--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Common sense will nearly always stand you…" description: "\"Common sense will nearly always stand you in better stead than a slavish adherence to the conventions.\" — M.M. Kaye" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/m-m-kaye-37986_adherence_common-sense-will-nearly-always-stand-yo_2980517.png" --- # Common sense will nearly always stand you in better stead… ![“Common sense will nearly always stand you in better stead than a slavish adherence to the conventions.” quote by M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/m-m-kaye-37986_adherence_common-sense-will-nearly-always-stand-yo_2980517.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/m-m-kaye-37986_adherence_common-sense-will-nearly-always-stand-yo_2980517.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/m-m-kaye-37986_adherence_common-sense-will-nearly-always-stand-yo_2980517.png) > “Common sense will nearly always stand you in better stead than a slavish adherence to the conventions.” [M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying on practical judgment usually outperforms blind conformity to tradition. **In simple terms:** Common sense beats strict adherence to conventions. Key Takeaway Trust intuition over rigid rules. Themes practicality tradition judgment Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - decision making - leadership - policy formation - personal growth Key Concepts critical thinking social norms Questions to Reflect On - When have you chosen intuition over convention? - What risks arise from strict adherence? A Different Perspective Blindly following customs can ignore context and innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adherence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adherence/) [Adherence Conventions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adherence-conventions-4632814/) [Better Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-stead-4632815/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Conventions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventions/) [Slavish Adherence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavish-adherence-4632816/) [Stand Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-better-855269/) ## Related quotes > [If you aren't sure where you stand with someone, chances are you don't stand anywhere. It would be better to walk away, and find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/if-you-aren-t-sure-where-you-stand-with-someone-chances-are-you-don-t/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [“May no man stand better than nor lessor than me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnjwillard/may-no-man-stand-better-than-nor-lessor-than-me/) [johnjwillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnjwillard/) > [If you're not right for the role, you won't get it, but you stand a better chance if you show us who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/if-you-re-not-right-for-the-role-you-won-t-get-it-but-you-stand-a/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I think stand is better now than it's ever been. I think it's the greatest time ever to do standup comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/i-think-stand-is-better-now-than-it-s-ever-been-i-think-it-s-the/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [Never be afraid to stand out. It's better to be remembered for standing out in a crowd than to be forgotten for blending in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/never-be-afraid-to-stand-out-it-s-better-to-be-remembered-for/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [It is better to sit down than to stand, it is better to lie down than to sit, but death is the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indian-proverb/it-is-better-to-sit-down-than-to-stand-it-is-better-to-lie-down-than/) [Indian Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indian-proverb/) > [I just like to build. Don't get me wrong: I think stand-up is great, and when someone like Richard Pryor or Steve Martin does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/i-just-like-to-build-don-t-get-me-wrong-i-think-stand-up-is-great-and/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [“To stand alone is to be stronger for others. To stand together is to be better in building your attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erlia/to-stand-alone-is-to-be-stronger-for-others-to-stand-together-is-to/) [Erlia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erlia/) > [“Draw your line in the sand. Take a stand for a better life...moving forward each and every day :) www.bullyingben.com ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/draw-your-line-in-the-sand-take-a-stand-for-a-better-life-moving/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“When you focus on your vision, you stand a better chance to flourish and walk in victory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/when-you-focus-on-your-vision-you-stand-a-better-chance-to-flourish/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [If you don't like where you STAND with them move on and STAND next to someone that will give you a better position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-you-don-t-like-where-you-stand-with-them-move-on-and-stand-next-to/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [For the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers, come and stand beside me, we can find a better way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/for-the-children-and-the-flowers-are-my-sisters-and-my-brothers-come/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [“start with a baseline of how often a habit or practice atrophies or breaks down, and then you start stacking up advantages to increase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marshall/start-with-a-baseline-of-how-often-a-habit-or-practice-atrophies-or/) [Sebastian Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marshall/) > [Intellectual adherence is never owed to anything whatsoever, for it is never in any degree a voluntary thing. Attention alone is voluntary. It alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/intellectual-adherence-is-never-owed-to-anything-whatsoever-for-it-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) ## More by M.M. Kaye > [I still subscribe to the minority view that all horses are offensive weapons and not to be trusted a yard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-m-kaye/i-still-subscribe-to-the-minority-view-that-all-horses-are-offensive/) [M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) > [“Look,' said Sarah leaning forward, 'do you see any green in my eye?' 