--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Confidence is the immaterial residue of…" description: "\"Confidence is the immaterial residue of material actions. Confidence is the public face of competence.\" — Ron Suskind" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/ron-suskind-10115_action_confidence-is-the-immaterial-residue-of_2794818.png" --- # Confidence is the immaterial residue of material actions… ![“Confidence is the immaterial residue of material actions. Confidence is the public face of competence.” quote by Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/ron-suskind-10115_action_confidence-is-the-immaterial-residue-of_2794818.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/ron-suskind-10115_action_confidence-is-the-immaterial-residue-of_2794818.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/ron-suskind-10115_action_confidence-is-the-immaterial-residue-of_2794818.png) > “Confidence is the immaterial residue of material actions. Confidence is the public face of competence.” [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Material actions create tangible outcomes; confidence emerges as the visible sign of competence. **In simple terms:** Doing things builds confidence. Key Takeaway Take action to demonstrate ability. Themes confidence competence action Mood optimistic empowering Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career projects - skill development - public speaking - entrepreneurship Key Concepts psychology leadership Questions to Reflect On - Which recent action proved your competence? - How can you sustain confidence after setbacks? A Different Perspective Confidence can be fragile without consistent results. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Actions Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions-confidence-3405365/) [Competence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competence/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Confidence Immaterial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence-immaterial-3405364/) [Confidence Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence-public-1064832/) [Face Competence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-competence-1064833/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) ## Related quotes > [Confidence is the public face of competence,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/confidence-is-the-public-face-of-competence/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [“Rule 1: The actions of confidence come first; the feelings of confidence come later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-harris/rule-1-the-actions-of-confidence-come-first-the-feelings-of/) [Russ Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-harris/) > [I believe good governments have nothing to hide. We want to ensure we maintain confidence in our public institutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-weatherill/i-believe-good-governments-have-nothing-to-hide-we-want-to-ensure-we/) [Jay Weatherill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-weatherill/) > [You could reduce people's fears if you gave them some useful information before things went wrong. It's really important to create a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-ripley/you-could-reduce-people-s-fears-if-you-gave-them-some-useful/) [Amanda Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-ripley/) > [Get the confidence of the public and you will have no difficulty in getting their patronage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/get-the-confidence-of-the-public-and-you-will-have-no-difficulty-in/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [People have completely lost confidence in our public officials in Jefferson City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/people-have-completely-lost-confidence-in-our-public-officials-in/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [“The man who is known, and has the confidence of the public, can, if he does not allow himself to be fooled by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-man-who-is-known-and-has-the-confidence-of-the-public-can-if-he/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [I sometimes lack confidence in public, although I am proud enough inwardly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/i-sometimes-lack-confidence-in-public-although-i-am-proud-enough/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [My love for myself , is my confidence in public !!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-love-for-myself-is-my-confidence-in-public/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Business is no longer a matter of profits alone. Profits must come through public confidence, and public confidence is given to any merchant in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/business-is-no-longer-a-matter-of-profits-alone-profits-must-come/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [But we can turn challenges into opportunities if we look outwards to the realities of the global economy and modernise our internal institutions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hutton/but-we-can-turn-challenges-into-opportunities-if-we-look-outwards-to/) [John Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hutton/) > [It's not a secret that we have a crisis in confidence in public institutions in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/it-s-not-a-secret-that-we-have-a-crisis-in-confidence-in-public/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [ I think the most important thing is \[to\] restore a sense of idealism and end the cynicism in state government. Bring to the job… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-blagojevich/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-restore-a-sense-of-idealism/) [Rod Blagojevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-blagojevich/) > [“You understand how much you know about a subject the moment you give explanations to someone who doesn't know anything about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigina-sgarro/you-understand-how-much-you-know-about-a-subject-the-moment-you-give/) [Luigina Sgarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigina-sgarro/) > [A bad artist almost always tries to conceal his incompetence by whooping up a new formula.