--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true measure of a man is not his…" description: "\"The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. No, the true measure of a man is this: how quickly ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/philip-k-dick-502_beautiful-life_the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-his-int_698198.jpg" --- # The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how… ![“The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. No, the true measure of a man is this: how quickly can he respond to the needs of others and how much of himself he can give.” quote by Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/philip-k-dick-502_beautiful-life_the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-his-int_698198.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/philip-k-dick-502_beautiful-life_the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-his-int_698198.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/philip-k-dick-502_beautiful-life_the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-his-int_698198.jpg) > “The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. No, the true measure of a man is this: how quickly can he respond to the needs of others and how much of himself he can give.” [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) ## 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 worth is judged by how swiftly and selflessly they meet others' needs, not by intellect or status. **In simple terms:** Worth equals selfless service, not intelligence or rank. Key Takeaway Prioritize helping others. Themes service selflessness character humility Mood reflective inspirational Type moral philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - teamwork - family caregiving - community support Key Concepts ethical responsibility empathy social duty Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance self‑care with helping others? - What does service mean to you? A Different Perspective May overlook personal boundaries and self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-life/) [Establishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment/) [Freak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freak/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Intelligence High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-high-3149616/) [Man Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-intelligence-381185/) [Measure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure/) [Measure Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure-man/) [Measure of a man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure-of-a-man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-of-others/) [True measure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-measure/) [True measure of a man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-measure-of-a-man/) ## Related quotes > [“The true measure of a man is in how much it takes to discourage him.” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-castillo/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-in-how-much-it-takes-to-discourage-him-i/) [Brooke Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-castillo/) > [The true measure of a man is how he behaves when death is close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-katsu/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-how-he-behaves-when-death-is-close/) [Alma Katsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-katsu/) > [“As Samuel Johnson purportedly wrote, “The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/as-samuel-johnson-purportedly-wrote-the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-how/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [The true measure of a man is not in his intellect, his brawn, etc. It's in how long he can hold out before he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-in-his-intellect-his-brawn-etc-it-s/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [How will I be remembered by my children? This is the true measure of a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/how-will-i-be-remembered-by-my-children-this-is-the-true-measure-of-a/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [“The true measure of a man is how he treats you when others are not looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandra-torre/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-how-he-treats-you-when-others-are-not/) [Alessandra Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandra-torre/) > [The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. Ann Landers It's not whether you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-how-he-treats-someone-who-can-do-him/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [“The true measure of a man is not what he dreams, but what he aspires to be; a dream is nothing without action. Whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-norton/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-what-he-dreams-but-what-he-aspires/) [Mike Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-norton/) > [If you want to see the true measure of a man, watch how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/if-you-want-to-see-the-true-measure-of-a-man-watch-how-he-treats-his/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [The true measure of a man is what he would do if he knew he would never be caught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-what-he-would-do-if-he-knew-he-would/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [The true measure of a man is the degree to which he has managed to subjugate his ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-the-degree-to-which-he-has-managed-to/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort & convenience but how he stands at times of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-how-he-behaves-in-moments-of-comfort/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The true measure of a man, is not what he does when is being watched, but what he does when he is alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/the-true-measure-of-a-man-is-not-what-he-does-when-is-being-watched/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [Of all my father's teachings, the most enduring was the one about the true measure of a man. That true measure was how well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/of-all-my-father-s-teachings-the-most-enduring-was-the-one-about-the/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [“In order to know virtue, we must acquaint ourselves with vice. Only then can we know the true measure of a man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/in-order-to-know-virtue-we-must-acquaint-ourselves-with-vice-only/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) ## More by Philip K. Dick > [So we and our elaborately evolving computers may meet each other halfway. Someday a human being, named perhaps Fred White, may shoot a robot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/so-we-and-our-elaborately-evolving-computers-may-meet-each-other/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Even if all life on our planet is destroyed, there must be other life somewhere which we know nothing of. It is impossible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/even-if-all-life-on-our-planet-is-destroyed-there-must-be-other-life/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“That is not how you do it; you do not solve one problem with another, greater problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/that-is-not-how-you-do-it-you-do-not-solve-one-problem-with-another/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [For