--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The important thing is that you've got a…" description: "\"The important thing is that you've got a strong foundation before you start to try to save the world or help other people.\" — Richard Branson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/richard-branson-256_foundation_the-important-thing-is-that-you-ve-got-a_2484178.jpg" --- # The important thing is that you've got a strong foundation… ![“The important thing is that you've got a strong foundation before you start to try to save the world or help other people.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/richard-branson-256_foundation_the-important-thing-is-that-you-ve-got-a_2484178.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/richard-branson-256_foundation_the-important-thing-is-that-you-ve-got-a_2484178.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/richard-branson-256_foundation_the-important-thing-is-that-you-ve-got-a_2484178.jpg) > “The important thing is that you've got a strong foundation before you start to try to save the world or help other people.” [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Before attempting grand deeds, ensure personal stability and solid groundwork. **In simple terms:** Build a strong base first. Key Takeaway Secure fundamentals before helping others. Themes foundation responsibility preparation Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - starting a business - volunteering - community projects Key Concepts personal growth risk management ethical action Questions to Reflect On - What foundations are you missing? - How do you balance self‑care with altruism? A Different Perspective Neglecting personal health can undermine efforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Foundation Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation-start-896857/) [Help people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-people/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Helping others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping-others/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Save the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-the-world/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-foundation/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-help-575033/) ## Related quotes > [“Premature promotion and distribution before professional protection and organization can lead to loss of control, ownership and profits. Create the sound foundation before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-weisman/premature-promotion-and-distribution-before-professional-protection/) [Loren Weisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-weisman/) > [I learned that I can't save the world, but I can help a child at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afeni-shakur/i-learned-that-i-can-t-save-the-world-but-i-can-help-a-child-at-a-time/) [Afeni Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afeni-shakur/) > [If America is the pursuit of happiness, the best way to pursue happiness is to help other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/if-america-is-the-pursuit-of-happiness-the-best-way-to-pursue/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [That's the point of music, to not be selfish and to help other people, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-farro/that-s-the-point-of-music-to-not-be-selfish-and-to-help-other-people/) [Zac Farro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-farro/) > [I feel like my purpose on earth is to help other people and give good advice about some of the same things I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahki/i-feel-like-my-purpose-on-earth-is-to-help-other-people-and-give-good/) [Rahki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahki/) > [If we can not smile, we cannot help other people to smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-we-can-not-smile-we-cannot-help-other-people-to-smile/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Help other people to cope with their problems, and your own will be easier to cope with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/help-other-people-to-cope-with-their-problems-and-your-own-will-be/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [It is rather more noble to help people purely out of concern for their suffering than it is to help them because you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/it-is-rather-more-noble-to-help-people-purely-out-of-concern-for/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“To really change the world, we have to help people change the way they see things. Global betterment is a mental process, not one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/to-really-change-the-world-we-have-to-help-people-change-the-way-they/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [I think anybody who has a soul would themselves and their needs aside to help other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-think-anybody-who-has-a-soul-would-themselves-and-their-needs-aside/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [Whenever people go out of their way to help other people - there's power and beauty in our diversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/whenever-people-go-out-of-their-way-to-help-other-people-there-s/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [I must say that the more you give, the more you get. Being able to find solutions, to help other people is extremely gratifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/i-must-say-that-the-more-you-give-the-more-you-get-being-able-to-find/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [A lot of people think they're born for themselves; I don't think that. I believe that we're here to help other people all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-breuning/a-lot-of-people-think-they-re-born-for-themselves-i-don-t-think-that/) [Walter Breuning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-breuning/) > [If you're in a position where you can help other people, there is nothing better in life than helping other people. