---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All success is quite temporary if you…"
description: "\"All success is quite temporary if you don't work hard enough to maintain where you are. Talent can get you somewhere but character keeps you there. You..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/mehcad-brooks-21124_character_all-success-is-quite-temporary-if-you-do_1932645.jpg"
---

#  All success is quite temporary if you don't work hard…

![“All success is quite temporary if you don't work hard enough to maintain where you are. Talent can get you somewhere but character keeps you there. You have to build character along the way and know when and know how to take the victories from situations even though they might seem grim.” quote by Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/mehcad-brooks-21124_character_all-success-is-quite-temporary-if-you-do_1932645.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/mehcad-brooks-21124_character_all-success-is-quite-temporary-if-you-do_1932645.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/mehcad-brooks-21124_character_all-success-is-quite-temporary-if-you-do_1932645.jpg)

> “All success is quite temporary if you don't work hard enough to maintain where you are. Talent can get you somewhere but character keeps you there. You have to build character along the way and know when and know how to take the victories from situations even though they might seem grim.”

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

## About This Quote

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

Success is fleeting without sustained effort; talent initiates, but character sustains achievement.

**In simple terms:** Hard work maintains success, not just talent.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate character continually.

Themes

effort character success perseverance

Mood

determined reflective

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- personal development
- leadership
- team projects

Key Concepts

growth mindset resilience integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you reinforce character during triumphs?
- What habits sustain success?

A Different Perspective

Talent alone cannot guarantee long‑term results.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/)

## Related quotes

> [Genius is talent in which character makes itself heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/genius-is-talent-in-which-character-makes-itself-heard/)

[Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/)

> [ No talent, but yet a character. \[Ger., Kein talent, doch ein Charakter.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/no-talent-but-yet-a-character-ger-kein-talent-doch-ein-charakter/)

[Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/)

> [Profound sincerity is the only basis of talent as of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/profound-sincerity-is-the-only-basis-of-talent-as-of-character/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Art is not so much talent as character… it's what you are, the qualities of the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olsen/art-is-not-so-much-talent-as-character-it-s-what-you-are-the/)

[John Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olsen/)

> [No value is higher than self-esteem, but you've invested it in counterfeit securities-and now your morality has caught you in a trap where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/no-value-is-higher-than-self-esteem-but-you-ve-invested-it-in/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [“Your words and actions must match to build your character. Any gap in those will put a dent in your credibility. Be a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayur-ramgir/your-words-and-actions-must-match-to-build-your-character-any-gap-in/)

[Mayur Ramgir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayur-ramgir/)

> [“Does adversity build character? . . . It does not. Almost all people can stand adversity of one sort or another. If you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/does-adversity-build-character-it-does-not-almost-all-people-can/)

[Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/)

> [“If we love God with all of our heart, mind, and strength, then we will spend all of our time letting his love, Word,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bolz/if-we-love-god-with-all-of-our-heart-mind-and-strength-then-we-will/)

[Shawn Bolz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bolz/)

> [Football doesn't build character, it reveals character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-levy/football-doesn-t-build-character-it-reveals-character/)

[Marv Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-levy/)

> [When you are in business for a long time, you go through good times and bad times. When you go through bad times, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/when-you-are-in-business-for-a-long-time-you-go-through-good-times/)

[N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/)

> [Basketball doesn't build character it reveals it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-naismith/basketball-doesn-t-build-character-it-reveals-it/)

[James Naismith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-naismith/)

> [We are put in situations to build our character... not destroy us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/we-are-put-in-situations-to-build-our-character-not-destroy-us/)

[Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/)

> [“You must not just dare to win, but to travail and build a character that wins trophies”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gyimah-boadi/you-must-not-just-dare-to-win-but-to-travail-and-build-a-character/)

[David Gyimah Boadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gyimah-boadi/)

> [I've always used my own personal emotions and things that I've gone through in my life to build a character. The work that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/i-ve-always-used-my-own-personal-emotions-and-things-that-i-ve-gone/)

[Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/)