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-bad-artist-almost-always-tries-to-conceal-his-incompetence-by/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) ## More by Ron Suskind > [I don't have to deal with the issues of the daily news cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-don-t-have-to-deal-with-the-issues-of-the-daily-news-cycle/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [ The President \[Barack Obama\] is very focused on \[healthcare\]. He, of course, is also writing this speech at high speed. And right coming up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/the-president-barack-obama-is-very-focused-on-healthcare-he-of-course/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [Reaching out to any fellow ghetto kids is an act he puts in the same category as doing drugs: the initial rush of warmth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/reaching-out-to-any-fellow-ghetto-kids-is-an-act-he-puts-in-the-same/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [The fact is that in a way, journalists become a kind of default in the system when you don't have substantive two-party back-and-forth inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/the-fact-is-that-in-a-way-journalists-become-a-kind-of-default-in-the/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [“Freshmen spend in unfathomable sitting on their beds – heads against the wall or propped pillows, semistudying or not, listening to music, catching a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/freshmen-spend-in-unfathomable-sitting-on-their-beds-heads-against/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [If you happened to be born on third base, you didn't rub it in the face of the guy who wasn't even born in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/if-you-happened-to-be-born-on-third-base-you-didn-t-rub-it-in-the/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [I've been a reporter for 20 years, and I don't ever get things wrong. That's important in terms of my professional status.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-ve-been-a-reporter-for-20-years-and-i-don-t-ever-get-things-wrong/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [I think that there's a lot of anxiety out there in people wanting their children to be part of the mainstream, to achieve based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-think-that-there-s-a-lot-of-anxiety-out-there-in-people-wanting/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [“If the breadth of perspectives is wide enough to represent the fullest range of views, consensus is unlikely. If consensus is swiftly achieved, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/if-the-breadth-of-perspectives-is-wide-enough-to-represent-the/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [“Two hours a day for two days per week. Four hours. At $7.25 an hour, that gave him a gross income of $29 a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/two-hours-a-day-for-two-days-per-week-four-hours-at-7-25-an-hour-that/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [All of the leading terrorism experts are clear on one thing: that in terms of protecting America, we are almost never going to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/all-of-the-leading-terrorism-experts-are-clear-on-one-thing-that-in/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [It is one thing to rouse the passion of a people, and quite another to lead them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/it-is-one-thing-to-rouse-the-passion-of-a-people-and-quite-another-to/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [ I think that \[Barack Obama\] does say something that's - that is telling on that score, when he talks about the \[George W.\] Bush… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-think-that-barack-obama-does-say-something-that-s-that-is-telling/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [ \[Barack Obama\] says that he thinks America felt better, more confident, because Washington was not simply in a gridlock, in stasis, where nothing was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/barack-obama-says-that-he-thinks-america-felt-better-more-confident/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [You try to hold on to some notions you might have had before, that this will somehow work out, this is a spell that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/you-try-to-hold-on-to-some-notions-you-might-have-had-before-that/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) [Explore all 67 Ron Suskind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Confidence is the immaterial residue of material actions. Confidence is the public face of competence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ron Suskind" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/confidence-is-the-immaterial-residue-of-material-actions-confidence/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/confidence-is-the-immaterial-residue-of-material-actions-confidence/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/ron-suskind-10115_action_confidence-is-the-immaterial-residue-of_2794818.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/ron-suskind-10115_action_confidence-is-the-immaterial-residue-of_2794818.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/ron-suskind-10115_action_confidence-is-the-immaterial-residue-of_2794818.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Confidence is the immaterial residue of material actions. Confidence is the public face of competence.” — Ron Suskind", "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": "Ron Suskind", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Confidence is the immaterial residue of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/confidence-is-the-immaterial-residue-of-material-actions-confidence/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/confidence-is-the-immaterial-residue-of-material-actions-confidence/#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 } } ] } ```