--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every great accomplishment rests on the…" description: "\"“Every great accomplishment rests on the foundation of what came before it;”\" — Stephen Guise" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/stephen-guise-28564_accomplishment_every-great-accomplishment-rests-on-the_3046855.jpg" --- # Every great accomplishment rests on the foundation of what… ![“Every great accomplishment rests on the foundation of what came before it;” quote by Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/stephen-guise-28564_accomplishment_every-great-accomplishment-rests-on-the_3046855.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/stephen-guise-28564_accomplishment_every-great-accomplishment-rests-on-the_3046855.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/stephen-guise-28564_accomplishment_every-great-accomplishment-rests-on-the_3046855.jpg) > ““Every great accomplishment rests on the foundation of what came before it;”” [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great achievements build on prior work; each success rests on earlier foundations. **In simple terms:** Success stands on past work. Key Takeaway Build on existing foundations. Themes progress foundation incremental growth legacy Mood reflective appreciative Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - skill acquisition - research projects - creative endeavors Key Concepts cumulative effort learning curves historical context Questions to Reflect On - What foundations support your goals? - How can you honor past contributions? A Different Perspective Past successes may be misattributed; foundations can be fragile. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Great accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-accomplishment/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [For me to grow, I have to know about the foundation that came before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/for-me-to-grow-i-have-to-know-about-the-foundation-that-came-before/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Making the playoffs three consecutive seasons is a great accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pau-gasol/making-the-playoffs-three-consecutive-seasons-is-a-great/) [Pau Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pau-gasol/) > [Every great accomplishment starts with a first step. No matter how big your goals are. No matter how great your plans are. No matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-anderson/every-great-accomplishment-starts-with-a-first-step-no-matter-how-big/) [Clifton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-anderson/) > [Virtually every subject is most effectively learned directly from the greatest thinkers, historians, artists, philosophers, scientists, prophets and their original works. Great works inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/virtually-every-subject-is-most-effectively-learned-directly-from-the/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [You are certainly wrong to compare suicide ... with great accomplishments, since it cannot be considered as anything but a weakness. After all, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/you-are-certainly-wrong-to-compare-suicide-with-great-accomplishments/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never thought that Bill Clinton should be the president. When he was running to be the president of the United States, he said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/i-never-thought-that-bill-clinton-should-be-the-president-when-he-was/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [People underestimate the importance of dilligence as a virtue. No doubt it has something to do with how supremely mundane it seems. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/people-underestimate-the-importance-of-dilligence-as-a-virtue-no/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [Wins are the most important measure for goalies, I think. Certainly it's a great accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-joseph/wins-are-the-most-important-measure-for-goalies-i-think-certainly-it/) [Curtis Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-joseph/) > [I believe that the world has become more democratic and open. Women have become more outspoken, more active and competitive. They have achieved great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalia-grybauskaite/i-believe-that-the-world-has-become-more-democratic-and-open-women/) [Dalia Grybauskaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalia-grybauskaite/) > [Every great accomplishment of mankind has been preceded by an extended period, often over many years, of concentrated effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/every-great-accomplishment-of-mankind-has-been-preceded-by-an/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [A great accomplishment shouldn't be the end of the road, just the starting point for the next leap forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/a-great-accomplishment-shouldn-t-be-the-end-of-the-road-just-the/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [ I know Malcolm \[Subban\] and myself, we're a little bit older now, but we don't know everything. To get to where we have so… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-k-subban-2/i-know-malcolm-subban-and-myself-we-re-a-little-bit-older-now-but-we/) [P. K. Subban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-k-subban-2/) > [The greatest accomplishment is not in never failing, but in rising again after you fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-greatest-accomplishment-is-not-in-never-failing-but-in-rising/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [I started reading about people of great accomplishment... and it dawned on me suddenly that the person who has the most to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-started-reading-about-people-of-great-accomplishment-and-it-dawned/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Short is the life of those who possess great accomplishments, and seldom do they reach a good old age. Whatever thou lovest, pray that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/short-is-the-life-of-those-who-possess-great-accomplishments-and/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) ## More by Stephen Guise > [“When you repeat a behavior over time, your brain learns to automate the process. It's more energy efficient to automatically do something than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/when-you-repeat-a-behavior-over-time-your-brain-learns-to-automate/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“We're quick to blame ourselves for lack of progress, but slow to blame our strategies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/we-re-quick-to-blame-ourselves-for-lack-of-progress-but-slow-to-blame/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“Mini Habits™ by Stephen Guise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/mini-habits-by-stephen-guise/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“Your brain is just another cat in the snow, and you can quote me on that because I love out of context quotes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/your-brain-is-just-another-cat-in-the-snow-and-you-can-quote-me-on/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“One small step + desired behavior = high probability of further steps”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/one-small-step-desired-behavior-high-probability-of-further-steps/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently.” ― Anthony Robbins”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/it-s-not-what-we-do-once-in-a-while-that-shapes-our-lives-it-s-what/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“It’s easier to change your mind and emotions by taking action than it is to change your actions by trying to think and feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/it-s-easier-to-change-your-mind-and-emotions-by-taking-action-than-it/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“It's not that belief increases your ability to do things—it increases your willingness to try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/it-s-not-that-belief-increases-your-ability-to-do-things-it-increases/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“A destructive habit to have is believing that you have to be motivated to act.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/a-destructive-habit-to-have-is-believing-that-you-have-to-be/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“Imperfectionists are perfectionists in a unique way.  Instead of expecting perfect results, the imperfectionist expects perfect progress and consistency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/imperfectionists-are-perfectionists-in-a-unique-way-instead-of/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“...Every giant accomplishment is made of very small steps... and to take them one at a time like this is not weak, but precise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/every-giant-accomplishment-is-made-of-very-small-steps-and-to-take/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/thinkertoys-by-michael-michalko/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“habit ideas from minihabits.com are already in minified form”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/habit-ideas-from-minihabits-com-are-already-in-minified-form/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“It's hard to change your feelings by thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/it-s-hard-to-change-your-feelings-by-thinking/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [“If you don't execute your ideas, they die.” — Roger von Oech”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/if-you-don-t-execute-your-ideas-they-die-roger-von-oech/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) [Explore all 18 Stephen Guise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) ## More Accomplishment quotes > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/) Anthony Sargent > [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 1,598 Accomplishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Every great accomplishment rests on the foundation of what came before it;”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Guise" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/every-great-accomplishment-rests-on-the-foundation-of-what-came/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplishment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/every-great-accomplishment-rests-on-the-foundation-of-what-came/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/stephen-guise-28564_accomplishment_every-great-accomplishment-rests-on-the_3046855.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/stephen-guise-28564_accomplishment_every-great-accomplishment-rests-on-the_3046855.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/stephen-guise-28564_accomplishment_every-great-accomplishment-rests-on-the_3046855.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every great accomplishment rests on the foundation of what came before it;” — Stephen Guise", "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 Guise", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Every great accomplishment rests on the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/every-great-accomplishment-rests-on-the-foundation-of-what-came/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/every-great-accomplishment-rests-on-the-foundation-of-what-came/#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 } } ] } ```