Fame usually comes to those who are thinking about something else - very rarely to those who say to themselves, 'Go to, now, let us be a celebrated individual!'.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.Read
I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure - which is: Try to please everybody.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Trying to please everyone can lead to failure, while focusing on your own goals is key to success.
This quote by Herbert Bayard Swope highlights the futility of attempting to satisfy everyone around you. It suggests that in the pursuit of success, one must prioritize personal ambitions and values instead of seeking approval from all, as this approach often leads to dissatisfaction and hindered progress.
Themes
SuccessFailurePleasing OthersGoalsFocus
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about achieving personal goals, one could mention this quote to emphasize the importance of staying true to oneself.
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