--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success comes from keeping the ears open…" description: "\"Success comes from keeping the ears open and the mouth closed\" — John D. Rockefeller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/john-d-rockefeller-3693_ears_success-comes-from-keeping-the-ears-open_1124165.jpg" --- # Success comes from keeping the ears open and the mouth… ![“Success comes from keeping the ears open and the mouth closed” quote by John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/john-d-rockefeller-3693_ears_success-comes-from-keeping-the-ears-open_1124165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/john-d-rockefeller-3693_ears_success-comes-from-keeping-the-ears-open_1124165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/john-d-rockefeller-3693_ears_success-comes-from-keeping-the-ears-open_1124165.jpg) > “Success comes from keeping the ears open and the mouth closed” [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success comes from listening more and speaking less, gathering information before acting. **In simple terms:** Listen, then act. Key Takeaway Speak less, listen more. Themes communication success discipline Mood thoughtful strategic Type advice business When to use this quote - negotiations - leadership - personal development Key Concepts strategic listening information gathering Questions to Reflect On - When should you speak up? - How to ensure listening leads to action? A Different Perspective Silence can be misinterpreted as indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Ears Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears-open-389911/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Keeping Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-ears-1519728/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mouth Closed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth-closed/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Open mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mouth/) [Success Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-comes/) ## Related quotes > [Open your ears before you open your mouth, it may surprise your eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/open-your-ears-before-you-open-your-mouth-it-may-surprise-your-eyes/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [The best thing you can probably do is keep a low profile, keep your eyes and ears open, your mouth shut, and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/the-best-thing-you-can-probably-do-is-keep-a-low-profile-keep-your/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [It's better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-better-to-keep-your-mouth-closed-and-be-thought-a-fool-than-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Not prejudging things, listening to what's going on, keeping your ears, heart, and mind open.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/not-prejudging-things-listening-to-what-s-going-on-keeping-your-ears/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The nation will find it very hard to look up to the leaders who are keeping their ears to the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-nation-will-find-it-very-hard-to-look-up-to-the-leaders-who-are/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“We're keeping our ears alert for any sudden thumps in undusted corners.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-holm/we-re-keeping-our-ears-alert-for-any-sudden-thumps-in-undusted-corners/) [Bill Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-holm/) > [I think that if you keep your eyes and your ears open and you are receptive to learning, there are skills you can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/i-think-that-if-you-keep-your-eyes-and-your-ears-open-and-you-are/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [I wouldn't describe the artist Theaster Gates as a mentor, but I pay attention and keep my ears open when I'm with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-wouldn-t-describe-the-artist-theaster-gates-as-a-mentor-but-i-pay/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [Keep your eyes and ears open, if you desire to get on in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/keep-your-eyes-and-ears-open-if-you-desire-to-get-on-in-the-world/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) > [“We need to keep our eyes and ears open.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/we-need-to-keep-our-eyes-and-ears-open/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [I just tell young people to find their way. Keep your eyes open. Keep your ears open and keep your heart open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/i-just-tell-young-people-to-find-their-way-keep-your-eyes-open-keep/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [My ears are open to all sorts of stuff. I appreciate some of the big electro house guys.I love their music but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-trak/my-ears-are-open-to-all-sorts-of-stuff-i-appreciate-some-of-the-big/) [A-Trak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-trak/) > [I do keep my eyes and ears open but I don't spend a lot of time looking at what other people are doing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/i-do-keep-my-eyes-and-ears-open-but-i-don-t-spend-a-lot-of-time/) [Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/) > [God is on a roll today people, make sure your eyes, heart and ears are open and looking/listening for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-is-on-a-roll-today-people-make-sure-your-eyes-heart-and-ears-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And if you don't have your ears open, you're not going to be able to figure out what you should be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/and-if-you-don-t-have-your-ears-open-you-re-not-going-to-be-able-to/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) ## More by John D. Rockefeller > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [I would rather hire a man with enthusiasm, than a man who knows everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-would-rather-hire-a-man-with-enthusiasm-than-a-man-who-knows/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [“The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-secret-to-success-is-to-do-the-common-things-uncommonly-well/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [After it is all over, the religion of man is his most important possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/after-it-is-all-over-the-religion-of-man-is-his-most-important/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [There is no feeling in this world to be compared with self-reliance--do not sacrifice that to anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/there-is-no-feeling-in-this-world-to-be-compared-with-self-reliance/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [The American Beauty Rose can be produced in the splendor and fragrance which bring cheer to its beholder only by sacrificing the early buds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-american-beauty-rose-can-be-produced-in-the-splendor-and/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [To think! All that power and he wasn't even rich!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/to-think-all-that-power-and-he-wasn-t-even-rich/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [The only question with wealth is, what do you do with it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-only-question-with-wealth-is-what-do-you-do-with-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [I know of nothing more despicable and pathetic than a man who devotes all the hours of the waking day to the making of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-know-of-nothing-more-despicable-and-pathetic-than-a-man-who-devotes/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-always-tried-to-turn-every-disaster-into-an-opportunity/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [There is nothing in this world that can compare with the Christian fellowship; nothing that can satisfy but Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/there-is-nothing-in-this-world-that-can-compare-with-the-christian/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [“I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-believe-in-the-supreme-worth-of-the-individual-and-in-his-right-to/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-do-not-think-there-is-any-other-quality-so-essential-to-success-of/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [The major fortunes in America have been made in land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-major-fortunes-in-america-have-been-made-in-land/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) [Explore all 123 John D. Rockefeller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) ## More Ears quotes > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Story is about pulling the reader in and a plot is a more externalized mechanism of revelation. A plot is more antic, more performative,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/story-is-about-pulling-the-reader-in-and-a-plot-is-a-more/) [Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/) > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Somehow the river is louder when you cover your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-williams/somehow-the-river-is-louder-when-you-cover-your-ears/) [Niall Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-williams/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Words are substance strange. Speak one and the air ripples into another's ears. Write one and the eye laps it up. But the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-beachy-quick/words-are-substance-strange-speak-one-and-the-air-ripples-into/) [Dan Beachy-Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-beachy-quick/) > [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The more that you act on your intuition fearlessly, the more your intuition will serve you. Intuition is the ear of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-more-that-you-act-on-your-intuition-fearlessly-the-more-your/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [it'll be this kind of deep blue”she said. “The kind of color that somehow sucks your eyes and your ears and all your words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/it-ll-be-this-kind-of-deep-blue-she-said-the-kind-of-color-that/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/flat-muscled-and-honey-coloured-sea-secrets-in-his-eyes-a-silver/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Browse all 2,987 Ears quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Success comes from keeping the ears open and the mouth closed", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John D. 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