--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have often heard that the outstanding…" description: "\"I have often heard that the outstanding man is he who thinks deeply about a problem, and the next is he who listens carefully to advice.\" — Livy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/livy-3007_advice_i-have-often-heard-that-the-outstanding_2321450.png" --- # I have often heard that the outstanding man is he who… ![“I have often heard that the outstanding man is he who thinks deeply about a problem, and the next is he who listens carefully to advice.” quote by Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/livy-3007_advice_i-have-often-heard-that-the-outstanding_2321450.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/livy-3007_advice_i-have-often-heard-that-the-outstanding_2321450.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/livy-3007_advice_i-have-often-heard-that-the-outstanding_2321450.png) > “I have often heard that the outstanding man is he who thinks deeply about a problem, and the next is he who listens carefully to advice.” [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True excellence involves deep thinking and attentive listening to guidance. **In simple terms:** Greatness needs thought and listening. Key Takeaway Cultivate both reflection and openness. Themes wisdom learning leadership Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - decision making - team collaboration - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts critical thinking active listening humility Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance thinking and listening? - When have you missed insight by not listening? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on thinking can cause analysis paralysis without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Carefully Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carefully-advice-5074959/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Listens Carefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listens-carefully-1041881/) [Man Thinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-thinks/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Outstanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outstanding/) [Outstanding Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outstanding-man-1493684/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinks Deeply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinks-deeply-3560331/) ## Related quotes > [Rutherford is a man you can rely on; he comes regularly and enquires how things are going and talks about the smallest details -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/rutherford-is-a-man-you-can-rely-on-he-comes-regularly-and-enquires/) [Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/) > [Anecdotally his fitness reports rated him well above average in the classroom, excellent in the field, fluently bilingual in English and French, passable in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/anecdotally-his-fitness-reports-rated-him-well-above-average-in-the/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [I got a lot of Ph.D.-types and smart people around me who come into the Oval Office and say, 'Mr. President, here's what's on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-got-a-lot-of-ph-d-types-and-smart-people-around-me-who-come-into/) [George W. 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He had won an inter-service thousand-yard rifle competition with a record…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/he-had-many-formal-qualifications-he-was-rated-expert-on-all-small/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Every comedian thinks deeply about life, even if their eventual output is apparently shallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/every-comedian-thinks-deeply-about-life-even-if-their-eventual-output/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [Sometimes it is only a True Friend who knows what we mean when we try to speak. 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It's a waste of my time; but if he's done it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabil-n-jamal-2/here-s-how-man-thinks-if-no-one-s-done-it-why-should-i-try-it-s-a/) [Nabil N. Jamal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabil-n-jamal-2/) > [“This is the man who thinks too much, who stands back from his life and never lives it. He is caught in a web…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-l-moore/this-is-the-man-who-thinks-too-much-who-stands-back-from-his-life-and/) [Robert L. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-l-moore/) > [“A man thinks it quite natural that he should fall out of love with a woman, but it never strikes him for a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-thinks-it-quite-natural-that-he-should-fall-out-of-love-with-a/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## More by Livy > [Present sufferings seem far greater to men than those they merely dread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/present-sufferings-seem-far-greater-to-men-than-those-they-merely/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [The study of History is the best medicine for a sick mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/the-study-of-history-is-the-best-medicine-for-a-sick-mind/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“Servius Sulpicius and M. Tullius were consuls the next year: nothing worth mentioning happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/servius-sulpicius-and-m-tullius-were-consuls-the-next-year-nothing/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [There is an old saying which, from its truth, has become proverbial, that friendships should be immortal, enmities mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/there-is-an-old-saying-which-from-its-truth-has-become-proverbial/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Many things complicated by nature are restored by reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/many-things-complicated-by-nature-are-restored-by-reason/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Bad beginnings, bad endings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/bad-beginnings-bad-endings/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“In ancient Greece more than one royal house was guilty of crime which became the stuff of tragedy: now Rome was to follow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/in-ancient-greece-more-than-one-royal-house-was-guilty-of-crime-which/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“It is your duty,' he said, 'to recover your country not by gold but by the sword. You will be fighting with all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/it-is-your-duty-he-said-to-recover-your-country-not-by-gold-but-by/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [In difficult and desperate cases, the boldest counsels are the safest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/in-difficult-and-desperate-cases-the-boldest-counsels-are-the-safest/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“There is never any lack at Athens of tongues ready and willing to stir up the passions of the common people; this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/there-is-never-any-lack-at-athens-of-tongues-ready-and-willing-to/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [ “\[Rhodian delegation:\] Every city contains wicked citizens from time to time and an ignorant populace all the time.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/rhodian-delegation-every-city-contains-wicked-citizens-from-time-to/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Nowhere are our calculations more frequently upset than in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/nowhere-are-our-calculations-more-frequently-upset-than-in-war/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Dignity is a matter which concerns only mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/dignity-is-a-matter-which-concerns-only-mankind/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/the-study-of-history-is-the-best-medicine-for-a-sick-mind-for-in/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [No man likes to be surpassed by those of this own level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/no-man-likes-to-be-surpassed-by-those-of-this-own-level/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) [Explore all 142 Livy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have often heard that the outstanding man is he who thinks deeply about a problem, and the next is he who listens carefully to advice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Livy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/i-have-often-heard-that-the-outstanding-man-is-he-who-thinks-deeply/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/i-have-often-heard-that-the-outstanding-man-is-he-who-thinks-deeply/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/livy-3007_advice_i-have-often-heard-that-the-outstanding_2321450.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/livy-3007_advice_i-have-often-heard-that-the-outstanding_2321450.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/livy-3007_advice_i-have-often-heard-that-the-outstanding_2321450.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have often heard that the outstanding man is he who thinks deeply about a problem, and the next is he who…” — Livy", "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": "Livy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have often heard that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/i-have-often-heard-that-the-outstanding-man-is-he-who-thinks-deeply/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/i-have-often-heard-that-the-outstanding-man-is-he-who-thinks-deeply/#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 } } ] } ```