games/) > [“Until you actually start making something, your brilliant idea is just that, an idea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/until-you-actually-start-making-something-your-brilliant-idea-is-just/) [Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/) > [Outstanding long-term results are produced primarily by avoiding dumb decisions, rather than by making brilliant ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/outstanding-long-term-results-are-produced-primarily-by-avoiding-dumb/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I'd rather write one good book than ten mediocre ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/i-d-rather-write-one-good-book-than-ten-mediocre-ones/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“All great conductors are different. The mediocre ones are more or less the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mauceri/all-great-conductors-are-different-the-mediocre-ones-are-more-or-less/) John Mauceri > [“The good writers touch life. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-good-writers-touch-life-the-mediocre-ones-run-a-quick-hand-over/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [If children who commit crimes are not given the opportunity of a second chance, they may die in prison for acts made before having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/if-children-who-commit-crimes-are-not-given-the-opportunity-of-a/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [I think growing an economy is a good way to help with a deficit, but ultimately, it's about fiscal discipline and responsible spending -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/i-think-growing-an-economy-is-a-good-way-to-help-with-a-deficit-but/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [Seize what's been handed you. Make smart decisions. Make decisions because life is a temporary situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/seize-what-s-been-handed-you-make-smart-decisions-make-decisions/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I also had to come tonight to apologize. If you need to go to Mexico to finish this process off, then I understand. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-also-had-to-come-tonight-to-apologize-if-you-need-to-go-to-mexico/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Let's prove that we're going to stand together, make the smart decisions that will get the economy going and growing for everybody, not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/let-s-prove-that-we-re-going-to-stand-together-make-the-smart/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“Jacob didn’t say “Seize the day,” he said “Seize what’s been handed you.” Make smart decisions. Make decisions because—he said it again—life is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/jacob-didn-t-say-seize-the-day-he-said-seize-what-s-been-handed-you/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“What are the odds that people will make smart decisions about money if they don’t need to make smart decisions—if they can get rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/what-are-the-odds-that-people-will-make-smart-decisions-about-money/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) ## More by John Carmack > [The idea that I can be presented with a problem, set out to logically solve it with the tools at hand, and wind up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-idea-that-i-can-be-presented-with-a-problem-set-out-to-logically/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [The situation is so much better for programmers today - a cheap used PC, a linux CD, and an internet account, and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-situation-is-so-much-better-for-programmers-today-a-cheap-used-pc/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [ In the information age, the barriers \[to entry into programming\] just aren't there. The barriers are self imposed. If you want to set off… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/in-the-information-age-the-barriers-to-entry-into-programming-just/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [It's nice to have a game that sells a million copies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/it-s-nice-to-have-a-game-that-sells-a-million-copies/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I've said before that I'm a remarkably unsentimental person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-ve-said-before-that-i-m-a-remarkably-unsentimental-person/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Programming in the abstract sense is what I really enjoy. I enjoy lots of different areas of it... I'm taking a great deal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/programming-in-the-abstract-sense-is-what-i-really-enjoy-i-enjoy-lots/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I really think, if anything, there is more evidence to show that the violent games reduce aggression and violence. There have actually been some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-really-think-if-anything-there-is-more-evidence-to-show-that-the/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I recognize that I possess a very special intellect, but at the same time, I recognize that I'm lacking in a lot of areas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-recognize-that-i-possess-a-very-special-intellect-but-at-the-same/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Some cynical people think that every activity must revolve around the mighty dollar, and that anyone saying otherwise is just attempting to delude the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/some-cynical-people-think-that-every-activity-must-revolve-around-the/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [The speed of light sucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-speed-of-light-sucks/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [You can prematurely optimize maintainability, flexibility, security, and robustness just like you can performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/you-can-prematurely-optimize-maintainability-flexibility-security-and/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Honestly, I spend very little time thinking about past events, and I certainly don't have them ranked in any way. I look back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/honestly-i-spend-very-little-time-thinking-about-past-events-and-i/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I have fond memories of the development work that led to a lot of great things in modern gaming - the intensity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-have-fond-memories-of-the-development-work-that-led-to-a-lot-of/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Focused, hard work is the real key to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/focused-hard-work-is-the-real-key-to-success/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [If you're willing to restrict the flexibility of your approach, you can almost always do something better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/if-you-re-willing-to-restrict-the-flexibility-of-your-approach-you/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) [Explore all 44 John Carmack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) ## More Brilliant quotes > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [No matter how brilliant an actor is, there's always a point where they let you down, but that's all part of their journey. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hale/no-matter-how-brilliant-an-actor-is-there-s-always-a-point-where-they/) [Amanda Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hale/) > [I enjoy working with Deborah Ann, I think she's brilliant. It's been a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-enjoy-working-with-deborah-ann-i-think-she-s-brilliant-it-s-been-a/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [Gravity Falls' didn't just appear overnight - every spooky cave and moss covered tree was created by a team of brilliant artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/gravity-falls-didn-t-just-appear-overnight-every-spooky-cave-and-moss/) [Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/) > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-a-trace-of-irony-i-can-say-i-have-been-blessed-with-brilliant/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' is a movie that I just find flawless. Jack Nicholson... I just saw 'The Shining' again the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biehn/one-flew-over-the-cuckoo-s-nest-is-a-movie-that-i-just-find-flawless/) [Michael Biehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biehn/) > [“You deicde, and you make our night what you want. Brilliant and ours. Stupid and theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-phillips/you-deicde-and-you-make-our-night-what-you-want-brilliant-and-ours/) [Arthur Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-phillips/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Tom Stafford was an odd character, you know - a brilliant guy. He looked weird and I think he took a really defensive attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-fritts/tom-stafford-was-an-odd-character-you-know-a-brilliant-guy-he-looked/) [Donnie Fritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-fritts/) [Browse all 2,403 Brilliant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Making one brilliant decision and a whole bunch of mediocre ones isn't as good as making a whole bunch of generally smart decisions throughout the whole process.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Carmack" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whole-bunch-of-mediocre-ones-isn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brilliant" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whole-bunch-of-mediocre-ones-isn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/john-carmack-15030_brilliant_making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whol_3128262.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/john-carmack-15030_brilliant_making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whol_3128262.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/john-carmack-15030_brilliant_making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whol_3128262.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Making one brilliant decision and a whole bunch of mediocre ones isn't as good as making a whole bunch of…” — John Carmack", "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 Carmack", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Making one brilliant decision and a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whole-bunch-of-mediocre-ones-isn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whole-bunch-of-mediocre-ones-isn/#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 } } ] } ```