---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Always surround yourself with people who…"
description: "\"Always surround yourself with people who are even more talented and competent than you.\" — Stephen Covey"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/stephen-covey-339_competent_always-surround-yourself-with-people-who_2429455.png"
---

#  Always surround yourself with people who are even more…

![“Always surround yourself with people who are even more talented and competent than you.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/stephen-covey-339_competent_always-surround-yourself-with-people-who_2429455.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/stephen-covey-339_competent_always-surround-yourself-with-people-who_2429455.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/stephen-covey-339_competent_always-surround-yourself-with-people-who_2429455.png)

> “Always surround yourself with people who are even more talented and competent than you.”

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Surround yourself with people more talented and competent to foster growth and learning.

**In simple terms:** Learn from better people.

Key Takeaway

Seek mentors and high‑performing peers.

Themes

growth learning leadership

Mood

inspired ambitious reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- team projects
- professional societies
- learning groups
- career development

Key Concepts

mentorship excellence networking self‑improvement

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you contribute while learning?
- What balance of humility and confidence works?

A Different Perspective

Too many high performers can cause intimidation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

## Related quotes

> [Your circle should be small; surround yourself with people who have genuine love for you and want to see you win. I want them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-homie-quan/your-circle-should-be-small-surround-yourself-with-people-who-have/)

[Rich Homie Quan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-homie-quan/)

> [You always have to surround yourself with people that are more knowledgeable than you or are better at certain skill sets than you are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-bauer/you-always-have-to-surround-yourself-with-people-that-are-more/)

[Trevor Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-bauer/)

> [“Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/surround-yourself-with-people-who-take-their-work-seriously-but-not/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [There comes a time when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it, and surround yourself with people who make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-comes-a-time-when-you-walk-away-from-all-the-drama-and-people/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Surround yourself with people who support your dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-laurence-torcuator/surround-yourself-with-people-who-support-your-dreams/)

[Mark Laurence Torcuator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-laurence-torcuator/)

> [The easiest way to thrive as an outlier is to avoid being one. At least among your most treasured peers. Surround yourself with people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easiest-way-to-thrive-as-an-outlier-is-to-avoid-being-one-at/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [I've been saying, 'When you surround yourself with people that care and are good, you're going to be better.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-ve-been-saying-when-you-surround-yourself-with-people-that-care-and/)

[Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/)

> [Surround yourself with people and things that inspire you. Learn everything you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameela-jamil/surround-yourself-with-people-and-things-that-inspire-you-learn/)

[Jameela Jamil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jameela-jamil/)

> [Surround yourself with people who only lift you higher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payal-kadakia/surround-yourself-with-people-who-only-lift-you-higher/)

[Payal Kadakia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/payal-kadakia/)

> [“Surround yourself with people who make good choices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janese-banks/surround-yourself-with-people-who-make-good-choices/)

Janese Banks

> [Surround yourself with people who make you a better person and not a bitter person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/surround-yourself-with-people-who-make-you-a-better-person-and-not-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Surround yourself with people of like mind and different talents and temperaments with the purpose of serving the goals of every member of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/surround-yourself-with-people-of-like-mind-and-different-talents-and/)

[Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/)

> [Surround yourself with people who respect and treat you well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-black/surround-yourself-with-people-who-respect-and-treat-you-well/)

[Claudia Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-black/)

> [Only surround yourself with people who will lift you higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-surround-yourself-with-people-who-will-lift-you-higher/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [No matter what your goals are, you've got to bring other people onto your team. For one thing, if you surround yourself with people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimora-lee-simmons/no-matter-what-your-goals-are-you-ve-got-to-bring-other-people-onto/)

[Kimora Lee Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimora-lee-simmons/)

## More by Stephen Covey

> [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/)

> [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

[Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

## More Competent quotes

> [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/)

[Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/)

> [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [You basically have a group of four spies who are chosen for a mission they feel for the fact of how competent they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-leblanc/you-basically-have-a-group-of-four-spies-who-are-chosen-for-a-mission/)

[Matt LeBlanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-leblanc/)

> [While photography is the easiest medium in which to be competent, it is the hardest in which to develop an idiosyncratic personal vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/while-photography-is-the-easiest-medium-in-which-to-be-competent-it/)

[Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/)

> [There's always, I guess, a philosophy that if you come in, you want to change all the parts, you want to change everything over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-gillick/there-s-always-i-guess-a-philosophy-that-if-you-come-in-you-want-to/)

[Pat Gillick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-gillick/)

> [If you are any competent musician, if you have creative ideas, ideas of songs, of arrangements, in a band like the Stones, where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/if-you-are-any-competent-musician-if-you-have-creative-ideas-ideas-of/)

[Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/)

> [I remember when President Bush, George W. Bush, came into office, he focused on No Child Left Behind, and with - and before very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/i-remember-when-president-bush-george-w-bush-came-into-office-he/)

[Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/)

> [I have so many positive points. I am not corrupt, I am competent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamilisai-soundararajan/i-have-so-many-positive-points-i-am-not-corrupt-i-am-competent/)

[Tamilisai Soundararajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamilisai-soundararajan/)

> [We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness - curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/we-could-encourage-the-best-qualities-of-youthfulness-curiosity/)

[John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/)

> [As part of our ongoing series of reports on the environment, 'America Goes Green,' we take on the question that can make otherwise competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/as-part-of-our-ongoing-series-of-reports-on-the-environment-america/)

[Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/)

> [As for mathematicians themselves: don't expect too much help. Most of them are too far removed in their ivory towers to take up such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apostolos-doxiadis/as-for-mathematicians-themselves-don-t-expect-too-much-help-most-of/)

[Apostolos Doxiadis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apostolos-doxiadis/)

> [But medicine has long had all its means to hand, and has discovered both a principle and a method, through which the discoveries made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/but-medicine-has-long-had-all-its-means-to-hand-and-has-discovered/)

[Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/)

> [Not everyone in an organization is in a position to accumulate power through competent performance because most people are just carrying out the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/not-everyone-in-an-organization-is-in-a-position-to-accumulate-power/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [How infinitely happier and more grateful is the whole personality or spirit when it finds something nourishing in art or writing or thinking, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/how-infinitely-happier-and-more-grateful-is-the-whole-personality-or/)

[Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/)

> [One could count on one's fingers the number of scientists throughout the world with a general idea of the history and development of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/one-could-count-on-one-s-fingers-the-number-of-scientists-throughout/)

[Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/)

Browse all 395 Competent quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Always surround yourself with people who are even more talented and competent than you.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephen Covey"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/always-surround-yourself-with-people-who-are-even-more-talented-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Competent"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/always-surround-yourself-with-people-who-are-even-more-talented-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/stephen-covey-339_competent_always-surround-yourself-with-people-who_2429455.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/stephen-covey-339_competent_always-surround-yourself-with-people-who_2429455.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/stephen-covey-339_competent_always-surround-yourself-with-people-who_2429455.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Always surround yourself with people who are even more talented and competent than you.” — Stephen Covey",
                "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": "Stephen Covey",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Always surround yourself with people who...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/always-surround-yourself-with-people-who-are-even-more-talented-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/always-surround-yourself-with-people-who-are-even-more-talented-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```