--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of the characteristics which make…" description: "\"Most of the characteristics which make for success in writing are precisely those which we are all taught to repress ... the firm belief that you are a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/robert-anton-wilson-1198_belief_most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-f_1869382.jpg" --- # Most of the characteristics which make for success in… ![“Most of the characteristics which make for success in writing are precisely those which we are all taught to repress ... the firm belief that you are an important person, that you are a lot smarter than most people, and that your ideas are so damned important that everybody should listen to you.” quote by Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/robert-anton-wilson-1198_belief_most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-f_1869382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/robert-anton-wilson-1198_belief_most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-f_1869382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/robert-anton-wilson-1198_belief_most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-f_1869382.jpg) > “Most of the characteristics which make for success in writing are precisely those which we are all taught to repress ... the firm belief that you are an important person, that you are a lot smarter than most people, and that your ideas are so damned important that everybody should listen to you.” [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success in writing often requires confidence and self‑importance, traits society discourages teaching. **In simple terms:** Writing success needs confidence, which is often discouraged. Key Takeaway Embrace confidence while staying humble. Themes confidence self‑importance writing societal norms Mood reflective analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - author workshops - personal branding - public speaking - leadership training Key Concepts ego assertion creative risk Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance confidence with humility? - When does self‑importance hinder communication? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can alienate readers or collaborators. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Firm beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firm-beliefs/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I've always claimed that success in writing - provided of course one had what it takes to make a writer - is like success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-loring/i-ve-always-claimed-that-success-in-writing-provided-of-course-one/) [Emilie Loring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-loring/) > [The measure of success was writing a song, recording it and for it being in the hit parade in England. Success was about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-o-sullivan/the-measure-of-success-was-writing-a-song-recording-it-and-for-it/) [Gilbert O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-o-sullivan/) > [A lot of my students have been quite notable. Notable in both the personal sense - people who have changed my life - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-roberge/a-lot-of-my-students-have-been-quite-notable-notable-in-both-the/) [Rob Roberge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-roberge/) > [Start by identifying the qualities or characteristics that make you distinctive from your competitors - or your colleagues. What have you done lately -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/start-by-identifying-the-qualities-or-characteristics-that-make-you/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [When we kind of get caught up in the minutiae, the details that make us all different, I think there's two ways of seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/when-we-kind-of-get-caught-up-in-the-minutiae-the-details-that-make/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [“When we get caught up in the minutiae, the details that make us all different... There's opportunity to see the texture of that person.The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/when-we-get-caught-up-in-the-minutiae-the-details-that-make-us-all/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [Obedience, submission, discipline, courage--these are among the characteristics which make a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/obedience-submission-discipline-courage-these-are-among-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [We did not choose to believe that personal choice is the highest human virtue. Rather, we were taught, formed, forced to believe nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-willimon/we-did-not-choose-to-believe-that-personal-choice-is-the-highest/) [William Henry Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-willimon/) > [“Many capable people are kept from getting to the next level of contribution because they can’t let go of the belief that everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/many-capable-people-are-kept-from-getting-to-the-next-level-of/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [My belief is that it is most important for an artist to develop an approach and philosophy about life - if he has developed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-lawrence/my-belief-is-that-it-is-most-important-for-an-artist-to-develop-an/) [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) > [They say: Belief is important. I say: No, actions are important. Judge by deed, not by creed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/they-say-belief-is-important-i-say-no-actions-are-important-judge-by/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Belief is the most important thing in football. Not quality, running, or being strong but belief, faith, and fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-pochettino/belief-is-the-most-important-thing-in-football-not-quality-running-or/) [Mauricio Pochettino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-pochettino/) > [One has to be realistic. One’s concern for equity and justice in the world must not carry one into the alien territory of unreasoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/one-has-to-be-realistic-one-s-concern-for-equity-and-justice-in-the/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [“Drive,determination,and belief are important to build your success but dont ever miss one very important thing is the ATTITUDE.