--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not what a man does that is of…" description: "\"It is not what a man does that is of final importance, but what he is in what he does. The atmosphere produced by a man, much more than his activities,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b2/oswald-chambers-205_activity_it-is-not-what-a-man-does-that-is-of-fin_1294353.jpg" --- # It is not what a man does that is of final importance, but… ![“It is not what a man does that is of final importance, but what he is in what he does. The atmosphere produced by a man, much more than his activities, has the lasting influence.” quote by Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b2/oswald-chambers-205_activity_it-is-not-what-a-man-does-that-is-of-fin_1294353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b2/oswald-chambers-205_activity_it-is-not-what-a-man-does-that-is-of-fin_1294353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b2/oswald-chambers-205_activity_it-is-not-what-a-man-does-that-is-of-fin_1294353.jpg) > “It is not what a man does that is of final importance, but what he is in what he does. The atmosphere produced by a man, much more than his activities, has the lasting influence.” [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person's character and the atmosphere they create matter more than their actions, leaving a lasting impact. **In simple terms:** Character matters more than deeds. Key Takeaway Cultivate a positive presence. Themes character influence legacy Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - teaching - personal relationships - community building Key Concepts integrity presence impact Questions to Reflect On - How does your inner character shape your external actions? - What atmosphere do you create for others? A Different Perspective Actions alone may be forgotten without a strong character. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Atmosphere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atmosphere/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Finals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finals/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Lasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting/) [Lasting Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting-influence-1082449/) [Man Activities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-activities-4227683/) [Man Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-does/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Produced Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produced-man-4227684/) ## Related quotes > [Our chief justices have probably had more profound and lasting influence on their times and on the direction of the nation than most presidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/our-chief-justices-have-probably-had-more-profound-and-lasting/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Truly successful individuals create both immediate and long-lasting influence attracting others to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-burg/truly-successful-individuals-create-both-immediate-and-long-lasting/) [Bob Burg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-burg/) > [If I had to name one book that has had the most lasting influence on my work, I would pick 'The Big Sea' by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-cleage/if-i-had-to-name-one-book-that-has-had-the-most-lasting-influence-on/) [Pearl Cleage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-cleage/) > [I think The Beatles are the lasting influence on me, even more so than Dylan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/i-think-the-beatles-are-the-lasting-influence-on-me-even-more-so-than/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [If you want to have a lasting influence upon the world, you must invest in people's lives; and if you want to maximize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-barna/if-you-want-to-have-a-lasting-influence-upon-the-world-you-must/) [George Barna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-barna/) > [Art is one of man's few serious activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/art-is-one-of-man-s-few-serious-activities/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [ “A \[real\] man does not flee from truth” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolfo-anaya/a-real-man-does-not-flee-from-truth/) [Rudolfo Anaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolfo-anaya/) > [A man does not know how far he can go, until he have no choice but to keep moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/a-man-does-not-know-how-far-he-can-go-until-he-have-no-choice-but-to/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [“A man who does not read miss great wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/a-man-who-does-not-read-miss-great-wisdom/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The great man is the man who does a thing for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/the-great-man-is-the-man-who-does-a-thing-for-the-first-time/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [A man does what's best for him and his family damn what anybody else think. Neva been the type to explain my self cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hurricane-chris/a-man-does-what-s-best-for-him-and-his-family-damn-what-anybody-else/) [Hurricane Chris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hurricane-chris/) > [“Religion is that which a man does with his own solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-martyn-lloyd-jones/religion-is-that-which-a-man-does-with-his-own-solitude/) [D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“A man, who does not commit an evil act either, has no opportunity or the stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/a-man-who-does-not-commit-an-evil-act-either-has-no-opportunity-or/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) ## More by Oswald Chambers > [“If we deliberately choose to obey God, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-deliberately-choose-to-obey-god-then-he-will-tax-the-remotest/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/realize-that-the-lord-is-here-now-and-the-freedom-you-receive-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/you-will-never-cease-to-be-the-most-amazed-person-on-earth-at-what/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sorrow-burns-up-a-great-amount-of-shallowness/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/let-circumstances-take-you-where-they-will-but-keep-drawing-on-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-we-cannot-do-what-god-does-and/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God's children starving while actually seated at the Father's table.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-a-solemn-thing-and-no-small-scandal-in-the-kingdom-to-see-god-s/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/my-spiritual-history-must-have-as-its-underlying-foundation-a/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-always-have-visions-before-a-thing-is-made-real-when-we-realize/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-thing-that-awakens-the-deepest-fountain-of-gratitude-in-a-human/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The secret of the missionary is...I am His, and He is carrying out His work through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-secret-of-the-missionary-is-i-am-his-and-he-is-carrying-out-his/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) [Explore all 922 Oswald Chambers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not what a man does that is of final importance, but what he is in what he does. 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