--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important thing for a young man…" description: "\"The most important thing for a young man is to establish a credit... a reputation, character.\" — John D. Rockefeller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/john-d-rockefeller-3693_character_the-most-important-thing-for-a-young-man_664324.jpg" --- # The most important thing for a young man is to establish a… ![“The most important thing for a young man is to establish a credit... a reputation, character.” quote by John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/john-d-rockefeller-3693_character_the-most-important-thing-for-a-young-man_664324.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/john-d-rockefeller-3693_character_the-most-important-thing-for-a-young-man_664324.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/john-d-rockefeller-3693_character_the-most-important-thing-for-a-young-man_664324.jpg) > “The most important thing for a young man is to establish a credit... a reputation, character.” [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. Emphasizes that a young man's success hinges on building credit, reputation, and character. **In simple terms:** Credit, reputation, and character are essential. Key Takeaway Cultivate trust and integrity early. Themes finance character career legacy Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - job interview - networking - financial planning - personal branding Key Concepts social capital ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - What steps are you taking to build reputation? - How does credit affect your opportunities? A Different Perspective Character alone may not guarantee wealth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Credit Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit-reputation-3008754/) [Establish Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establish-credit-3008755/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Reputation Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation-character-910368/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [The most important thing for a young man is to establish credit - a reputation and character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller-2/the-most-important-thing-for-a-young-man-is-to-establish-credit-a/) [John D Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller-2/) > [Once I establish credit, I may be able to function. A man needs credit. Especially when he has no money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/once-i-establish-credit-i-may-be-able-to-function-a-man-needs-credit/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Reputation is character minus what you've been caught doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-iapoce/reputation-is-character-minus-what-you-ve-been-caught-doing/) [Michael Iapoce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-iapoce/) > [Worry about your character and not your reputation, because your character is who you are, and your reputation is only what people think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worry-about-your-character-and-not-your-reputation-because-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Think & be cautious before you speak because your words are reflection of your reputation & character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/think-be-cautious-before-you-speak-because-your-words-are-reflection/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Reputation is seeming; character is being. Reputation is manufactured; character is grown. Reputation is your photograph; There is a vast difference between character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stuart-macarthur/reputation-is-seeming-character-is-being-reputation-is-manufactured/) [Robert Stuart MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stuart-macarthur/) > [Worry about your character, not your reputation. Your character is who you are. Your reputation is who people think you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worry-about-your-character-not-your-reputation-your-character-is-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-more-concerned-with-your-character-than-with-your-reputation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The thing that must be preserved in all situations whatever is the reputation of one's character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-stael/the-thing-that-must-be-preserved-in-all-situations-whatever-is-the/) [Madame de Stael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-stael/) > [Worry about your character, NOT your reputation,Because your character is who you are, and your reputation is what people think of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worry-about-your-character-not-your-reputation-because-your-character/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some of us are more concerned with our reputation than our character. The latter takes care of the former.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/some-of-us-are-more-concerned-with-our-reputation-than-our-character/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleatha-romig/be-more-concerned-with-your-character-than-your-reputation-because/) [Aleatha Romig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleatha-romig/) > [Worry about your character, not your reputation. Your character is who you are, and your reputetion is who people think you re.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/worry-about-your-character-not-your-reputation-your-character-is-who-2/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The world may take your reputation from you, but it cannot take your character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-dunham-kelley-hawkins/the-world-may-take-your-reputation-from-you-but-it-cannot-take-your/) [Emma Dunham Kelley-Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-dunham-kelley-hawkins/) > [Be more concerned about your character than your reputation, because Your character is Who u are & Your reputation is what others think of you ..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-bassam/be-more-concerned-about-your-character-than-your-reputation-because/) [Ali Bassam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-bassam/) ## 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 Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most important thing for a young man is to establish a credit... a reputation, character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John D. 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