---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Intimacy is at the heart of competence…"
description: "\"Intimacy is at the heart of competence. It has to do with understanding, with believing, and with practice. It has to do with the relationship to one's..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/max-de-pree-12046_believe_intimacy-is-at-the-heart-of-competence-i_276735.png"
---

#  Intimacy is at the heart of competence. It has to do with…

![“Intimacy is at the heart of competence. It has to do with understanding, with believing, and with practice. It has to do with the relationship to one's work.” quote by Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/max-de-pree-12046_believe_intimacy-is-at-the-heart-of-competence-i_276735.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/max-de-pree-12046_believe_intimacy-is-at-the-heart-of-competence-i_276735.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/max-de-pree-12046_believe_intimacy-is-at-the-heart-of-competence-i_276735.png)

> “Intimacy is at the heart of competence. It has to do with understanding, with believing, and with practice. It has to do with the relationship to one's work.”

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

## About This Quote

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

Competence thrives when one feels a deep connection to their work, built on understanding, belief, and practice.

**In simple terms:** Skill grows from connection to work.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate deep engagement with tasks.

Themes

competence connection work understanding

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- team building
- personal development
- career growth
- learning new skills

Key Concepts

psychology skill development motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you deepen your connection to daily tasks?
- What beliefs support your work?

A Different Perspective

If the relationship is weak, competence may stagnate.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Competence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competence/) [Competence Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competence-understanding-2693371/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart Competence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-competence-2693372/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Intimacy Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy-heart-2693370/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/)

## Related quotes

> [“The first articulate explorer and to an extent even theorist of intimacy was Jean-Jacques Rousseau who, characteristically enough, is the only great author still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-first-articulate-explorer-and-to-an-extent-even-theorist-of/)

[Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/)

> [Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/do-not-stop-thinking-of-life-as-an-adventure-you-have-no-security/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [The individual attributes of warmth and competence are often perceived to be negatively correlated. That doesn't mean they actually are, but that's how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/the-individual-attributes-of-warmth-and-competence-are-often/)

[Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/)

> [Over the first two weeks of the Donald Trump administration, Steve Bannon has emerged as one of the most powerful figures in the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-goodman/over-the-first-two-weeks-of-the-donald-trump-administration-steve/)

[Amy Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-goodman/)

> [ A nominee \[to Supreme Court\] must possess the competence, character and temperament to serve on the bench. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/a-nominee-to-supreme-court-must-possess-the-competence-character-and/)

[Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/)

> [Having spent years ruining the housing markets with their interference, leading to a housing meltdown that has taken the whole economy down with it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/having-spent-years-ruining-the-housing-markets-with-their/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [Friendships are nice. So is competence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/friendships-are-nice-so-is-competence/)

[Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/)

> [Everybody's got a different circle of competence. The important thing is not how big the circle is. The important thing is staying inside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/everybody-s-got-a-different-circle-of-competence-the-important-thing/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [You can't fake competence, creativity, or sexual arousal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-can-t-fake-competence-creativity-or-sexual-arousal/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

> [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/)

[Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/)

> [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/)

[Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/)

> [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/)

[Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/)

> [“You understand how much you know about a subject the moment you give explanations to someone who doesn't know anything about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigina-sgarro/you-understand-how-much-you-know-about-a-subject-the-moment-you-give/)

[Luigina Sgarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigina-sgarro/)

> [A bad artist almost always tries to conceal his incompetence by whooping up a new formula.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-bad-artist-almost-always-tries-to-conceal-his-incompetence-by/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

## More by Max De Pree

> [We can teach ourselves to see things the way they ARE. Only with vision can we begin to see things the way they CAN…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/we-can-teach-ourselves-to-see-things-the-way-they-are-only-with/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [From a leader's perspective, the most serious betrayal has to do with thwarting human potential, with quenching the spirit, with failing to deal equitably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/from-a-leader-s-perspective-the-most-serious-betrayal-has-to-do-with/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [We can go through anything because Jesus goes before us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/we-can-go-through-anything-because-jesus-goes-before-us/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [Understanding the diversity of our gifts enables us to begin taking the crucial step of trusting each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/understanding-the-diversity-of-our-gifts-enables-us-to-begin-taking/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [Trust comes only with genuine effort, never with a lick and a promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/trust-comes-only-with-genuine-effort-never-with-a-lick-and-a-promise/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [When trust permeates a ministry, great things are possible, not the least of which is an opportunity to reach the ministry's potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/when-trust-permeates-a-ministry-great-things-are-possible-not-the/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [The simple act of recognizing diversity in corporate life helps us to connect the great variety of gifts that people bring to the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/the-simple-act-of-recognizing-diversity-in-corporate-life-helps-us-to/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is-to-define-reality-the-last-is/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [We talk about the quality of product and service. What about the quality of our relationships and the quality of our communications and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/we-talk-about-the-quality-of-product-and-service-what-about-the/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [In most vital organizations, there is a common bond of interdependence, mutual interest, interlocking contributions, and simple joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/in-most-vital-organizations-there-is-a-common-bond-of-interdependence/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [Everyone in a successful organization must be willing and ready to risk. Risk is like change; it's not a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/everyone-in-a-successful-organization-must-be-willing-and-ready-to/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [Leaders don't inflict pain - they share pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/leaders-don-t-inflict-pain-they-share-pain/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [A whale is as unique as a cactus. But don't ask a whale to survive Death Valley. We all have special gifts. Where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/a-whale-is-as-unique-as-a-cactus-but-don-t-ask-a-whale-to-survive/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [We cannot avoid growing old; but we can avoid growing cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/we-cannot-avoid-growing-old-but-we-can-avoid-growing-cold/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

> [The leader is the servant who removes the obstacles that prevent people from doing their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/the-leader-is-the-servant-who-removes-the-obstacles-that-prevent/)

[Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

[Explore all 55 Max De Pree quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

[Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Intimacy is at the heart of competence. It has to do with understanding, with believing, and with practice. It has to do with the relationship to one's work.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Max De Pree"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/intimacy-is-at-the-heart-of-competence-it-has-to-do-with/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/intimacy-is-at-the-heart-of-competence-it-has-to-do-with/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/max-de-pree-12046_believe_intimacy-is-at-the-heart-of-competence-i_276735.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/max-de-pree-12046_believe_intimacy-is-at-the-heart-of-competence-i_276735.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce6/max-de-pree-12046_believe_intimacy-is-at-the-heart-of-competence-i_276735.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Intimacy is at the heart of competence. It has to do with understanding, with believing, and with practice…” — Max De Pree",
                "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": "Max De Pree",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Intimacy is at the heart of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/intimacy-is-at-the-heart-of-competence-it-has-to-do-with/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/intimacy-is-at-the-heart-of-competence-it-has-to-do-with/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