> [You don't build your character by doing what everybody else is doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ghosn/you-don-t-build-your-character-by-doing-what-everybody-else-is-doing/)

[Carlos Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ghosn/)

## More by Mehcad Brooks

> [I am part of the demographic and I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/i-am-part-of-the-demographic-and-i-love-it/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [I don't pay too much attention to the positive reviews or the negative reviews because if you believe one, you've gotta believe the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/i-don-t-pay-too-much-attention-to-the-positive-reviews-or-the/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [I've played sports pretty much my whole life, and that teaches you how to work with anyone, whether you like that person or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/i-ve-played-sports-pretty-much-my-whole-life-and-that-teaches-you-how/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [Actors have a different kind of existence because they blow up over night into superstars in their early 20s. Let's say you were a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/actors-have-a-different-kind-of-existence-because-they-blow-up-over/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [I'm such a huge sports video game fan. These games are getting so realistic, it's amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/i-m-such-a-huge-sports-video-game-fan-these-games-are-getting-so/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [There are so many of us that just do things to pay bills, but I never wanted that to be me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/there-are-so-many-of-us-that-just-do-things-to-pay-bills-but-i-never/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [I basically modeled my way through college, doing local runway shows in L.A. that don't pay a lot and a couple of shows in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/i-basically-modeled-my-way-through-college-doing-local-runway-shows/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [I'm a huge Rachel Maddow fan. There's not a bigger Rachel Maddow fan. I'm a Maddowphile. I'm a definite Maddowphile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/i-m-a-huge-rachel-maddow-fan-there-s-not-a-bigger-rachel-maddow-fan-i/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [I'm a human rights activist and it doesn't make any sense not to treat everybody the exact same way. It just doesn't make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/i-m-a-human-rights-activist-and-it-doesn-t-make-any-sense-not-to/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [I feel like the human body is what it is, and the more you make yourself comfortable with it, the better off you are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/i-feel-like-the-human-body-is-what-it-is-and-the-more-you-make/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [Time heals everything. Time corrects everything. Time is the solution to every problem, I believe. A lot of things can happen with time. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/time-heals-everything-time-corrects-everything-time-is-the-solution/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [Rachel Maddow is a national treasure. I think that we need honest voices like that and we need journalism like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/rachel-maddow-is-a-national-treasure-i-think-that-we-need-honest/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [I didn't act in college, per se, because I didn't want an acting degree. I don't know what you do with that degree. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/i-didn-t-act-in-college-per-se-because-i-didn-t-want-an-acting-degree/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [When I jump into something, I really do it to the fullest extent that my time and energy will allow me. I'm from Texas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/when-i-jump-into-something-i-really-do-it-to-the-fullest-extent-that/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

> [I think that Rachel Maddow is probably the most assertive, politically motivated and accurate voice of my generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/i-think-that-rachel-maddow-is-probably-the-most-assertive-politically/)

[Mehcad Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

[Explore all 29 Mehcad Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/)

## 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

> [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": "All success is quite temporary if you don't work hard enough to maintain where you are. Talent can get you somewhere but character keeps you there. You have to build character along the way and know when and know how to take the victories from situations even though they might seem grim.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mehcad Brooks"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/all-success-is-quite-temporary-if-you-don-t-work-hard-enough-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Character"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/all-success-is-quite-temporary-if-you-don-t-work-hard-enough-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/mehcad-brooks-21124_character_all-success-is-quite-temporary-if-you-do_1932645.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/mehcad-brooks-21124_character_all-success-is-quite-temporary-if-you-do_1932645.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/mehcad-brooks-21124_character_all-success-is-quite-temporary-if-you-do_1932645.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“All success is quite temporary if you don't work hard enough to maintain where you are. Talent can get you…” — Mehcad Brooks",
                "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": "Mehcad Brooks",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehcad-brooks/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "All success is quite temporary if...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/all-success-is-quite-temporary-if-you-don-t-work-hard-enough-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehcad-brooks/all-success-is-quite-temporary-if-you-don-t-work-hard-enough-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
