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Quotes about success

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A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be.
Abraham Maslow1908–1970“A Theory of Human Motivation”, in Psychological Review, vol. 50, no. 4 (1943), p. 382
- Motivation & Goals
The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset Maugham1874–1965The Summing Up (1938), p. 182
It is cruel to discover one’s mediocrity only when it is too late.
W. Somerset Maugham1874–1965Of Human Bondage (1915), Chapter LIIn context
- Failure
Who I am as a guitarist is defined by my failure to become Jimi Hendrix.
John Mayerborn 1977Mayer, John (2004). “Jimi Hendrix” RollingStone.com (accessed March 21, 2007)
- Failure
- Music
The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.
BMBenjamin Mays
- Motivation & Goals
We’re not here just to take part; we’re here to take over.
Conor McGregorborn 1988“UFC Fight Night: Dublin” (July 2014), Ultimate Fighting Championship, Zuffa, LLC
- Motivation & Goals
The specialist is one who never makes small mistakes while moving towards the grand fallacy.
Marshall McLuhan1911–1980Understanding Media (1964) (p. 154)
- Clever Jabs
- Failure
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead1901–1978
I must admit that I personally measure success in terms of the contributions an individual makes to her or his fellow human beings.
Margaret Mead1901–1978Margaret Mead: Some Personal Views (1979), p. 249
For all men tragically great are made so through a certain morbidness. Be sure of this, O young ambition, all mortal greatness is but disease.
Herman Melville1819–1891Moby-Dick (1851), Chapter XVIIn context
Aye, aye! and I’ll chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perdition’s flames before I give him up.
Herman Melville1819–1891Moby-Dick (1851), Chapter XXXVIIn context
- Anger
- Motivation & Goals
One’s destination is never a place, but rather a new way of looking at things.
Henry Miller1891–1980Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch (1957), p. 25
- Motivation & Goals
If men cease to believe that they will one day become gods then they will surely become worms.
Henry Miller1891–1980The Colossus of Maroussi (1941), Part 3, p. 235
- Motivation & Goals
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.
John Milton1608–1674Paradise Lost (1667), i.262-263In context
- Motivation & Goals
- Power
There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.
Michel de Montaigne1533–1592Essais (wr. 1571–92; pub. 1580–95), Book I, Ch. 30. Of Cannibals (tr. Cotton, rev. W. Hazlitt, 1842)
- Failure