--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important thing about you,”…" description: "\"“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”\" — John Ortberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/john-ortberg-932_dallas_the-most-important-thing-about-you-dalla_121086.png" --- # The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often… ![“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.” quote by John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/john-ortberg-932_dallas_the-most-important-thing-about-you-dalla_121086.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/john-ortberg-932_dallas_the-most-important-thing-about-you-dalla_121086.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/john-ortberg-932_dallas_the-most-important-thing-about-you-dalla_121086.png) > ““The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”” [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishes external achievements from inner character, asserting that personal development defines true worth. **In simple terms:** Character matters more than achievements. Key Takeaway Who you become outweighs what you do. Themes character self‑growth values Mood encouraging thoughtful Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - career transitions - parenting - education Key Concepts intrinsic vs. extrinsic worth identity formation Practical Applications - Cultivate habits that reflect desired traits - Prioritize reflective self‑assessment Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure personal growth? - What habits nurture the person you want to become? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dallas/) ## Related quotes > [Neiman-Marcus is one thing, and the Dallas Cowboys are another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/neiman-marcus-is-one-thing-and-the-dallas-cowboys-are-another/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [The great thing about Dallas is there's no paparazzi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-simpson/the-great-thing-about-dallas-is-there-s-no-paparazzi/) [Jessica Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-simpson/) > [I am not a person who I am thinking about what I achieved or what I don't achieve. I am a person who try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/i-am-not-a-person-who-i-am-thinking-about-what-i-achieved-or-what-i/) [Rafael Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-nadal/) > [“Someone who knows his desires and works with purpose to achieve them is a person whose feelings, thoughts, and actions are congruent with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/someone-who-knows-his-desires-and-works-with-purpose-to-achieve-them/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [You develop a team to achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone. All of us alone are weaker, by far, than if all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/you-develop-a-team-to-achieve-what-one-person-cannot-accomplish-alone/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Dallas Cowboys may be America's team, but the Houston Oilers are Texas' team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/dallas-cowboys-may-be-america-s-team-but-the-houston-oilers-are-texas/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [At 14, I began working in radio. I ran the board at a little radio station in Dallas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/at-14-i-began-working-in-radio-i-ran-the-board-at-a-little-radio/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [I grew up in Orange County, without a team. I never affiliated myself with the Chargers, south of me, or the Raiders, north of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-grew-up-in-orange-county-without-a-team-i-never-affiliated-myself/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [I'm from Dallas, I have to speak Spanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-m-from-dallas-i-have-to-speak-spanish/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [I certainly think that the publishing houses have to learn more about this informal network of literary blogging and get over the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/i-certainly-think-that-the-publishing-houses-have-to-learn-more-about/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [It's funny, but when there are dominant teams, there are a number of people who rail about the fact that they're always seeing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-michaels/it-s-funny-but-when-there-are-dominant-teams-there-are-a-number-of/) [Al Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-michaels/) > [On Sergei Fedorov's breaking three sticks on Dallas players: I don't know if Anna (Kournikova) told him to get tougher or what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-modano/on-sergei-fedorov-s-breaking-three-sticks-on-dallas-players-i-don-t/) Mike Modano > ['Lost Boys' is one of my all-time faves. I just thought it would be great to be a vampire. I remember this movie called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/lost-boys-is-one-of-my-all-time-faves-i-just-thought-it-would-be/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [I was shopping at my local mall in Dallas that I've gone to for like three years now. And everyone was like "Oh my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-kimball/i-was-shopping-at-my-local-mall-in-dallas-that-i-ve-gone-to-for-like/) [Cheyenne Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-kimball/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) ## More by John Ortberg > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [If we are serious about loving God, we must begin with people, all people. And especially we must learn to love those that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/if-we-are-serious-about-loving-god-we-must-begin-with-people-all/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The greatest bloodbaths in the history of the human race were recorded in the twentieth century in countries that sought to eliminate God, worship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-greatest-bloodbaths-in-the-history-of-the-human-race-were/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/there-is-no-way-for-a-human-being-to-come-to-god-that-does-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Will you keep going when you don't know why? When you can't get any answers that would make the pain go away, will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/will-you-keep-going-when-you-don-t-know-why-when-you-can-t-get-any/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Death is the prerequisite to resurrection, the new life God intends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/death-is-the-prerequisite-to-resurrection-the-new-life-god-intends/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [From ancient times, the