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faiz-triumph/drive-determination-and-belief-are-important-to-build-your-success/) [Faiz Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faiz-triumph/) > [“Update your belief! If necessary, throw it to the bin! Don’t exaggerate your belief! Remember that your belief is not that much important; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/update-your-belief-if-necessary-throw-it-to-the-bin-don-t-exaggerate/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Robert Anton Wilson > [Every fact of science was once Damned. Every invention was considered impossible. Every discovery was a nervous shock to some orthodoxy. Every artistic innovation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/every-fact-of-science-was-once-damned-every-invention-was-considered/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [The only way to stave off boredom, in a complex domesticated primate like humankind, is to increase one's intelligence. This is not appealing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/the-only-way-to-stave-off-boredom-in-a-complex-domesticated-primate/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [Disobedience was man's Original Virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/disobedience-was-man-s-original-virtue/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [In every state of the Union, Fundamentalists still fight to ban all the science they dislike and prosecute all who teach it. To them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/in-every-state-of-the-union-fundamentalists-still-fight-to-ban-all/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [It is a great privilege to be conscious in this universe. Those who understand, shine like stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/it-is-a-great-privilege-to-be-conscious-in-this-universe-those-who/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [I will do anything, including highway robbery and murder, to avoid leaving my children in poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/i-will-do-anything-including-highway-robbery-and-murder-to-avoid/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [I see anarchism as the theoretical ideal to which we are all gradually evolving to a point where everybody can tell the truth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/i-see-anarchism-as-the-theoretical-ideal-to-which-we-are-all/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [“Masturbation is not the happiest form of sexuality, but the most advisable for him who wants to be alone and think. I detect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/masturbation-is-not-the-happiest-form-of-sexuality-but-the-most/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [I like pacifists and people who have a heavy emotional identification with deathism and war would probably call me a pacifist, but I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/i-like-pacifists-and-people-who-have-a-heavy-emotional-identification/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [Cynics regarded everybody as equally corrupt... Idealists regarded everybody as equally corrupt, except themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/cynics-regarded-everybody-as-equally-corrupt-idealists-regarded/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [The most important truths always appear first as blasphemies or obscenities. That's why every great innovator is persecuted. And the sacraments look obscene, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/the-most-important-truths-always-appear-first-as-blasphemies-or/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [“When you're dealing with these forces or powers in a philosophic and scientific way, contemplating them from an armchair, that rationalistic approach is useful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/when-you-re-dealing-with-these-forces-or-powers-in-a-philosophic-and/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [“And Spaceship Earth, that glorious and bloody circus, continued its four-billion-year-long spiral orbit about the Sun; the engineering, I must admit, was so exquisite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/and-spaceship-earth-that-glorious-and-bloody-circus-continued-its/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [Existence is larger than any model that is not itself the exact size of existence (which has no size).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/existence-is-larger-than-any-model-that-is-not-itself-the-exact-size/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [The totally convinced and the totally stupid have too much in common for the resemblance to be accidental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/the-totally-convinced-and-the-totally-stupid-have-too-much-in-common/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) [Explore all 274 Robert Anton Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most of the characteristics which make for success in writing are precisely those which we are all taught to repress ... the firm belief that you are an important person, that you are a lot smarter than most people, and that your ideas are so damned important that everybody should listen to you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Anton Wilson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-for-success-in-writing-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-for-success-in-writing-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/robert-anton-wilson-1198_belief_most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-f_1869382.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/robert-anton-wilson-1198_belief_most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-f_1869382.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3e/robert-anton-wilson-1198_belief_most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-f_1869382.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most of the characteristics which make for success in writing are precisely those which we are all taught to…” — Robert Anton Wilson", "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": "Robert Anton Wilson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most of the characteristics which make...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-for-success-in-writing-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-for-success-in-writing-are/#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 } } ] } ```