--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What matters is not the accomplishments…" description: "\"What matters is not the accomplishments you achieve; what matters is the person you become.\" — John Ortberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/john-ortberg-932_accomplishment_what-matters-is-not-the-accomplishments_1393053.png" --- # What matters is not the accomplishments you achieve; what… ![“What matters is not the accomplishments you achieve; what matters is the person you become.” quote by John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/john-ortberg-932_accomplishment_what-matters-is-not-the-accomplishments_1393053.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/john-ortberg-932_accomplishment_what-matters-is-not-the-accomplishments_1393053.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/john-ortberg-932_accomplishment_what-matters-is-not-the-accomplishments_1393053.png) > “What matters is not the accomplishments you achieve; what matters is the person 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. True value lies in personal growth, not external achievements. **In simple terms:** Character matters more than accolades. Key Takeaway Focus on becoming better. Themes self‑improvement character values Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - education - parenting - leadership Key Concepts psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure personal success? - What habits shape your character? A Different Perspective Neglecting achievements can demotivate others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Accomplishments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishments/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“No matter what accomplishments you achieve, somebody helped you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/no-matter-what-accomplishments-you-achieve-somebody-helped-you/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [“True leaders are surrounded by the accomplishments they achieve and lead with quiet example that shouts integrity with actions they example”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bluenscottish/true-leaders-are-surrounded-by-the-accomplishments-they-achieve-and/) Bluenscottish > [Whatever the journey is, it's not only the destination that matters, but the person with whom you travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whatever-the-journey-is-it-s-not-only-the-destination-that-matters/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When a goal matters enough to a person, that person will find a way to accomplish what at first seemed impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-goal-matters-enough-to-a-person-that-person-will-find-a-way-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters. This is the person who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/not-the-maker-of-plans-and-promises-but-rather-the-one-who-offers/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“At the end of the day, the only thing matters is 'Nothing' and the only person matters is 'You'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/educationist-rana-vikram-singh/at-the-end-of-the-day-the-only-thing-matters-is-nothing-and-the-only/) [Educationist Rana Vikram Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/educationist-rana-vikram-singh/) > [“This is how it works. Everything is connected. Every choice matters. Every person is vital, and valuable, and worthy of respect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-wiles/this-is-how-it-works-everything-is-connected-every-choice-matters/) [Deborah Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-wiles/) > [It matters not what a person is born, but what they choose to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-3/it-matters-not-what-a-person-is-born-but-what-they-choose-to-be/) [J K Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-3/) > [With God, every day matters, every person counts. And that includes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/with-god-every-day-matters-every-person-counts-and-that-includes-you/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“It is not your beauty, success or money that should define you; neither should your church calling, your charitable contributions or talents. Humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-is-not-your-beauty-success-or-money-that-should-define-you-neither/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Real women fight for something, other than their own emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/real-women-fight-for-something-other-than-their-own-emotions/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“A responsible woman doesn’t see opportunities and needs and look the other way pretending not to see them rather she gets to work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agu-jaachynma-n-e/a-responsible-woman-doesn-t-see-opportunities-and-needs-and-look-the/) [Agu Jaachynma N.E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agu-jaachynma-n-e/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“Give someone more time and they'll appear to have done more with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/give-someone-more-time-and-they-ll-appear-to-have-done-more-with-it/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) ## 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/) > [“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/) [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/) [Explore all 325 John Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## More Accomplishment quotes > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/) Anthony Sargent > [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 1,598 Accomplishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What matters is not the accomplishments you achieve; what matters is the person you become.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ortberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-matters-is-not-the-accomplishments-you-achieve-what-matters-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplishment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-matters-is-not-the-accomplishments-you-achieve-what-matters-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/john-ortberg-932_accomplishment_what-matters-is-not-the-accomplishments_1393053.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/john-ortberg-932_accomplishment_what-matters-is-not-the-accomplishments_1393053.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/john-ortberg-932_accomplishment_what-matters-is-not-the-accomplishments_1393053.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What matters is not the accomplishments you achieve; what matters is the person you become.” — 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": "What matters is not the accomplishments...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-matters-is-not-the-accomplishments-you-achieve-what-matters-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-matters-is-not-the-accomplishments-you-achieve-what-matters-is/#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 } } ] } ```