--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Accomplishments have taken virtue's…" description: "\"Accomplishments have taken virtue's place, and wisdom falls before exterior grace.\" — William Cowper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/william-cowper-779_accomplishment_accomplishments-have-taken-virtue-s-plac_2491970.png" --- # Accomplishments have taken virtue's place, and wisdom… ![“Accomplishments have taken virtue's place, and wisdom falls before exterior grace.” quote by William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/william-cowper-779_accomplishment_accomplishments-have-taken-virtue-s-plac_2491970.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/william-cowper-779_accomplishment_accomplishments-have-taken-virtue-s-plac_2491970.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/william-cowper-779_accomplishment_accomplishments-have-taken-virtue-s-plac_2491970.png) > “Accomplishments have taken virtue's place, and wisdom falls before exterior grace.” [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accomplishments can replace moral virtue, and external beauty can outweigh inner wisdom. **In simple terms:** Success and looks may eclipse character and wisdom. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner virtues over external accolades. Themes virtue wisdom appearance Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - career advancement - social media presence - beauty standards - leadership roles Key Concepts integrity humility inner growth Questions to Reflect On - What virtues matter most to you? - How do you balance inner wisdom with external expectations? A Different Perspective May undervalue the role of external perception in society. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Accomplishments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishments/) [Accomplishments Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishments-taken-973212/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Exterior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exterior/) [Exterior Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exterior-grace-973213/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Taken Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken-virtue-973211/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Thus happiness depends, as nature shows, less on exterior things than most suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/thus-happiness-depends-as-nature-shows-less-on-exterior-things-than/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [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/) > [“Accomplishment of your dreams demand personal sacrifice and hard work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/accomplishment-of-your-dreams-demand-personal-sacrifice-and-hard-work/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Success is not what you accomplish in life, it is about how you inspire others to succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-christopher-dayagdag/success-is-not-what-you-accomplish-in-life-it-is-about-how-you/) [Dr. Christopher Dayagdag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-christopher-dayagdag/) > [You should feel good about yourself because of your accomplishments. Not because somebody yelled at you to feel good about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-carolla/you-should-feel-good-about-yourself-because-of-your-accomplishments/) [Adam Carolla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-carolla/) > [Our lives are given meaning by our actions-accomplishments made while we are "here" that extend beyond our own time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/our-lives-are-given-meaning-by-our-actions-accomplishments-made-while/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [Accolades and lists may tell us about accomplishments, but life is meant to be experienced, not just accomplished. It's like the difference between reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lz-granderson/accolades-and-lists-may-tell-us-about-accomplishments-but-life-is/) [LZ Granderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lz-granderson/) > [Part of me believes that the completed record is the final measure of a pop musician's accomplishment, just as the completed film is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-landau/part-of-me-believes-that-the-completed-record-is-the-final-measure-of/) [Jon Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-landau/) > [Drinking every night because we drink to my accomplishments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/drinking-every-night-because-we-drink-to-my-accomplishments/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/no-matter-what-accomplishments-you-make-somebody-helped-you/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [“Change words like difficult/impossible/unrealistic to words like challenging/fun/daring/exciting, and then get back to working/playing/competing/winning”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-valentin/change-words-like-difficult-impossible-unrealistic-to-words-like/) [Jamie Valentin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-valentin/) > [I come from a world where accountability and accomplishments matter, and where titles and rhetoric take a back seat to results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-come-from-a-world-where-accountability-and-accomplishments-matter/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [“Each day I will accomplish one thing on my to list.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/each-day-i-will-accomplish-one-thing-on-my-to-list/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [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/) > [My father started with nothing and is a self-made man. No matter what I do with my life, I can never match his accomplishments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ecclestone/my-father-started-with-nothing-and-is-a-self-made-man-no-matter-what/) [Tamara Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ecclestone/) ## More by William Cowper > [And hast thou sworn on every slight pretence, Till perjuries are common as bad pence, While thousands, careless of the damning sin, Kiss the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/and-hast-thou-sworn-on-every-slight-pretence-till-perjuries-are/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [No wild enthusiast could rest, till half the world like him was possessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/no-wild-enthusiast-could-rest-till-half-the-world-like-him-was/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [Admirals extolled for standing still, or doing nothing with a deal of skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/admirals-extolled-for-standing-still-or-doing-nothing-with-a-deal-of/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [“The good we never miss we rarely prize”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-good-we-never-miss-we-rarely-prize/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [Thus happiness depends, as nature shows, less on exterior things than most suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/thus-happiness-depends-as-nature-shows-less-on-exterior-things-than/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [Stamps God's own name upon a lie just made, To turn a penny in the way of trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/stamps-god-s-own-name-upon-a-lie-just-made-to-turn-a-penny-in-the-way/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [But oars alone can ne'er prevail To reach the distant coast; The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, Or all the toil is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/but-oars-alone-can-ne-er-prevail-to-reach-the-distant-coast-the/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [“Nature is but a name for an effect whose cause is God"...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/nature-is-but-a-name-for-an-effect-whose-cause-is-god/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [But conversation, choose what theme we may, And chiefly when religion leads the way, Should flow, like waters after summer show'rs, Not as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/but-conversation-choose-what-theme-we-may-and-chiefly-when-religion/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [Remorse, the fatal egg that pleasure laid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/remorse-the-fatal-egg-that-pleasure-laid/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [“When we don't pray, we quit the fight. Prayer keeps the Christian's armor bright. And Satan trembles when he sees. The weakest saint upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/when-we-don-t-pray-we-quit-the-fight-prayer-keeps-the-christian-s/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [But animated nature sweeter still, to soothe and satisfy the human ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/but-animated-nature-sweeter-still-to-soothe-and-satisfy-the-human-ear/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [A fretful temper will divide the closest knot that may be tied, by ceaseless sharp corrosion; a temper passionate and fierce may suddenly your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/a-fretful-temper-will-divide-the-closest-knot-that-may-be-tied-by/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [Ten thousand casks, Forever dribbling out their base contents, Touch'd by the Midas finger of the state, Bleed gold for ministers to sport away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/ten-thousand-casks-forever-dribbling-out-their-base-contents-touch-d/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [The art of poetry is to touch the passions, and its duty to lead them on the side of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-art-of-poetry-is-to-touch-the-passions-and-its-duty-to-lead-them/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) [Explore all 371 William Cowper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Accomplishments have taken virtue's place, and wisdom falls before exterior grace.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Cowper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/accomplishments-have-taken-virtue-s-place-and-wisdom-falls-before/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplishment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/accomplishments-have-taken-virtue-s-place-and-wisdom-falls-before/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/william-cowper-779_accomplishment_accomplishments-have-taken-virtue-s-plac_2491970.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/william-cowper-779_accomplishment_accomplishments-have-taken-virtue-s-plac_2491970.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/william-cowper-779_accomplishment_accomplishments-have-taken-virtue-s-plac_2491970.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Accomplishments have taken virtue's place, and wisdom falls before exterior grace.” — William Cowper", "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": "William Cowper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Accomplishments have taken virtue's place, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/accomplishments-have-taken-virtue-s-place-and-wisdom-falls-before/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/accomplishments-have-taken-virtue-s-place-and-wisdom-falls-before/#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 } } ] } ```