It does not follow that the meaning must be given from above; that life and suffering must come neatly labeled; that nothing is worth while if the world is not governed by a purpose.
Walter KaufmannRead
Success is no proof of virtue. In the case of a book, quick acclaim is presumptive evidence of a lack of substance and originality.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success does not necessarily indicate a person's moral character or the quality of their work.
This quote emphasizes that achieving success, especially in creative fields like literature, may not reflect true talent or integrity. Quick recognition may often be superficial and suggest a deficiency in deeper substance and originality, cautioning against valuing popularity over genuine quality and authenticity.
Themes
SuccessVirtueSubstanceOriginalityAcclaim
In practice
Example use cases
In a literary discussion about the merits of critically acclaimed versus popular books.
More from Walter Kaufmann
All quotes βLife ceases to be so oppressive: we are free to give our own lives meaning and purpose, free to redeem our suffering by making something of it.
Walter KaufmannRead
The only theism worthy of our respect believes in God not because of the way the world is made but in spite of that. The only theism that is no less profound than the Buddha's atheism is that represented in the Bible by Job and Jeremiah.
Walter KaufmannRead
Man stands alone in the universe, responsible for his condition, likely to remain in a lowly state, but free to reach above the stars.
Walter KaufmannRead
Similar quotes
The Sufis advise us to speak only after our words have managed to pass through three gates. At the first gate, we ask ourselves, 'Are these words true?' If so, we let them pass on; if not, back they go. At the second gate, we ask, 'Are the necessary?' At the last gate, we ask, 'Are they kind?'
Eknath EaswaranRead
There is absolutely no inevitability, so long as there is a willingness to contemplate what is happening.
Marshall McluhanRead
Our wisdom and deliberation for the most part follow the lead of chance.
Michel De MontaigneRead
Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause a while from learning to be wise. There mark what ills the scholar's life assail,- Toil, envy, want, the patron, and the jail.
Samuel JohnsonRead
Moderation in all things - including moderation.
Benjamin FranklinRead
Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power.
Oprah WinfreyRead