--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If all of the issues that I have worked…" description: "\"If all of the issues that I have worked on were depending on some measure of success, it would be a total failure. I don't anticipate success. We're no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/martin-sheen-7550_anticipate_if-all-of-the-issues-that-i-have-worked_1863813.jpg" --- # If all of the issues that I have worked on were depending… ![“If all of the issues that I have worked on were depending on some measure of success, it would be a total failure. I don't anticipate success. We're not asked to be successful, we are only asked to be faithful. I couldn't even tell you what success is.” quote by Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/martin-sheen-7550_anticipate_if-all-of-the-issues-that-i-have-worked_1863813.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/martin-sheen-7550_anticipate_if-all-of-the-issues-that-i-have-worked_1863813.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/martin-sheen-7550_anticipate_if-all-of-the-issues-that-i-have-worked_1863813.jpg) > “If all of the issues that I have worked on were depending on some measure of success, it would be a total failure. I don't anticipate success. We're not asked to be successful, we are only asked to be faithful. I couldn't even tell you what success is.” [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True success is measured by faithfulness, not external accolades. **In simple terms:** Faithfulness matters more than success. Key Takeaway Prioritize integrity over outcomes. Themes faith integrity purpose humility Mood reflective serene Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - non‑profit leadership - mission‑driven projects - personal decision‑making Key Concepts spiritual commitment ethical work personal values Questions to Reflect On - What does being faithful look like in daily work? - How can one stay motivated without external validation? A Different Perspective Success metrics are often ambiguous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anticipate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipate/) [Anticipate Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipate-success-2526514/) [Being faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-faithful/) [Being successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Measure of success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure-of-success/) [Measure Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure-success/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-asked-1456506/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Tell Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-success-2526513/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [I have told our senior executives that I will slaughter holy cows if it benefits the company's long-term success. When we asked ourselves whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-reithofer/i-have-told-our-senior-executives-that-i-will-slaughter-holy-cows-if/) [Norbert Reithofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-reithofer/) > [I did not ask for success; I asked for wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/i-did-not-ask-for-success-i-asked-for-wonder/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [That should be the measure of success for everyone. It's not money, it's not fame, it's not celebrity; my index of success is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/that-should-be-the-measure-of-success-for-everyone-it-s-not-money-it/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [Money is not the ultimate point, but it remains the actual measure of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meaden/money-is-not-the-ultimate-point-but-it-remains-the-actual-measure-of/) [Deborah Meaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meaden/) > [It wasn't until I'd met everyone else's measure of success that I realized I'd failed myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-remender/it-wasn-t-until-i-d-met-everyone-else-s-measure-of-success-that-i/) [Rick Remender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-remender/) > [We wanted to make a living, but success was creating a song that we enjoyed playing. Quite honestly, that is still a measure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-ramsey/we-wanted-to-make-a-living-but-success-was-creating-a-song-that-we/) [Matthew Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-ramsey/) > [I think your children are your measure of success, regardless of work and career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/i-think-your-children-are-your-measure-of-success-regardless-of-work/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [Starting in high school and continuing through our higher education system, we must ensure our students are on the right path to acquiring marketable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-mccrory/starting-in-high-school-and-continuing-through-our-higher-education/) [Pat McCrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-mccrory/) > [I measure success in terms of the connection with the audience, which we've been able to do in spades. I mean, it's very hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-freston/i-measure-success-in-terms-of-the-connection-with-the-audience-which/) [Tom Freston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-freston/) > [I don't measure success by how many buildings have my name on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-don-t-measure-success-by-how-many-buildings-have-my-name-on-it/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“one measure of success in life is a moment of contentment derived from deep fellowship and hard work, the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mott-freeman/one-measure-of-success-in-life-is-a-moment-of-contentment-derived/) [Sally Mott Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mott-freeman/) > [I can only tell you one thing I've learned. Enjoy the walk along the path you've chosen. Don't count down the days. Make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/i-can-only-tell-you-one-thing-i-ve-learned-enjoy-the-walk-along-the/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [Do not measure success by today's harvest. Measure success by the seeds you plant today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/do-not-measure-success-by-today-s-harvest-measure-success-by-the/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [How many people you bless is how you measure success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/how-many-people-you-bless-is-how-you-measure-success/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [“To live the lives we truly want and deserve, and not just the lives we settle for, we need a Third Metric, a third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/to-live-the-lives-we-truly-want-and-deserve-and-not-just-the-lives-we/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) ## More by Martin Sheen > [My first civil disobedience arrest for social justice was in 1986 for protesting the SDI.