What we know matters, but who we are matters more. This isn’t just a feel-good phrase; it’s a fundamental truth about authentic leadership and connection. It’s a principle that changes how you lead, parent, and engage with the world.
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Meaning
The core message here is a shift in priority. It’s about valuing your character, your integrity, and your vulnerability over your resume, your IQ, or your list of accomplishments.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out a thousand times. You can have the smartest person in the room, the one with all the data and the perfect plan. But if they’re operating from a place of ego, if they can’t be vulnerable or admit a mistake, the whole project falters. The “what we know” is the technical skill, the hard facts. It’s crucial, don’t get me wrong. You need that. But the “who we are”—that’s your courage, your empathy, your willingness to be wrong. That’s the stuff that builds trust. And trust, as we both know, is the currency of everything that matters. It’s the difference between a team that just executes and a team that innovates and thrives.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Education (260) |
| Topics | character (31), identity (102), knowledge (25) |
| Literary Style | affirmative (75), didactic (370) |
| Overall Quote Score | 76 (131) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes straight from Brené Brown’s 2010 book, The Gifts of Imperfection. It’s a cornerstone of her research on wholehearted living. You sometimes see it misattributed to other self-help figures, but its true home is in Brown’s work on shame, vulnerability, and courage.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Brene Brown (257) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The Gifts of Imperfection (46) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Dr Brene Brown is the author of books such as Daring Greatly and The Power of Vulnerability. The TED talk and Netflix production based on her research reached out to millions of audience. She researches effects of courage and vulnerability in shaping people's work and relationships. She leads the Brené Brown Education and Research Group and provides evidence-based insights into practical tools to help people train themselves
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | What we know matters, but who we are matters more |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2010; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781592858491; Last edition. Number of pages. |
| Where is it? | Approximate page from 2010 Hazelden edition |