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I was very invested in being smart and thought to be smart was more important than accomplishing anything in life.
Carol S. Dweck
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Success should not be measured solely by intelligence but by accomplishments and growth.

In this quote, Carol S. Dweck reflects on her past belief that being perceived as intelligent was paramount, overshadowing the importance of actual achievements and learning from experiences. She highlights a common misconception that intelligence alone leads to success, emphasizing the need to value accomplishments and personal development over mere intellectualism.

Themes

IntelligenceAccomplishmentGrowthSuccessBelief

In practice

Example use cases

During a keynote speech about personal development, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of striving for achievements rather than just measuring intelligence.

More from Carol S. Dweck

Just because some people can do something with little or no training, it doesn't mean that others can't do it (and sometimes do it even better) with training.
Carol S. DweckRead
Some students start thinking of their intelligence as something fixed, as carved in stone. They worry about, 'Do I have enough? Don't I have enough?'
Carol S. DweckRead
In one world, effort is a bad thing. It, like failure, means you're not smart or talented. If you were, you wouldn't need effort. In the other world, effort is what makes you smart or talented.
Carol S. DweckRead
Our message to parents is to focus on the process the child engages in, such as trying hard or focusing on the task - what specific things they're doing rather than, 'You're so smart. You're so good at this.' Although it's never too late to change, what you do early matters.
Carol S. DweckRead
Picture your brain forming new connections as you meet the challenge and learn. Keep on going.
Carol S. DweckRead
I loved everything. I loved sciences and I loved humanities. But ultimately, I felt that in the humanities, you know, you're writing about things that already exist. But in the sciences, you're discovering things that no one has known before. Ultimately I chose psychology because it seemed to combine science with things that I liked to think about.
Carol S. DweckRead

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