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/if-you-re-in-a-position-where-you-can-help-other-people-there-is/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [You – help - people. You are an expert in your field, who genuinely helps other human beings. Take pride in that, stop hawking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/you-help-people-you-are-an-expert-in-your-field-who-genuinely-helps/) [Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/) ## More by Richard Branson > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Fantasizing about the future is one of my favorite pastimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/fantasizing-about-the-future-is-one-of-my-favorite-pastimes/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I will work day and night to avoid failure, but if I can't, I'll pick myself up the next day. The most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-will-work-day-and-night-to-avoid-failure-but-if-i-can-t-i-ll-pick/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Tough times are inevitable in life and in business. But how you compose yourself during those times defines your spirit and will define your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/tough-times-are-inevitable-in-life-and-in-business-but-how-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [All successful people - not just entrepreneurs - have got things wrong over and over again before finding the right solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/all-successful-people-not-just-entrepreneurs-have-got-things-wrong/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [We have the enormous opportunity in our hands to make a positive difference for business, people, and the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-have-the-enormous-opportunity-in-our-hands-to-make-a-positive/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I'm a great believer in life to saying yes and not saying no, and hopefully making people smile and just having fun in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-a-great-believer-in-life-to-saying-yes-and-not-saying-no-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Money is a poor indicator of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/money-is-a-poor-indicator-of-success/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Business leaders take things far too seriously, and forget that most of the time people spend in their lives is at work, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/business-leaders-take-things-far-too-seriously-and-forget-that-most/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I love the freedom of movement that my phone gives me. That has definitely transformed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-love-the-freedom-of-movement-that-my-phone-gives-me-that-has/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Everything in your business can be outsourced... if you're not emotionally attached to doing it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/everything-in-your-business-can-be-outsourced-if-you-re-not/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [People have to decide on priorities if they want to get anywhere. The best lessons I learned was to just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/people-have-to-decide-on-priorities-if-they-want-to-get-anywhere-the/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [There isn't a flight goes by when I don't stare out of the window and thank my stars for what I'm seeing and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/there-isn-t-a-flight-goes-by-when-i-don-t-stare-out-of-the-window-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) [Explore all 805 Richard Branson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## More Foundation quotes > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Trust is the foundation of real teamwork (there is nothing touchy-feely about this).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/trust-is-the-foundation-of-real-teamwork-there-is-nothing-touchy/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [A loving family provides the foundation children need to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bunning/a-loving-family-provides-the-foundation-children-need-to-succeed/) [Jim Bunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bunning/) > [Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have to connect to it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-collaborator-at-their-foundation/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I was raised playing music in coffeehouses and I feel that was the foundation for my career. I think it is important that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-was-raised-playing-music-in-coffeehouses-and-i-feel-that-was-the/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The foundation of the Christian's peace is everlasting; it is what no time, no change can destroy. It will remain when the body dies;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-foundation-of-the-christian-s-peace-is-everlasting-it-is-what-no/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Butter, cream, and bacon. That's such a great foundation right there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/butter-cream-and-bacon-that-s-such-a-great-foundation-right-there/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [God established the family as the foundation of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/god-established-the-family-as-the-foundation-of-civilization/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [To succeed, you will soon learn, as I did, the importance of a solid foundation in the basics of education - literacy, both verbal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/to-succeed-you-will-soon-learn-as-i-did-the-importance-of-a-solid/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Coral reefs represent some of the worlds most spectacular beauty spots, but they are also the foundation of marine life: without them many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheherazade-goldsmith/coral-reefs-represent-some-of-the-worlds-most-spectacular-beauty/) [Sheherazade Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheherazade-goldsmith/) [Browse all 3,310 Foundation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The important thing is that you've got a strong foundation before you start to try to save the world or help other people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Branson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-important-thing-is-that-you-ve-got-a-strong-foundation-before-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Foundation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-important-thing-is-that-you-ve-got-a-strong-foundation-before-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/richard-branson-256_foundation_the-important-thing-is-that-you-ve-got-a_2484178.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/richard-branson-256_foundation_the-important-thing-is-that-you-ve-got-a_2484178.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/richard-branson-256_foundation_the-important-thing-is-that-you-ve-got-a_2484178.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The important thing is that you've got a strong foundation before you start to try to save the world or help…” — Richard Branson", "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": "Richard Branson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The important thing is that you've...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-important-thing-is-that-you-ve-got-a-strong-foundation-before-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-important-thing-is-that-you-ve-got-a-strong-foundation-before-you/#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 } } ] } ```