--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our character, basically, is a composite…" description: "\"“Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/stephen-r-covey-1501_character_our-character-basically-is-a-composite-o_2728065.jpg" --- # Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits… ![“Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny,” the maxim goes.” quote by Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/stephen-r-covey-1501_character_our-character-basically-is-a-composite-o_2728065.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/stephen-r-covey-1501_character_our-character-basically-is-a-composite-o_2728065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/stephen-r-covey-1501_character_our-character-basically-is-a-composite-o_2728065.jpg) > ““Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny,” the maxim goes.”” [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Habits shape character, which determines destiny; intentional actions build habits. **In simple terms:** Habits form character and destiny. Key Takeaway Cultivate positive habits. Themes habits character destiny Mood motivational practical Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - daily routines - career planning - personal development Key Concepts self‑discipline growth mindset goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What habit will you start today? - How does this habit align with your long‑term goals? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated habits takes time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Composite Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composite-habits-1706905/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habit Sow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-sow-909315/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Habits Sow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits-sow-2934318/) ## Related quotes > [Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconcious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/our-character-is-basically-a-composite-of-our-habits-because-they-are/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Our character is basically a composite of our habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/our-character-is-basically-a-composite-of-our-habits/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“The decisions we make and the way we behave are what ultimately shape our character. Charles A. Hall aptly described that process in these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-s-peterson/the-decisions-we-make-and-the-way-we-behave-are-what-ultimately-shape/) [Wayne S. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-s-peterson/) > [We sow our thoughts and reap our actions. We sow our actions and reap our habits. We sow our habits and reap our character.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-sow-our-thoughts-and-reap-our-actions-we-sow-our-actions-and-reap/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sow a thought reap an action, sow an action reap a habit, sow a habit reap a destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maxwell/sow-a-thought-reap-an-action-sow-an-action-reap-a-habit-sow-a-habit-2/) [John Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maxwell/) > [“Sow a thought and reap an action, sow an action and reap a habit, sow a habit and reap a destiny - John Cleaver”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/sow-a-thought-and-reap-an-action-sow-an-action-and-reap-a-habit-sow-a/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“Sow a thought, reap an act; Sow an act, reap a habit; Sow a habit, reap a character; Sow a character, reap an eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/sow-a-thought-reap-an-act-sow-an-act-reap-a-habit-sow-a-habit-reap-a/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/sow-a-thought-reap-an-action-sow-an-action-reap-a-habit-sow-a-habit/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-reade/sow-an-act-and-you-reap-a-habit-sow-a-habit-and-you-reap-a-character/) [Charles Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-reade/) > [“You sow a thought, you reap an action. Reap an action, you sow a habit. Sow a habit, you reap a character. Sow a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/you-sow-a-thought-you-reap-an-action-reap-an-action-you-sow-a-habit/) [Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/) > [“Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sow-a-thought-and-you-reap-an-action-sow-an-act-and-you-reap-a-habit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As to virtue . . . it is an act of the will, a habit which increases the quantity, intensity and quality of life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/as-to-virtue-it-is-an-act-of-the-will-a-habit-which-increases-the/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [Vice is man's nature: virtue is a habit--or a mask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/vice-is-man-s-nature-virtue-is-a-habit-or-a-mask/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-we-cannot-do-what-god-does-and/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [There are two sorts of content; one is connected with exertion, the other with habits of indolence. The first is a virtue; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/there-are-two-sorts-of-content-one-is-connected-with-exertion-the/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) ## More by Stephen R. Covey > [“For those filled with regret, perhaps the most needful exercise of proactivity is to realize that past mistakes are also out there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-those-filled-with-regret-perhaps-the-most-needful-exercise-of/) [Stephen R. 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Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“FRIEND/ENEMY CENTEREDNESS. Young people are particularly, though certainly not exclusively, susceptible to becoming friend-centered. Acceptance and belonging to a peer group can become almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/friend-enemy-centeredness-young-people-are-particularly-though/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“As a principle-centered person, you see things differently. And because you see things differently, you think differently, you act differently. Because you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/as-a-principle-centered-person-you-see-things-differently-and-because/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“We are free to choose our actions, based on our knowledge of correct principles, but we are not free to choose the consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/we-are-free-to-choose-our-actions-based-on-our-knowledge-of-correct/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-every-thousand-hacking-at-the-leaves-of-evil-there-is-one/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Breaking deeply imbedded habitual tendencies such as procrastination, impatience, criticalness, or selfishness that violate basic principles of human effectiveness involves more than a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/breaking-deeply-imbedded-habitual-tendencies-such-as-procrastination/) [Stephen R. 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