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/my-first-civil-disobedience-arrest-for-social-justice-was-in-1986-for/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [I don't think abortion is a good idea. I personally am opposed to abortion, but I will not judge anybody else's right in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-don-t-think-abortion-is-a-good-idea-i-personally-am-opposed-to/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [I just think that the only way we come to ourselves is through each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-just-think-that-the-only-way-we-come-to-ourselves-is-through-each/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [I personally am opposed to abortion, but I will not judge anybody else's right in that regard because I am not a woman and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-personally-am-opposed-to-abortion-but-i-will-not-judge-anybody-else/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [We don't choose a life, we live one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/we-don-t-choose-a-life-we-live-one/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [The most satisfying thing in my life and my career is to work with my children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/the-most-satisfying-thing-in-my-life-and-my-career-is-to-work-with-my/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [Childhood hunger in America is as much a paradox as it is a tragedy. Why, in the wealthiest country in the world, should hunger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/childhood-hunger-in-america-is-as-much-a-paradox-as-it-is-a-tragedy/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [On the show, we are not trying to get people to eat their vegetables; we are not trying to get people to become Democrats.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/on-the-show-we-are-not-trying-to-get-people-to-eat-their-vegetables/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [You are equally responsible for your place in the culture, and you must make a contribution, and you must accept responsibility for what goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/you-are-equally-responsible-for-your-place-in-the-culture-and-you/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [I don't think that people in America are really given enough information about the Third World.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-don-t-think-that-people-in-america-are-really-given-enough/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [This supposed idyllic society we have is the most confused, warped, addicted society in the history of the world. We are addicted to power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/this-supposed-idyllic-society-we-have-is-the-most-confused-warped/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [When I reached adulthood, even now, I could afford to belong to a country club. But I could never belong to a private club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/when-i-reached-adulthood-even-now-i-could-afford-to-belong-to-a/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [The key word about The West Wing is show. It is not a reality show. It has nothing to do with reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/the-key-word-about-the-west-wing-is-show-it-is-not-a-reality-show-it/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [Don't invade Iraq. Inspections work, war won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/don-t-invade-iraq-inspections-work-war-won-t/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [What we try to say is that it doesn't matter if you are a Republican or a Democrat or conservative or independent. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/what-we-try-to-say-is-that-it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-are-a-republican/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) [Explore all 90 Martin Sheen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) ## More Anticipate quotes > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I like to do everything you can possibly do before you go into rehearsal, because once we are in rehearsal or on the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-like-to-do-everything-you-can-possibly-do-before-you-go-into/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [The problem with merely writing so that you can be understood is that the wrong people, in advancing their agendas, are only too ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/the-problem-with-merely-writing-so-that-you-can-be-understood-is-that/) [William A. Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [I am curious to know what would happen if art were suddenly seen for what it is, namely, exact information of how to rearrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/i-am-curious-to-know-what-would-happen-if-art-were-suddenly-seen-for/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [The very best financial presentation is one that's well thought out and anticipates any questions... answering them in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/the-very-best-financial-presentation-is-one-that-s-well-thought-out/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [What's interesting about art in public spaces is that the public really sort of takes over and uses it in ways that you didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresita-fernandez/what-s-interesting-about-art-in-public-spaces-is-that-the-public/) [Teresita Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresita-fernandez/) > [The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-great-mistake-is-to-anticipate-the-outcome-of-the-engagement-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [If you don't sow your field what harvest other than thorns and weeds can you anticipate?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-don-t-sow-your-field-what-harvest-other-than-thorns-and-weeds/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Leaders' careers will usually be determined by their handling of one or two critical events that no one could possibly anticipate or plan for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/leaders-careers-will-usually-be-determined-by-their-handling-of-one/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I wish I could anticipate some of the stories and lies that will be told. It's going to be great to get everyone together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-conley/i-wish-i-could-anticipate-some-of-the-stories-and-lies-that-will-be/) [Larry Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-conley/) > [The two revolutions, I mean the annual revolutions of the declination and of the centre of the Earth, are not completely equal; that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/the-two-revolutions-i-mean-the-annual-revolutions-of-the-declination/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) > [In two or three hundred years life on earth will be unimaginably beautiful, astounding. Man needs such a life and if it hasn't yetappeared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/in-two-or-three-hundred-years-life-on-earth-will-be-unimaginably/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [In my own work, I've tried to anticipate what's coming over the horizon, to hasten its arrival, and to apply it to people's lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/in-my-own-work-i-ve-tried-to-anticipate-what-s-coming-over-the/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) [Browse all 458 Anticipate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If all of the issues that I have worked on were depending on some measure of success, it would be a total failure. I don't anticipate success. We're not asked to be successful, we are only asked to be faithful. 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