--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you appoint someone, you appoint…" description: "\"When you appoint someone, you appoint somebody because of their character, their convictions, their abilities. And not because you have a belief, a con..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/karl-rove-3809_ability_when-you-appoint-someone-you-appoint-som_1161402.jpg" --- # When you appoint someone, you appoint somebody because of… ![“When you appoint someone, you appoint somebody because of their character, their convictions, their abilities. And not because you have a belief, a confidence, in a foreordained outcome in any given decision.” quote by Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/karl-rove-3809_ability_when-you-appoint-someone-you-appoint-som_1161402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/karl-rove-3809_ability_when-you-appoint-someone-you-appoint-som_1161402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/karl-rove-3809_ability_when-you-appoint-someone-you-appoint-som_1161402.jpg) > “When you appoint someone, you appoint somebody because of their character, their convictions, their abilities. And not because you have a belief, a confidence, in a foreordained outcome in any given decision.” [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing leaders based on character and ability, not on presumed outcomes, ensures better decisions. **In simple terms:** Select people for their traits, not predictions. Key Takeaway Prioritize character over certainty. Themes leadership character decisionmaking Mood analytical pragmatic Type advice political When to use this quote - hiring - team building - policy formation Key Concepts ethics political strategy Questions to Reflect On - What traits matter most in your hires? - Can you trust character alone? A Different Perspective Outcomes can be unpredictable despite best character. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Appoint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appoint/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ## Related quotes > [“Ballot papers do not define leaders. Leadership is defined by conviction, vision, passion and inspiration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/ballot-papers-do-not-define-leaders-leadership-is-defined-by/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“You can be in your room and lead people. Just develop your potentials and publicize them and you will see people looking for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-can-be-in-your-room-and-lead-people-just-develop-your-potentials/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“A “self-leader” is the positively influence you have on yourself and on others without any influence with your titles and positions. You must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/a-self-leader-is-the-positively-influence-you-have-on-yourself-and-on/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The time frame is very small to disarm the militia, to bring about a security situation in which the governing council, the 24 Iraqis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lugar/the-time-frame-is-very-small-to-disarm-the-militia-to-bring-about-a/) [Richard Lugar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lugar/) > [“Resources are hired to give results, not reasons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/resources-are-hired-to-give-results-not-reasons/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Self-leaders do not look for followers because they are busily pursuing their influencial dreams that followers will trace and ask for. Followers look for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/self-leaders-do-not-look-for-followers-because-they-are-busily/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“will appoint Peace as your overseer           and Righteousness as your taskmaster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/will-appoint-peace-as-your-overseer-and-righteousness-as-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A young child is a leader to an elderly person once his purpose has a faithful, sincere and trustworthy influence on people. Leadership is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/a-young-child-is-a-leader-to-an-elderly-person-once-his-purpose-has-a/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [You don't expect to get the letter saying, Her Majesty would like to appoint you Knight Commander of the British Empire! It was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-sher/you-don-t-expect-to-get-the-letter-saying-her-majesty-would-like-to/) [Antony Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-sher/) > [ If I resign any time this year, he \[President Obama\] could not successfully appoint anyone I would like to see in the court. ...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-i-resign-any-time-this-year-he-president-obama-could-not/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [I went along with it, and wanted to appoint a significant figure in Malcolm Fraser. I didn't have high hopes that they'd be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/i-went-along-with-it-and-wanted-to-appoint-a-significant-figure-in/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [Selectors can't please everyone, but I am OK if they are working for the benefit of Indian cricket. It's an administrative decision to appoint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-dev/selectors-can-t-please-everyone-but-i-am-ok-if-they-are-working-for/) [Kapil Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-dev/) > [“Contrary to popular opinion, leadership is not a reserved position for a particular group of people who were elected or appointed, ordained or enthroned.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/contrary-to-popular-opinion-leadership-is-not-a-reserved-position-for/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [ \[Donald Trump\] will appoint an attorney general, who will send very clear messages about how law enforcement is to be pursued in this country. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/donald-trump-will-appoint-an-attorney-general-who-will-send-very/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I think there is a need to have more women running companies, but you can't... appoint women just to appoint women, just to satisfy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-carroll/i-think-there-is-a-need-to-have-more-women-running-companies-but-you/) [Cynthia Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-carroll/) ## More by Karl Rove > [Well, I'm a Christian. I was a born a Presbyterian and became an Episcopalian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/well-i-m-a-christian-i-was-a-born-a-presbyterian-and-became-an/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [We face a brutal enemy who will kill the innocent for one purpose and that is to gain control of the Middle East and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/we-face-a-brutal-enemy-who-will-kill-the-innocent-for-one-purpose-and/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [We need to be asking for the vote in the most powerful way possible, which is to have people asking for the vote who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/we-need-to-be-asking-for-the-vote-in-the-most-powerful-way-possible/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [The labor movement must be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/the-labor-movement-must-be-destroyed/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [You may be right that people say: You know what, we had Obama. He was inexperienced. The guy had great rhetoric, sounded good, looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/you-may-be-right-that-people-say-you-know-what-we-had-obama-he-was/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [I'm not a journalist. I'm a pundit. I'm a commentator, I'm somebody with an opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-m-not-a-journalist-i-m-a-pundit-i-m-a-commentator-i-m-somebody-with/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [ I think it was Osama bin Laden's \[idea to start a pre-emptive war in Iraq\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-think-it-was-osama-bin-laden-s-idea-to-start-a-pre-emptive-war-in/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [It's time to put America at the front of all of our agendas and to find ways to work together on common ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/it-s-time-to-put-america-at-the-front-of-all-of-our-agendas-and-to/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [But the world is a better place with Saddam Hussein gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/but-the-world-is-a-better-place-with-saddam-hussein-gone/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [What Mr. Obama wants in a nominee isn't really 'empathy' and 'understanding.' He wants a liberal, activist Supreme Court justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/what-mr-obama-wants-in-a-nominee-isn-t-really-empathy-and/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [As people do better, they start voting like Republicans - unless they have too much education and vote Democratic, which proves there can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/as-people-do-better-they-start-voting-like-republicans-unless-they/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [There is a difference between Senator Obama and Senator McCain. Senator Obama believes that the government ought to be able to take as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/there-is-a-difference-between-senator-obama-and-senator-mccain/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [I think wealthy conservatives are busy investing in profit and job creation and enterprise, and wealthy liberals, many of them either from the media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-think-wealthy-conservatives-are-busy-investing-in-profit-and-job/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [If you look underneath the surface of the Tea Party movement, on the other hand, you will find that it is not sophisticated. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/if-you-look-underneath-the-surface-of-the-tea-party-movement-on-the/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [To win in November, Republican candidates must show they are in touch with voter concerns about growth, jobs, paychecks, government spending and debt. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/to-win-in-november-republican-candidates-must-show-they-are-in-touch/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) [Explore all 121 Karl Rove quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you appoint someone, you appoint somebody because of their character, their convictions, their abilities. 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