Writing a book of poetry is like dropping a rose petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo.
Don MarquisRead
When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: 'Whose?'
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success is often attributed to personal effort, but it's important to consider the advantages and opportunities afforded to individuals.
Don Marquis' quote critiques the notion that wealth is solely the result of individual hard work. It emphasizes that while hard work is important, success is often contingent upon factors such as privilege, background, and the support of others. The rhetorical question posed challenges the listener to recognize that wealth is not always earned solely through one's own efforts, and it calls for a deeper understanding of the societal structures that influence financial success.
Themes
SuccessHard WorkWealthPrivilegeOpportunity
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote during a discussion on economic disparities in a classroom setting.
More from Don Marquis
All quotes βFrom 'the lesson of the moth': and before i could argue him out of his philosophy he went and immolated himself on a patent cigar lighter i do not agree with him myself i would rather have half the happiness and twice the longevity but at the same time i wish there was something i wanted as badly as he wanted to fry himself
Don MarquisRead
it is better to be a part of beauty for one instant and then cease to exist than to exist forever and never be a part of beauty
Don MarquisRead
Similar quotes
Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.
Seth GodinRead
The two are not mutually exclusive, but we think we can have wealth without good ideas and without values and without a clear vision. Wealth without vision is insanity.
Andrew YoungRead
Couple years ago I was No. 7 and I ended up top. So I kind of like the position that I'm at right now. It's hot.
Serena WilliamsRead
For life affords no higher pleasure, than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified. He that labours in any great or laudable undertaking, has his fatigues first supported by hope, and afterwards rewarded by joy... To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity.
Samuel JohnsonRead
The fact that people will pay you to talk to people and travel to interesting places and write about what intrigues you, I am just amazed by that.
Nicholas D. KristofRead
I'm an athlete and I'm black, and a lot of black athletes go broke. I do not want to become a statistic, so maybe I overcompensate. But I'm paranoid. Oprah told me a long time ago, 'You sign every check. Never let anyone sign any checks.'
Serena WilliamsRead