The ear disapproves but tolerates certain musical pieces; transfer them into the domain of our nose, and we will be forced to flee.
Jean CocteauRead
I believe in luck: how else can you explain the success of those you dislike?
Interpretation
What this quote means
Luck often seems to play a role in the success of those we may not admire.
This quote by Jean Cocteau highlights the sometimes arbitrary nature of success, suggesting that luck can influence outcomes in life. It emphasizes a humorous perspective on how easy it is to attribute the success of others, particularly those we might not favor, to luck rather than their talent or hard work, revealing our biases and perceptions about success.
Themes
LuckSuccessPerceptionHumorBias
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a discussion on the role of luck in the workplace.
More from Jean Cocteau
All quotes →One must be a living man and a posthumous artist.
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All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it.
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Nothing ever gets anywhere. The earth keeps turning round and gets nowhere. The moment is the only thing that counts.
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Listen carefully to first criticisms made of your work. Note just what it is about your work that critics don't like - then cultivate it. That's the only part of your work that's individual and worth keeping.
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Watch yourself all your life in a mirror and you'll see Death at work like bees in a glass hive.
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