Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.
DemosthenesRead
Success has a great tendency to conceal and throw a veil over the evil deeds of men.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success can often hide people's wrongdoings and flaws.
This quote by Demosthenes suggests that when someone achieves success, their past mistakes and immoral actions may be overlooked or forgotten. It highlights the idea that success can sometimes distort our perception of a person's character, allowing them to escape judgment for their wrongdoings as society tends to focus on their achievements instead.
Themes
SuccessDeedsConcealEvilMen
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethical issues in business, this quote can remind us to look beyond mere success to prevent overlooking moral failings.
More from Demosthenes
All quotes βYou cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be his spirit.
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Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master
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A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.
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Nothing is so easy as to deceive oneself; for what we wish, we readily believe.
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Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states.
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