--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Honesty first; then courage; then brains…" description: "\"Honesty first; then courage; then brains - and all are indispensable.\" — Theodore Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/theodore-roosevelt-218_brain_honesty-first-then-courage-then-brains-a_98241.jpg" --- # Honesty first; then courage; then brains - and all are… ![“Honesty first; then courage; then brains - and all are indispensable.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/theodore-roosevelt-218_brain_honesty-first-then-courage-then-brains-a_98241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/theodore-roosevelt-218_brain_honesty-first-then-courage-then-brains-a_98241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe8/theodore-roosevelt-218_brain_honesty-first-then-courage-then-brains-a_98241.jpg) > “Honesty first; then courage; then brains - and all are indispensable.” [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True success requires moral integrity, bravery, and intelligence; neglecting any makes the whole effort fragile. **In simple terms:** Honesty, courage, and intellect are all essential. Key Takeaway Balance character traits for lasting achievement. Themes ethics leadership personal development Mood inspirational determined Type maxim advice When to use this quote - team building - entrepreneurship - public service Key Concepts interdependence of virtues holistic success Practical Applications - Create policies that reward ethical behavior alongside performance. Questions to Reflect On - What trait can you cultivate today to strengthen the others? - When have you seen a lack of one trait undermine success? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on traits can ignore context; sometimes one quality can compensate for another. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brains Indispensable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains-indispensable-1200415/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Brains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-brains-1200416/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Honesty Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty-courage-300597/) [Indispensable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indispensable/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [The quality an artist must have is objectivity in judging his work, plus the honesty and courage not to kid himself about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-quality-an-artist-must-have-is-objectivity-in-judging-his-work/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [We live in a time when the values of courage and honesty, particularly for women writers, equate to confessing only the darkest, most painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-live-in-a-time-when-the-values-of-courage-and-honesty-particularly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-that-fails-in-his-endeavors-after-wealth-or-power-will-not-long/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [My main trick is to work with amazing people. It's a long and twisty journey, and you need people that really are amazing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-walker/my-main-trick-is-to-work-with-amazing-people-it-s-a-long-and-twisty/) [Lucy Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-walker/) > [You must study to be frank with the world: Frankness is the child of honesty and courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of-2/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [My deep belief is that all of us have the same lifelong work: to learn honesty, courage, and love. To learn, in other words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/my-deep-belief-is-that-all-of-us-have-the-same-lifelong-work-to-learn/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [“Giving up was the first step toward true honesty. 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But I believe they should be so regulated that they shall act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-believe-in-corporations-they-are-indispensable-instruments-of-our/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable; but it can never take the place of action, or be even a poor substitute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/criticism-is-necessary-and-useful-it-is-often-indispensable-but-it/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Men with the muckrake are often indispensable to the well-being of society, but only if they know when to stop raking the muck, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/men-with-the-muckrake-are-often-indispensable-to-the-well-being-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-forces-that-tend-for-evil-are-great-and-terrible-but-the-forces/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fortunately, like most children, I had learned what is most valuable, most indispensable for life before school years began, taught by apple trees, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/fortunately-like-most-children-i-had-learned-what-is-most-valuable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Theodore Roosevelt > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-seize-the-moment-man-was-never-intended-to-become-an-oyster/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Argument weak; speak loudly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/argument-weak-speak-loudly/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... 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Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-a-strong-individualist-by-personal-habit-inheritance-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/alone-of-human-beings-the-good-and-wise-mother-stands-on-a-plane-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The greatest privilege and greatest duty for any man is to be happily married, and no other form of success or service, for either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-greatest-privilege-and-greatest-duty-for-any-man-is-to-be-happily/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-unflagging-interest-and-enjoyment-a-household-of-children-if/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) [Explore all 876 Theodore Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. 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