--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you need encouragement, think of the…" description: "\"When you need encouragement, think of the qualities the people around you have: this one's energy, that one's modesty, another's generosity, and so on...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/marcus-aurelius-139_character_when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the_1226584.jpg" --- # When you need encouragement, think of the qualities the… ![“When you need encouragement, think of the qualities the people around you have: this one's energy, that one's modesty, another's generosity, and so on. Nothing is as encouraging as when virtues are visibly embodied in the people around us, when we're practically showered with them. It's good to…” quote by Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/marcus-aurelius-139_character_when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the_1226584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/marcus-aurelius-139_character_when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the_1226584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/marcus-aurelius-139_character_when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the_1226584.jpg) > “When you need encouragement, think of the qualities the people around you have: this one's energy, that one's modesty, another's generosity, and so on. Nothing is as encouraging as when virtues are visibly embodied in the people around us, when we're practically showered with them. It's good to keep this in mind.” [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing others' virtues inspires us, reinforcing our own values and motivation. **In simple terms:** Observe others' strengths to boost your spirit. Key Takeaway Learn from the virtues you admire. Themes inspiration virtue community motivation Mood uplifting reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - mentoring sessions - personal reflection - leadership training Key Concepts Stoicism social learning emotional contagion Questions to Reflect On - Which observed virtue can you emulate today? - How does surrounding virtue affect your confidence? A Different Perspective May overlook personal growth if only external virtues are focused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Encouragement Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement-think-688586/) [Encouraging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouraging/) [Encouraging Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouraging-virtues-3775828/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modesty/) [Need encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-encouragement/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Some Christians need encouragement to think before they act. Others need encouragement to act after they think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/some-christians-need-encouragement-to-think-before-they-act-others/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [How do you identify someone who needs encouragement? That person is breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/how-do-you-identify-someone-who-needs-encouragement-that-person-is/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [Honorary degrees and lifetime achievement awards are very encouraging. I know that it might sound strange that a writer who has published many books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/honorary-degrees-and-lifetime-achievement-awards-are-very-encouraging/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [There are seeds of happiness in every soul. Our mental attitude and dispositions constitute the environment in which these seeds germinate. There is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/there-are-seeds-of-happiness-in-every-soul-our-mental-attitude-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [What men and women need is encouragement. Their natural resisting powers should be strengthened, not weakened ... Instead of always harping on a man's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-men-and-women-need-is-encouragement-their-natural-resisting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You dont need encouragement, you need courage. Dont think¦.DO!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obsidian-panther/you-dont-need-encouragement-you-need-courage-dont-think-do/) [Obsidian Panther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obsidian-panther/) > [There is rampant among us a spirit of criticism. Men and women who carry heavy responsibility do not need criticism, they need encouragement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-is-rampant-among-us-a-spirit-of-criticism-men-and-women-who/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [If you are a leader, you should never forget that everyone needs encouragement. And everyone who receives it - young or old, successful or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-are-a-leader-you-should-never-forget-that-everyone-needs/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you explore beneath shyness or party chit-chat, you can sometimes turn a dull exchange into an intriguing one. I've found this to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/if-you-explore-beneath-shyness-or-party-chit-chat-you-can-sometimes/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“I prefer to say that I believe in people, and people, when given the right encouragement to think for themselves about all the information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-prefer-to-say-that-i-believe-in-people-and-people-when-given-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Sometimes I forget that the world is not on the same schedule as I. That everything is not dying, or that if it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/sometimes-i-forget-that-the-world-is-not-on-the-same-schedule-as-i-2/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [I'd like to see where boys and girls end up if they get equal encouragement I think we might have some differences in how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/i-d-like-to-see-where-boys-and-girls-end-up-if-they-get-equal/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Don't be too quick to interpret the moment. Just keep quiet. My encouragement would always be: never think anything is against you, everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/don-t-be-too-quick-to-interpret-the-moment-just-keep-quiet-my/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [Doth perfect beauty stand in need of praise at all? Nay; no more than law, no more than truth, no more than loving kindness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/doth-perfect-beauty-stand-in-need-of-praise-at-all-nay-no-more-than/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [So great is the modesty of your mind and face, Sophronius that I wonder you should ever have become a father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/so-great-is-the-modesty-of-your-mind-and-face-sophronius-that-i/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More by Marcus Aurelius > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Everything is mere opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/everything-is-mere-opinion/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [If any man has done wrong, the harm is his own. But perhaps he has not done wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-any-man-has-done-wrong-the-harm-is-his-own-but-perhaps-he-has-not/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. When a loaf of bread,. for instance,.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remark-the-grace-and-fascination-that-there-is-even-in-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-true-self-is-free-i-cannot-be-contained/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-best-revenge-is-to-be-unlike-him-who-performed-the-injury/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Nothing befalls any man which he is not fitted to endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/nothing-befalls-any-man-which-he-is-not-fitted-to-endure/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Adorn thyself with simplicity and with indifference towards the things which lie between virtue and vice. Love mankind. Follow God. The poet says that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/adorn-thyself-with-simplicity-and-with-indifference-towards-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Let it be your constant method to look into the design of people's actions, and see what they would be at, as often as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/let-it-be-your-constant-method-to-look-into-the-design-of-people-s/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Our life is a warfare, and a mere pilgrimage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/our-life-is-a-warfare-and-a-mere-pilgrimage/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“If therefore it be a thing external that causes thy grief, know, that it is not that properly that doth cause it, but thine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-therefore-it-be-a-thing-external-that-causes-thy-grief-know-that/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Frightened of change? But what can exist without it? What's closer to nature's heart? Can you take a hot bath and leave the firewood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/frightened-of-change-but-what-can-exist-without-it-what-s-closer-to/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We are too much accustomed to attribute to a single cause that which is the product of several, and the majority of our controversies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-too-much-accustomed-to-attribute-to-a-single-cause-that-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, "I have to go to work - as a human being. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/at-dawn-when-you-have-trouble-getting-out-of-bed-tell-yourself-i-have/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) [Explore all 1,138 Marcus Aurelius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you need encouragement, think of the qualities the people around you have: this one's energy, that one's modesty, another's generosity, and so on. Nothing is as encouraging as when virtues are visibly embodied in the people around us, when we're practically showered with them. It's good to keep this in mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Aurelius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the-qualities-the-people-around/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the-qualities-the-people-around/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/marcus-aurelius-139_character_when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the_1226584.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/marcus-aurelius-139_character_when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the_1226584.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/marcus-aurelius-139_character_when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the_1226584.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you need encouragement, think of the qualities the people around you have: this one's energy, that…” — Marcus Aurelius", "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": "Marcus Aurelius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you need encouragement, think of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the-qualities-the-people-around/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/when-you-need-encouragement-think-of-the-qualities-the-people-around/#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 } } ] } ```