--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Experience serves to prove that the worth…" description: "\"Experience serves to prove that the worth and strength of a state depend far less upon the form of its institutions than upon the character of its men;..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/samuel-smiles-2037_character_experience-serves-to-prove-that-the-wort_815184.png" --- # Experience serves to prove that the worth and strength of… ![“Experience serves to prove that the worth and strength of a state depend far less upon the form of its institutions than upon the character of its men; for the nation is only the aggregate of individual conditions, and civilization itself is but a question of personal, improvement.” quote by Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/samuel-smiles-2037_character_experience-serves-to-prove-that-the-wort_815184.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/samuel-smiles-2037_character_experience-serves-to-prove-that-the-wort_815184.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2a/samuel-smiles-2037_character_experience-serves-to-prove-that-the-wort_815184.png) > “Experience serves to prove that the worth and strength of a state depend far less upon the form of its institutions than upon the character of its men; for the nation is only the aggregate of individual conditions, and civilization itself is but a question of personal, improvement.” [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A nation's strength lies more in its people's character than in its institutions. **In simple terms:** People matter more than structures. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal virtue. Themes society character institutions civilization Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government policy - education reform - community building - leadership training Key Concepts political theory ethics human development Questions to Reflect On - What personal traits strengthen a nation? - How can institutions foster good character? A Different Perspective Institutions still shape outcomes; both are needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Conditions Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions-civilization-311494/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Depends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depends/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Experience Serves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-serves-311495/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Institutions Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions-character-311493/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Personal improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-improvement/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Strength State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-state-311496/) ## Related quotes > [The wise and just man will always feel that he stands on his own feet; that he imparts strength to the state, not receives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-wise-and-just-man-will-always-feel-that-he-stands-on-his-own-feet/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The only job security you have today os your commitment to continuous personal improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/the-only-job-security-you-have-today-os-your-commitment-to-continuous/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [“Be bold. Find the courage to dream lofty dreams of what you wish to attain. Dream big and wide. 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So often when we think we have encountered a ceiling, it is really a psychological or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-goals-should-stretch-us-bit-by-bit-so-often-when-we-think-we-have-2/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“For example, if you think you are a certain way as a person and that is just who you are and you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machel-shull/for-example-if-you-think-you-are-a-certain-way-as-a-person-and-that/) [Machel Shull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machel-shull/) > [I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-come-to-believe-that-each-of-us-has-a-personal-calling-that-s-as/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“The Lord really does magnify ordinary people to get His work done. God does this despite our pitiful sins and vast imperfections because if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-lord-really-does-magnify-ordinary-people-to-get-his-work-done-god/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Act as if' means to apply action. 'Faking it' means to be fraudulent. Don't miss construe the two. 'Acting as if' means you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machel-shull/act-as-if-means-to-apply-action-faking-it-means-to-be-fraudulent-don/) [Machel Shull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machel-shull/) ## More by Samuel Smiles > [Biographies of great, but especially of good men are most instructive and useful as helps, guides, and incentives to others. Some of the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/biographies-of-great-but-especially-of-good-men-are-most-instructive/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Diligence, above all, is the mother of good luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/diligence-above-all-is-the-mother-of-good-luck/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The women of the poorer classes make sacrifices, and run risks, and bear privations, and exercise patience and kindness to a degree that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-women-of-the-poorer-classes-make-sacrifices-and-run-risks-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/self-respect-is-the-noblest-garment-with-which-a-man-can-clothe/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The experience gathered from books, though often valuable, is but of the nature of learning; whereas, the experience gained from actual life is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-experience-gathered-from-books-though-often-valuable-is-but-of/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-spirit-of-self-help-is-the-root-of-all-genuine-growth-in-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-wise-man-if-he-would-live-at-peace-with-others-he-will-bear-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Those who are the most persistent, and work in the true spirit, will invariably be the most successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/those-who-are-the-most-persistent-and-work-in-the-true-spirit-will/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The iron rail proved a magicians' road. It virtually reduced England to a sixth of its size. It brought the country nearer to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-iron-rail-proved-a-magicians-road-it-virtually-reduced-england-to/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [This extraordinary metal, the soul of every manufacture, and the mainspring perhaps of civilised society. 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To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/it-is-a-grand-old-name-that-of-gentleman-and-has-been-recognized-as-a/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“Many are the lives of men unwritten, which have nevertheless as powerfully influenced civilization and progress as the more fortunate Great whose names are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/many-are-the-lives-of-men-unwritten-which-have-nevertheless-as/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) [Explore all 189 Samuel Smiles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## 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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