--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Character is what emerges from all the…" description: "\"Character is what emerges from all the little things you were too busy to do yesterday, but did anyway.\" — Mignon McLaughlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/mignon-mclaughlin-742_busy_character-is-what-emerges-from-all-the-l_1122370.png" --- # Character is what emerges from all the little things you… ![“Character is what emerges from all the little things you were too busy to do yesterday, but did anyway.” quote by Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/mignon-mclaughlin-742_busy_character-is-what-emerges-from-all-the-l_1122370.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/mignon-mclaughlin-742_busy_character-is-what-emerges-from-all-the-l_1122370.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/mignon-mclaughlin-742_busy_character-is-what-emerges-from-all-the-l_1122370.png) > “Character is what emerges from all the little things you were too busy to do yesterday, but did anyway.” [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Character forms from small, often overlooked actions that accumulate over time. **In simple terms:** Small habits shape who you are. Key Takeaway Pay attention to daily choices. Themes character habits personal growth Mood reflective thoughtful Type aphilosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily routines - personal relationships - career development Key Concepts incremental development self‑identity Questions to Reflect On - Which tiny habit defines you? - How can you improve unnoticed actions? A Different Perspective Neglecting small actions can erode character. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [I don't really worry about things, I'm too busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konnie-huq/i-don-t-really-worry-about-things-i-m-too-busy/) [Konnie Huq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konnie-huq/) > [No one's busy thinking bad things about you. They're all too busy thinking bad things about themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/no-one-s-busy-thinking-bad-things-about-you-they-re-all-too-busy/) [Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/) > [Read enough about the dung beetle, and a picture of its character emerges: patient, optimistic, uncomplaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/read-enough-about-the-dung-beetle-and-a-picture-of-its-character/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [“A man's character is only formed after the impressions of childhood and early youth have become blended with the indefinable and hidden influences both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/a-man-s-character-is-only-formed-after-the-impressions-of-childhood/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [One of the nice things about being busy is it makes you focus on what's important to you and how you use your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/one-of-the-nice-things-about-being-busy-is-it-makes-you-focus-on-what/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [It's amazing how many things busy people are doing that never will be missed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/it-s-amazing-how-many-things-busy-people-are-doing-that-never-will-be/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“Some of us are busy doing things; some of us are busy complaining.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/some-of-us-are-busy-doing-things-some-of-us-are-busy-complaining/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [There are lots of things that keep me busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeetendra/there-are-lots-of-things-that-keep-me-busy/) [Jeetendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeetendra/) > [I'm used to multitasking... I like it that way. I like when things are busy. I strive off the pace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-jackson/i-m-used-to-multitasking-i-like-it-that-way-i-like-when-things-are/) [Christopher Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-jackson/) > [I'm not suggesting that the entire nation can't be successful, but there's something to it when you have 150 cable channels and the Internet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-courier/i-m-not-suggesting-that-the-entire-nation-can-t-be-successful-but/) [Jim Courier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-courier/) > [A man, a real man, a 'wonderful man,' will be too busy protecting your heart to play with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-a-real-man-a-wonderful-man-will-be-too-busy-protecting-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Self care is any action you purposefully take to improve your physical, emotional or spiritual well being. Too often, we do not make time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-brownn/self-care-is-any-action-you-purposefully-take-to-improve-your/) [Eleanor Brownn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-brownn/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) ## More by Mignon McLaughlin > [As we are human, we can't do what we can't do; as we're neurotic, we can't do what we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/as-we-are-human-we-can-t-do-what-we-can-t-do-as-we-re-neurotic-we-can/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Naturally, the neurotic wants you to love him twice as much, for he's going to cut it in half anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/naturally-the-neurotic-wants-you-to-love-him-twice-as-much-for-he-s/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We have a terror of seeming to exert ourselves, lest it be noticed that we exerted ourselves and did not succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-have-a-terror-of-seeming-to-exert-ourselves-lest-it-be-noticed/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The three horrors of modern life - talk without meaning, desire without love, work without satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-three-horrors-of-modern-life-talk-without-meaning-desire-without/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We are never more self-righteous than when giving up what we should have shunned all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-are-never-more-self-righteous-than-when-giving-up-what-we-should/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The time to begin most things is ten years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-time-to-begin-most-things-is-ten-years-ago/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [One of life's few really reliable pleasures: to have a family you love, and to leave them for a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/one-of-life-s-few-really-reliable-pleasures-to-have-a-family-you-love/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [So long as God reveals Himself, or doesn't, He is behaving like God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/so-long-as-god-reveals-himself-or-doesn-t-he-is-behaving-like-god/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The total history of almost anyone would shock almost everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-total-history-of-almost-anyone-would-shock-almost-everyone/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [There are children born to be children, and others who must mark time till they can take their natural places as adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/there-are-children-born-to-be-children-and-others-who-must-mark-time/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [In life, as in restaurants, we swallow a lot of indigestible stuff just because it comes with the dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/in-life-as-in-restaurants-we-swallow-a-lot-of-indigestible-stuff-just/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Neurotics always feel as though they were going way up or way down, which is odd in people going sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/neurotics-always-feel-as-though-they-were-going-way-up-or-way-down/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Even in the same family, one child will always instinctively know when to ask for things, and another won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/even-in-the-same-family-one-child-will-always-instinctively-know-when/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [People find it hard to be both comic and serious, though life manages it easily enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/people-find-it-hard-to-be-both-comic-and-serious-though-life-manages/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [No good neurotic finds it difficult to be both opinionated and indecisive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/no-good-neurotic-finds-it-difficult-to-be-both-opinionated-and/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) [Explore all 383 Mignon McLaughlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) The Shawshank Redemption Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Character is what emerges from all the little things you were too busy to do yesterday, but did anyway.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mignon McLaughlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/character-is-what-emerges-from-all-the-little-things-you-were-too/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Busy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/character-is-what-emerges-from-all-the-little-things-you-were-too/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/mignon-mclaughlin-742_busy_character-is-what-emerges-from-all-the-l_1122370.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/mignon-mclaughlin-742_busy_character-is-what-emerges-from-all-the-l_1122370.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/mignon-mclaughlin-742_busy_character-is-what-emerges-from-all-the-l_1122370.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Character is what emerges from all the little things you were too busy to do yesterday, but did anyway.” — Mignon McLaughlin", "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": "Mignon McLaughlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Character is what emerges from all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/character-is-what-emerges-from-all-the-little-things-you-were-too/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/character-is-what-emerges-from-all-the-little-things-you-were-too/#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 } } ] } ```