'Yes,' said Charles with disconcerting promptness: 'emeralds and peridots and jade,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-m-kaye/look-said-sarah-leaning-forward-do-you-see-any-green-in-my-eye-yes/) [M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) > [“Oh don't be pompous and gloomy,darling," chided Amalfi. "There are thousands of places just as lovely as this. And as peaceful." "That's where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-m-kaye/oh-don-t-be-pompous-and-gloomy-darling-chided-amalfi-there-are/) [M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) > [“Like dark hills of water that mounted higher and higher as they neared the shore, their crests and flanks streaked with livid bars of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-m-kaye/like-dark-hills-of-water-that-mounted-higher-and-higher-as-they/) [M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) > [“because Afghanistan is no country to fight a war in – and an impossible one to hold if you win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-m-kaye/because-afghanistan-is-no-country-to-fight-a-war-in-and-an-impossible/) [M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) > [...for though she was ordinary, she possessed health, wit, courage, charm, and cheerfulness. But because she was not beautiful, no one ever seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-m-kaye/for-though-she-was-ordinary-she-possessed-health-wit-courage-charm/) [M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) > [within that ageing outer shell we remain very much the same as we did in our late teens and early twenties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-m-kaye/within-that-ageing-outer-shell-we-remain-very-much-the-same-as-we-did/) [M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) > [It is not an easy thing to be a woman and love with the whole heart: which men do not understand -- having many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-m-kaye/it-is-not-an-easy-thing-to-be-a-woman-and-love-with-the-whole-heart/) [M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) > [“The cool, pearly sheen of dawn had warmed in the East to a blaze of vivid rose that deepened along the horizon's edge to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-m-kaye/the-cool-pearly-sheen-of-dawn-had-warmed-in-the-east-to-a-blaze-of/) [M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) > [“The retreating tide had transformed the wet sands into a curving silver mirror that reflected the colours that flooded the pale sea and pearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-m-kaye/the-retreating-tide-had-transformed-the-wet-sands-into-a-curving/) [M.M. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) [Explore all 11 M.M. Kaye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-m-kaye/) ## More Adherence quotes > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Intellectual adherence is never owed to anything whatsoever, for it is never in any degree a voluntary thing. Attention alone is voluntary. 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Each community must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nozick/some-communities-will-be-abandoned-others-will-struggle-along-others/) [Robert Nozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nozick/) > [We love your adherence to democratic principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/we-love-your-adherence-to-democratic-principles/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [Devotion to the facts will always give the pleasures of recognition; adherence to the rules of design, the pleasures of order and certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/devotion-to-the-facts-will-always-give-the-pleasures-of-recognition/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [It is not our affluence, or our plumbing, or our clogged freeways that grip the imagination of others. Rather, it is the values upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/it-is-not-our-affluence-or-our-plumbing-or-our-clogged-freeways-that/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [That the foundation of our national policy should be laid in private morality. If individuals be not influenced by moral principles, it is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/that-the-foundation-of-our-national-policy-should-be-laid-in-private/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [What I mean by the Muse is that unimpeded clearness of the intuitive powers, which a perfectly truthful adherence to every admonition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/what-i-mean-by-the-muse-is-that-unimpeded-clearness-of-the-intuitive/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [Prejudice and passion and suspicion are more dangerous than the incitement of self-interest or the most stubborn adherence to real differences of opinion regarding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/prejudice-and-passion-and-suspicion-are-more-dangerous-than-the/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [If the student truly absorbs the concept of free inquiry in the field of music, unimpeded by blind adherence to doctrine and tradition, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-schuman/if-the-student-truly-absorbs-the-concept-of-free-inquiry-in-the-field/) [William Howard Schuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-schuman/) > [“Adherence is key. Keep it in mind when designing experiments; design experiments you can adhere to.   3.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marshall/adherence-is-key-keep-it-in-mind-when-designing-experiments-design/) [Sebastian Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marshall/) > [It is time that Christians were judged more by their likeness to Christ than their notions of Christ. Were this sentiment generally admitted we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/it-is-time-that-christians-were-judged-more-by-their-likeness-to/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Sustainable change, after all, depends not upon compliance with external mandates or blind adherence to regulation, but rather upon the pursuit of the greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/sustainable-change-after-all-depends-not-upon-compliance-with/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) [Browse all 105 Adherence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adherence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Common sense will nearly always stand you in better stead than a slavish adherence to the conventions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.M. 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