--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not the strongest or the most…" description: "\"It's not the strongest or the most intelligent who survive, but those most adaptive to change. Over the past 10 years, the need for, and focus on, adap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/kenneth-i-chenault-72413_adaptability_it-s-not-the-strongest-or-the-most-intel_393843.png" --- # It's not the strongest or the most intelligent who… ![“It's not the strongest or the most intelligent who survive, but those most adaptive to change. Over the past 10 years, the need for, and focus on, adaptability has accelerated.” quote by Kenneth I. Chenault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/kenneth-i-chenault-72413_adaptability_it-s-not-the-strongest-or-the-most-intel_393843.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/kenneth-i-chenault-72413_adaptability_it-s-not-the-strongest-or-the-most-intel_393843.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/kenneth-i-chenault-72413_adaptability_it-s-not-the-strongest-or-the-most-intel_393843.png) > “It's not the strongest or the most intelligent who survive, but those most adaptive to change. Over the past 10 years, the need for, and focus on, adaptability has accelerated.” Kenneth I. Chenault ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Survival favors those who can adapt quickly, not just the strongest or smartest; adaptability is now essential. **In simple terms:** Adaptability beats strength or intelligence in changing times. Key Takeaway Cultivate flexibility and continuous learning. Themes adaptability change resilience leadership Mood inspirational pragmatic forward‑looking Type leadership motivational.business insight When to use this quote - corporate restructuring - technological disruption - career transitions - market volatility Key Concepts innovation learning agility strategic flexibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve your adaptability? - What risks arise from constant change? A Different Perspective Adaptability alone isn’t enough without vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adaptability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptability/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) ## Related quotes > [“the challenge of leadership when trying to generate adaptive change is to work with differences, passions, and conflicts in a way that diminishes their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-linsky/the-challenge-of-leadership-when-trying-to-generate-adaptive-change/) [Martin Linsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-linsky/) > [“An adaptive change that is beneficial to the organization as a whole may clearly and tangibly hurt some of those who had benefited from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-linsky/an-adaptive-change-that-is-beneficial-to-the-organization-as-a-whole/) [Martin Linsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-linsky/) > [I found out that if you are going to win games, you had better be ready to adapt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-bowman/i-found-out-that-if-you-are-going-to-win-games-you-had-better-be/) [Scotty Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-bowman/) > [Having adaptive events televised in the X Games is huge. There are people out there who might want to do this but don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-schultz/having-adaptive-events-televised-in-the-x-games-is-huge-there-are/) [Mike Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-schultz/) > [A...reason we are so-so scientists is that our brains were shaped for fitness, not for truth. Sometimes truth is adaptive, but sometimes it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/a-reason-we-are-so-so-scientists-is-that-our-brains-were-shaped-for/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [“Iterative, adaptive approach that recognized the importance of developing prototypes or else manually walking through how the system would work in great detail, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-austin/iterative-adaptive-approach-that-recognized-the-importance-of/) [Robert D. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-austin/) > [Leadership is the ability to step outside the culture to start evolutionary change processes that are more adaptive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-schein/leadership-is-the-ability-to-step-outside-the-culture-to-start/) [Edgar Schein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-schein/) > [It's kind of mind-blowing what some of us adaptive athletes can accomplish as far as physical sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-schultz/it-s-kind-of-mind-blowing-what-some-of-us-adaptive-athletes-can/) [Mike Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-schultz/) > [Effective use of Braille is as important to the blind as independent mobility, knowledge in the use of adaptive technology, and the core belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ney/effective-use-of-braille-is-as-important-to-the-blind-as-independent/) [Bob Ney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ney/) > [The Darwinian adaptive trait of our time is the ability to figure out when we are being lied to on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/the-darwinian-adaptive-trait-of-our-time-is-the-ability-to-figure-out/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Organizations that empower folks further down the chain or try to get rid of the big hierarchal chains and allow decision making to happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-johnson/organizations-that-empower-folks-further-down-the-chain-or-try-to-get/) [Steven Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-johnson/) > [Water is patient; it can stagnate and let itself be coated with scum if need be. It is as gentle as the morning's dew.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/water-is-patient-it-can-stagnate-and-let-itself-be-coated-with-scum/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [If you look at body fat, it seems to increase with age, even though your weight does not. That's a physiological fact of aging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-h-cooper/if-you-look-at-body-fat-it-seems-to-increase-with-age-even-though/) [Kenneth H. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-h-cooper/) > [The proof given by Wright, that non-adaptive differentiation will occur in small populations owing to "drift," or the chance fixation of some new mutation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/the-proof-given-by-wright-that-non-adaptive-differentiation-will/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [We have the most flexible and adaptive economy. Making sure we sustain the ability of the American economy to perform well is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-snow/we-have-the-most-flexible-and-adaptive-economy-making-sure-we-sustain/) [John W. Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-snow/) ## More by Kenneth I. Chenault > [Dedicate yourself to a core set of values. Without them, you will never be able to find personal fulfillment, and you will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-i-chenault/dedicate-yourself-to-a-core-set-of-values-without-them-you-will-never/) Kenneth I. Chenault > [Recognize that being one of the only black people in an organization, or just in a meeting, automatically makes you very visible. Use this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-i-chenault/recognize-that-being-one-of-the-only-black-people-in-an-organization/) Kenneth I. Chenault > [Whenever I think about an issue, I always argue the opposite side of it. So, when I ultimately decide on a course of action,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-i-chenault/whenever-i-think-about-an-issue-i-always-argue-the-opposite-side-of/) Kenneth I. Chenault Explore all 4 Kenneth I. Chenault quotes ## More Adaptability quotes > [if I can't get what I want - well, I'll want what I can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/if-i-can-t-get-what-i-want-well-i-ll-want-what-i-can-get/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [ My contemplation of life and human nature in that secluded place \[cell 54 of Cairo Central Prison\] taught me that he who cannot change… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/my-contemplation-of-life-and-human-nature-in-that-secluded-place-cell/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [We'll have a different set of values, and society will adapt. That doesn't mean these changes are all good, just because we will accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reischauer/we-ll-have-a-different-set-of-values-and-society-will-adapt-that/) Robert Reischauer > [“Evolution is more about adaptivity than adaptability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/evolution-is-more-about-adaptivity-than-adaptability/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [I think that human beings have gotten as far as we've gotten because of our adaptability, our ability to adapt, and our ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/i-think-that-human-beings-have-gotten-as-far-as-we-ve-gotten-because/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) > [“It's a fact— everyone is ignorant in some way or another. Ignorance is our deepest secret. And it is one of the scariest things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/it-s-a-fact-everyone-is-ignorant-in-some-way-or-another-ignorance-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [The fastest thing computers do is go obsolete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/the-fastest-thing-computers-do-is-go-obsolete/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Thea was still under the belief that public opinion could be placated; that if you clucked often enough, the hens would mistake you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/thea-was-still-under-the-belief-that-public-opinion-could-be-placated/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“adaptability coupled with readiness to flower year after year right from the first, roses are clearly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-oster/adaptability-coupled-with-readiness-to-flower-year-after-year-right/) [Maggie Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-oster/) > [There's a mindset of flexibility and adaptability that comes with us. We don't mind hardship. We don't mind somebody saying, 'Go in and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-amos/there-s-a-mindset-of-flexibility-and-adaptability-that-comes-with-us/) [James F. Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-amos/) > [“Change is inevitable. Wise leaders anticipate it and adapt quickly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-rivard/change-is-inevitable-wise-leaders-anticipate-it-and-adapt-quickly/) Cynthia Rivard > [“Marketing is a never-ending story. It’s about perpetual motion where innovation plays the lead role.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-kehoe/marketing-is-a-never-ending-story-it-s-about-perpetual-motion-where/) [Stacey Kehoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-kehoe/) > [“...such it is with all human sensations that people become gradually used to everything and this is truly a beneficial gift from nature, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-wagevier/such-it-is-with-all-human-sensations-that-people-become-gradually/) C. J. Wagevier > [“That was certainly a case of snowballing momentum. Who would've thought he'd succeed being that far behind?" "True. This particular assignment was designed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuto-tsukuda/that-was-certainly-a-case-of-snowballing-momentum-who-would-ve/) [Yuto Tsukuda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuto-tsukuda/) > [My point was simply that the war on global terrorism is going to be a long one, and we need to adapt as our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-myers/my-point-was-simply-that-the-war-on-global-terrorism-is-going-to-be-a/) Richard Myers [Browse all 162 Adaptability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not the strongest or the most intelligent who survive, but those most adaptive to change. Over the past 10 years, the need for, and focus on, adaptability has accelerated.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenneth I. Chenault" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-i-chenault/it-s-not-the-strongest-or-the-most-intelligent-who-survive-but-those/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adaptability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-i-chenault/it-s-not-the-strongest-or-the-most-intelligent-who-survive-but-those/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/kenneth-i-chenault-72413_adaptability_it-s-not-the-strongest-or-the-most-intel_393843.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/kenneth-i-chenault-72413_adaptability_it-s-not-the-strongest-or-the-most-intel_393843.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/kenneth-i-chenault-72413_adaptability_it-s-not-the-strongest-or-the-most-intel_393843.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not the strongest or the most intelligent who survive, but those most adaptive to change. Over the past…” — Kenneth I. Chenault", "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": "Kenneth I. Chenault", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-i-chenault/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not the strongest or the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-i-chenault/it-s-not-the-strongest-or-the-most-intelligent-who-survive-but-those/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-i-chenault/it-s-not-the-strongest-or-the-most-intelligent-who-survive-but-those/#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 } } ] } ```