each person there is a sentence—a series of words—which has the power to destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/for-each-person-there-is-a-sentence-a-series-of-words-which-has-the/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [I want to write about people I love, and put them into a fictional world spun out of my own mind, not the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-want-to-write-about-people-i-love-and-put-them-into-a-fictional/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Why does a man cry? he wondered. Not like a woman; not for that. Not for sentiment. A man cries over the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/why-does-a-man-cry-he-wondered-not-like-a-woman-not-for-that-not-for/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The day came. The wrath descended. Sin, guilt, and retribution? The manic psychoses of those entities we referred to as states, institutions, systems -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-day-came-the-wrath-descended-sin-guilt-and-retribution-the-manic/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The church of my choice is the free, open world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-church-of-my-choice-is-the-free-open-world/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“I see,' Rick said. He felt numb. Completely. Throughout his entire body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-see-rick-said-he-felt-numb-completely-throughout-his-entire-body/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“What is identity? he asked himself. Where does the act end? Nobody knows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/what-is-identity-he-asked-himself-where-does-the-act-end-nobody-knows/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [You're killing yourself with cynicism. Your idols got taken away from you one by one and now you have nothing to give your love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/you-re-killing-yourself-with-cynicism-your-idols-got-taken-away-from/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [What scared me the most was when my father would put on the gasmask. His face would disappear... This was not a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/what-scared-me-the-most-was-when-my-father-would-put-on-the-gasmask/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“A man is an angel that has become deranged, Joe Fernwright thought. Once they – all of them – had been genuine angels, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/a-man-is-an-angel-that-has-become-deranged-joe-fernwright-thought/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“When do I see a photograph, when a reflection?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/when-do-i-see-a-photograph-when-a-reflection/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [My major preoccupation is the question, 'What is reality?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/my-major-preoccupation-is-the-question-what-is-reality/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) [Explore all 489 Philip K. Dick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) ## More Beautiful life quotes > [“She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/she-said-she-usually-cried-at-least-once-each-day-not-because-she-was/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Dear God, thanks for this beautiful life and please forgive me if I don't love it enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-god-thanks-for-this-beautiful-life-and-please-forgive-me-if-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My way of life is to dare to imagine the truest, most beautiful life, family and world - and to then conjure up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-doyle/my-way-of-life-is-to-dare-to-imagine-the-truest-most-beautiful-life/) [Glennon Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-doyle/) > [“If you are impeccable with your word, if you don’t take anything personally, if you don’t make assumptions, if you always do your best,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz/if-you-are-impeccable-with-your-word-if-you-don-t-take-anything/) [Miguel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz/) > [I think I am in my last days, but it doesn't really matter because I have had such a beautiful life. I have lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-herz-sommer/i-think-i-am-in-my-last-days-but-it-doesn-t-really-matter-because-i/) [Alice Herz-Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-herz-sommer/) > [You have to find what’s good and true and beautiful in your life as it is now. Looking back makes you competitive. And, age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/you-have-to-find-what-s-good-and-true-and-beautiful-in-your-life-as/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“People fear sensuality simply because they don't know its actual purpose. But, please, don't be ignorant my friend: Sensuality was NOT intended to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/people-fear-sensuality-simply-because-they-don-t-know-its-actual/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [Love has no boundaries or rules. Speak your mind, say what you feel. Embrace this beautiful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-has-no-boundaries-or-rules-speak-your-mind-say-what-you-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is Fire all around you that burns Big and Bright.But The Fire inside you burns Strong and Light.Keep It Lit..Always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destinydreams/there-is-fire-all-around-you-that-burns-big-and-bright-but-the-fire/) [DestinyDreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destinydreams/) > [If someone would ask me what a beautiful life means, I would lean my head on your shoulder, hold you close to me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-would-ask-me-what-a-beautiful-life-means-i-would-lean-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The poetry of the new year is problematically punctual. An impeccable guest who arrives on time when you are running frantically behind schedule. Catching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavithra-k-mehta/the-poetry-of-the-new-year-is-problematically-punctual-an-impeccable/) [Pavithra K. Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavithra-k-mehta/) > [“Life becomes more beautiful when you live as if politics and religion don't exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raigon-stanley/life-becomes-more-beautiful-when-you-live-as-if-politics-and-religion/) [Raigon Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raigon-stanley/) > [“When you begin to claim someone as your man or woman, that's normally when you start to lose your ability to overwhelm them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/when-you-begin-to-claim-someone-as-your-man-or-woman-that-s-normally/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [I somehow always have this idea that as soon as I can get through this work that's piled up ahead of me, I'll really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-wilder-lane/i-somehow-always-have-this-idea-that-as-soon-as-i-can-get-through/) [Rose Wilder Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-wilder-lane/) > [I have had a very comfortable and beautiful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumi-pednekar/i-have-had-a-very-comfortable-and-beautiful-life/) [Bhumi Pednekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumi-pednekar/) [Browse all 378 Beautiful life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. 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