core idea of the soul is the soul is the capacity to integrate different functions into a single being or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/from-ancient-times-the-core-idea-of-the-soul-is-the-soul-is-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/hurry-is-the-great-enemy-of-spiritual-life-in-our-day-you-must/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [In reality, each thought we have carries with it a little spiritual power, a tug toward or away from God. No thought is purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/in-reality-each-thought-we-have-carries-with-it-a-little-spiritual/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The miracle of Sunday is that a dead man lives. The miracle of Saturday is that the eternal Son of God lies dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-miracle-of-sunday-is-that-a-dead-man-lives-the-miracle-of/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Jesus had a universal concern for those who suffered that transcended the rules of the ancient world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/jesus-had-a-universal-concern-for-those-who-suffered-that-transcended/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [God is a God of endless opportunities to do good; the God of the open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/god-is-a-god-of-endless-opportunities-to-do-good-the-god-of-the-open/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [One of the most painful aspects of suffering is the loneliness of it. Others may offer support or empathy, but no one can walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/one-of-the-most-painful-aspects-of-suffering-is-the-loneliness-of-it/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The Holy Spirit will lead you to be with people as Jesus would be with them if He were in your place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-holy-spirit-will-lead-you-to-be-with-people-as-jesus-would-be/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) [Explore all 325 John Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## More Dallas quotes > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I was shopping at my local mall in Dallas that I've gone to for like three years now. And everyone was like "Oh my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-kimball/i-was-shopping-at-my-local-mall-in-dallas-that-i-ve-gone-to-for-like/) [Cheyenne Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-kimball/) > ['Lost Boys' is one of my all-time faves. I just thought it would be great to be a vampire. I remember this movie called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/lost-boys-is-one-of-my-all-time-faves-i-just-thought-it-would-be/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [On Sergei Fedorov's breaking three sticks on Dallas players: I don't know if Anna (Kournikova) told him to get tougher or what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-modano/on-sergei-fedorov-s-breaking-three-sticks-on-dallas-players-i-don-t/) Mike Modano > [It's funny, but when there are dominant teams, there are a number of people who rail about the fact that they're always seeing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-michaels/it-s-funny-but-when-there-are-dominant-teams-there-are-a-number-of/) [Al Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-michaels/) > [I certainly think that the publishing houses have to learn more about this informal network of literary blogging and get over the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/i-certainly-think-that-the-publishing-houses-have-to-learn-more-about/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [I'm from Dallas, I have to speak Spanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-m-from-dallas-i-have-to-speak-spanish/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [I grew up in Orange County, without a team. I never affiliated myself with the Chargers, south of me, or the Raiders, north of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-grew-up-in-orange-county-without-a-team-i-never-affiliated-myself/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [At 14, I began working in radio. I ran the board at a little radio station in Dallas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/at-14-i-began-working-in-radio-i-ran-the-board-at-a-little-radio/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [Dallas Cowboys may be America's team, but the Houston Oilers are Texas' team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/dallas-cowboys-may-be-america-s-team-but-the-houston-oilers-are-texas/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [From the small town in Iowa where I grew up, to Chapel Hill where I went to college, to the Bay Area and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/from-the-small-town-in-iowa-where-i-grew-up-to-chapel-hill-where-i/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [For me certainly Earl Campbell and Tony Dorsett come to mind, and Roger Staubach. I've grown up here in Dallas watching Roger and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brown/for-me-certainly-earl-campbell-and-tony-dorsett-come-to-mind-and/) [Tim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-brown/) > [“So who do you think would win in a fight, Max? Us or the rest of the world?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-austen/so-who-do-you-think-would-win-in-a-fight-max-us-or-the-rest-of-the/) Catherine Austen > [“What are you doing?" she asked. Grimacing, he considered returning his mouth to hers and kissing her until she forgot the question and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/what-are-you-doing-she-asked-grimacing-he-considered-returning-his/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [A sceptic finds Dallas absurd. A cynic thinks the public doesn't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/a-sceptic-finds-dallas-absurd-a-cynic-thinks-the-public-doesn-t/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) [Browse all 293 Dallas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dallas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ortberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dallas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/john-ortberg-932_dallas_the-most-important-thing-about-you-dalla_121086.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/john-ortberg-932_dallas_the-most-important-thing-about-you-dalla_121086.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/john-ortberg-932_dallas_the-most-important-thing-about-you-dalla_121086.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the…” — John Ortberg", "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 Ortberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The most important thing about you,”...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/#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 } } ] } ```