---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are some things more important than…"
description: "\"There are some things more important than physical survival. You gotta be able to look at yourself in the mirror.\" — Laurell K. Hamilton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/laurell-k-hamilton-199_able_there-are-some-things-more-important-tha_3056089.png"
---

#  There are some things more important than physical…

![“There are some things more important than physical survival. You gotta be able to look at yourself in the mirror.” quote by Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/laurell-k-hamilton-199_able_there-are-some-things-more-important-tha_3056089.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/laurell-k-hamilton-199_able_there-are-some-things-more-important-tha_3056089.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/laurell-k-hamilton-199_able_there-are-some-things-more-important-tha_3056089.png)

> “There are some things more important than physical survival. You gotta be able to look at yourself in the mirror.”

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Beyond survival, personal integrity and self‑respect are essential.

**In simple terms:** Self‑respect matters more than survival.

Key Takeaway

Maintain personal integrity.

Themes

ethics survival self‑reflection

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- life crises
- personal development
- ethical dilemmas

Key Concepts

psychology moral philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance survival and integrity?
- What defines personal integrity?

A Different Perspective

May be idealistic in extreme situations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Look at yourself in the mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-at-yourself-in-the-mirror/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/)

## Related quotes

> [If you're going to cheat and take people's history and you're not writing the Bible, you ain't really so great. But if you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcbride/if-you-re-going-to-cheat-and-take-people-s-history-and-you-re-not/)

[James McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcbride/)

> [It's kind of like when you look at yourself in the mirror and you say your name. And it gets to a point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/it-s-kind-of-like-when-you-look-at-yourself-in-the-mirror-and-you-say-2/)

[Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/)

> [It's kind of like when you look at yourself in the mirror and you say your name. And it gets to a point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/it-s-kind-of-like-when-you-look-at-yourself-in-the-mirror-and-you-say-3/)

[Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/)

> [To succeed in life requires a total inability to do anything that makes you uncomfortable when you look at yourself in the mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/to-succeed-in-life-requires-a-total-inability-to-do-anything-that/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [If you chase the art, you really can't fail because you'll always be able to look at yourself in the mirror. And that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/if-you-chase-the-art-you-really-can-t-fail-because-you-ll-always-be/)

[Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/)

> [So much of how you look at yourself in the mirror reflects how you feel about yourself, and how you comport yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/so-much-of-how-you-look-at-yourself-in-the-mirror-reflects-how-you/)

[Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/)

> [It's not weird to look at yourself in the mirror at the gym - that's why they're there! You have to make sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sweeney/it-s-not-weird-to-look-at-yourself-in-the-mirror-at-the-gym-that-s/)

[Alison Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sweeney/)

> [When every day became a hangover and when you look at yourself in the mirror and go 'I don't like how you're coming across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-molko/when-every-day-became-a-hangover-and-when-you-look-at-yourself-in-the/)

[Brian Molko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-molko/)

> [When you look at yourself in the mirror, don't pinpoint the things that you aren't happy with. Appreciate what you were born with and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/when-you-look-at-yourself-in-the-mirror-don-t-pinpoint-the-things/)

[Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/)

> [My biggest downfall is my inner voice. Growing up as a dancer makes you very judgemental with yourself. You learn to look at yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-electra/my-biggest-downfall-is-my-inner-voice-growing-up-as-a-dancer-makes/)

[Carmen Electra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-electra/)

> [I've always told Will, 'You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be okay.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/i-ve-always-told-will-you-can-do-whatever-you-want-as-long-as-you-can/)

[Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/)

> [Like anybody, I like clothes, and I enjoy what I like to wear. We might have a difference in personal outfit choices. Some might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/like-anybody-i-like-clothes-and-i-enjoy-what-i-like-to-wear-we-might/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [Then again, Solomon was human. And that meant he was flawed (Go on, take a look at yourself in the mirror. A good long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/then-again-solomon-was-human-and-that-meant-he-was-flawed-go-on-take/)

[Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/)

> [But my drive to win is so great ... I just step over that line. ... It's very embarrassing, ... one of the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/but-my-drive-to-win-is-so-great-i-just-step-over-that-line-it-s-very/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [Every morning you put on your clothes to cover your nakedness and protect your body from inclement weather. Why don't you also clothe your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/every-morning-you-put-on-your-clothes-to-cover-your-nakedness-and/)

[Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/)

## More by Laurell K. Hamilton

> [“Edward: I don't know whether to put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la or find more of your guards so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/edward-i-don-t-know-whether-to-put-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-go-la-la/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [So many wonderful books to write, and not enough hours in the day. An embarrassment of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/so-many-wonderful-books-to-write-and-not-enough-hours-in-the-day-an/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [Money doesn't spend in hell… The devil deals in a different coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/money-doesn-t-spend-in-hell-the-devil-deals-in-a-different-coin/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-comes-a-point-when-you-either-embrace-who-and-what-you-are-or/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“I slowed, just a little, one to save energy, and one to let Russell catch up sooner. I took a big breath and prepared.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-slowed-just-a-little-one-to-save-energy-and-one-to-let-russell/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“It wasn't just my beast's hunger, but Jean-Claude's blood thirst and Richard's craving for flesh. It was all that and the ardeur running through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/it-wasn-t-just-my-beast-s-hunger-but-jean-claude-s-blood-thirst-and/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [I know that look, Blake. You are a drowning woman, and the only way out is down the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-that-look-blake-you-are-a-drowning-woman-and-the-only-way-out/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“Just another day in my life. This was one of those days when I thought that maybe a new life, a different life, wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/just-another-day-in-my-life-this-was-one-of-those-days-when-i-thought/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“What is that old children’s rhyme, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’? Anyone who says that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/what-is-that-old-children-s-rhyme-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [...you don't need ghosts to be haunted. Memory does that just fine without any supernatural help at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-don-t-need-ghosts-to-be-haunted-memory-does-that-just-fine/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [I hated missing the end of anything. I was always convinced that the bit I'd miss would be the best part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-hated-missing-the-end-of-anything-i-was-always-convinced-that-the/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [He made a small sigh, as he swallowed the first blood, then his mouth closed over my earlobe, mouth working at the wound, tongue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-made-a-small-sigh-as-he-swallowed-the-first-blood-then-his-mouth/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [He gave a small nod, and I smiled back, and that was it. He understood that I'd understood that he'd understood. It took us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-gave-a-small-nod-and-i-smiled-back-and-that-was-it-he-understood/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [ \[T\]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/t-hese-last-few-days-where-i-ve-moped-around-damn-near-depressed-for/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

[Explore all 921 Laurell K. Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

## More Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

Greg Perry

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

Browse all 17,257 Able quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There are some things more important than physical survival. You gotta be able to look at yourself in the mirror.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Laurell K. Hamilton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-are-some-things-more-important-than-physical-survival-you-gotta/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-are-some-things-more-important-than-physical-survival-you-gotta/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/laurell-k-hamilton-199_able_there-are-some-things-more-important-tha_3056089.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/laurell-k-hamilton-199_able_there-are-some-things-more-important-tha_3056089.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/laurell-k-hamilton-199_able_there-are-some-things-more-important-tha_3056089.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There are some things more important than physical survival. You gotta be able to look at yourself in the…” — Laurell K. Hamilton",
                "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": "Laurell K. Hamilton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There are some things more important...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-are-some-things-more-important-than-physical-survival-you-gotta/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-are-some-things-more-important-than-physical-survival-you-gotta/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
