--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we had our priorities straight as a…" description: "\"If we had our priorities straight as a country, we'd consider leaving fame behind a mark of wisdom and character.\" — S.E. Cupp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/s-e-cupp-5380_character_if-we-had-our-priorities-straight-as-a-c_543140.png" --- # If we had our priorities straight as a country, we'd… ![“If we had our priorities straight as a country, we'd consider leaving fame behind a mark of wisdom and character.” quote by S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/s-e-cupp-5380_character_if-we-had-our-priorities-straight-as-a-c_543140.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/s-e-cupp-5380_character_if-we-had-our-priorities-straight-as-a-c_543140.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/s-e-cupp-5380_character_if-we-had-our-priorities-straight-as-a-c_543140.png) > “If we had our priorities straight as a country, we'd consider leaving fame behind a mark of wisdom and character.” [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that a nation should prioritize wisdom and character over fame, implying that true legacy comes from substance, not celebrity. **In simple terms:** Prioritize wisdom over fame. Key Takeaway Focus on character and values. Themes culture values leadership Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - politics - education - public policy Key Concepts priorities wisdom character fame Questions to Reflect On - What would a society look like if it valued character above fame? - How can leaders cultivate wisdom in public life? A Different Perspective Fame can distract from meaningful progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Men should soon make up their minds to be forgotten, and look about them, or within them, for some higher motive in what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/men-should-soon-make-up-their-minds-to-be-forgotten-and-look-about/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [I had a great childhood. My priorities were straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-todd/i-had-a-great-childhood-my-priorities-were-straight/) [Tony Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-todd/) > [It's time Congress got its priorities straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/it-s-time-congress-got-its-priorities-straight/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [Good things happen when you get your priorities straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-caan/good-things-happen-when-you-get-your-priorities-straight/) [Scott Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-caan/) > [I believe it is important that we Japanese write a constitution for ourselves that would reflect the shape of the country we consider desirable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinzo-abe/i-believe-it-is-important-that-we-japanese-write-a-constitution-for/) [Shinzo Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinzo-abe/) > [Elective office is one of many ways to serve the community and the country. It's one that I would consider at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/elective-office-is-one-of-many-ways-to-serve-the-community-and-the/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [If you make a decision to fight for future of your own country you have to consider all the consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/if-you-make-a-decision-to-fight-for-future-of-your-own-country-you/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [You have to keep your priorities straight if you plan to do well in stocks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lynch/you-have-to-keep-your-priorities-straight-if-you-plan-to-do-well-in/) [Peter Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lynch/) > [It's nice to live in a country that has its priorities straight: the library's open three hours a week, and the House of Fist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/it-s-nice-to-live-in-a-country-that-has-its-priorities-straight-the/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Get your priorities straight. 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Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Keeping our priorities straight, our faith, our family, and values will keep us grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-foles/keeping-our-priorities-straight-our-faith-our-family-and-values-will/) [Nick Foles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-foles/) > [The best way to simplify life is to set your priorities straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-best-way-to-simplify-life-is-to-set-your-priorities-straight/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [On a daily basis, I have to fight the internal battle to keep my priorities straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-foles/on-a-daily-basis-i-have-to-fight-the-internal-battle-to-keep-my/) [Nick Foles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-foles/) > [If you rock Gucci and get welfare checks you need to get your priorities straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-zilinek/if-you-rock-gucci-and-get-welfare-checks-you-need-to-get-your/) [Brian Zilinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-zilinek/) > [People often ask me how I keep my priorities straight in life and I tell them that it is done by constantly straightening them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/people-often-ask-me-how-i-keep-my-priorities-straight-in-life-and-i/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## More by S.E. Cupp > [There are a lot of areas where Republicans can take aspects of Millennials' lives and really speak policy to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/there-are-a-lot-of-areas-where-republicans-can-take-aspects-of/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [But on a regular basis, Van Jones is my jam. I would show up anywhere to talk about anything with Van. And I'm lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/but-on-a-regular-basis-van-jones-is-my-jam-i-would-show-up-anywhere/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [To be clear, impeachment is above all else a political act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/to-be-clear-impeachment-is-above-all-else-a-political-act/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [I don't like mimicking people. I don't like repeating talking points. I don't like arguing with people just to argue. I like actually coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/i-don-t-like-mimicking-people-i-don-t-like-repeating-talking-points-i/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [I know many men at Fox, and most are good, decent people. Many are also good family men who have wives, mothers, sisters and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/i-know-many-men-at-fox-and-most-are-good-decent-people-many-are-also/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [I believe in a strong two-party system, and when one party is losing so spectacularly, it emboldens the other party to overreach and become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/i-believe-in-a-strong-two-party-system-and-when-one-party-is-losing/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [If you've spent any time on social media, you may have had the misfortune of coming up against a cowardly troll who hides behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/if-you-ve-spent-any-time-on-social-media-you-may-have-had-the/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [Early on in Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Republicans were confronted almost daily with a clear choice: accept Trump's overt appeals to the bigotry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/early-on-in-trump-s-2016-presidential-campaign-republicans-were/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [Few believe Democrats will control both houses of Congress in 2021, and even if they manage to, Republicans will still be around to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/few-believe-democrats-will-control-both-houses-of-congress-in-2021/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [The war on drugs - a big-government product if there ever was one - has been wildly unsuccessful, by any metric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/the-war-on-drugs-a-big-government-product-if-there-ever-was-one-has/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [But the rising chorus urging ESPN to change its stripes is missing something: The intersection of sports and politics is natural. And the left-wing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/but-the-rising-chorus-urging-espn-to-change-its-stripes-is-missing/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [In a very dysfunctional business, CNN happens to be the most functional network I've worked at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/in-a-very-dysfunctional-business-cnn-happens-to-be-the-most/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [We are more and more defined not by our friends but our political enemies - collecting them like badges of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/we-are-more-and-more-defined-not-by-our-friends-but-our-political/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [I love the Constitution. But it's still a document, meant to protect human beings and ensure their life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/i-love-the-constitution-but-it-s-still-a-document-meant-to-protect/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [I put my conservatism up against anyone. I'm a pretty staunch conservative, with pretty rabid ideas about conservative values... Questioning my conservatism doesn't seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/i-put-my-conservatism-up-against-anyone-i-m-a-pretty-staunch/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) [Explore all 101 S.E. Cupp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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