Nobody reads the disclosures that roll down your computer screen. You click 'I agree' but you don't know what you're agreeing to.
Nassim Nicholas TalebRead
They will envy you for your success, your wealth, for your intelligence, for your looks, for your status - but rarely for your wisdom.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often admire superficial traits like success and wealth, but genuine wisdom is seldom envied.
This quote by Nassim Nicholas Taleb highlights the tendency of individuals to envy externally visible attributes such as success, wealth, intelligence, and status, while overlooking the deeper and more intrinsic quality of wisdom. Wisdom, unlike tangible achievements, is not as easily recognized or appreciated, suggesting that society places greater value on what is visible rather than what is truly meaningful.
Themes
EnvyWisdomSuccessIntelligenceWealth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about valuing inner qualities over superficial success.
More from Nassim Nicholas Taleb
All quotes βFragility is the quality of things that are vulnerable to volatility.
Nassim Nicholas TalebRead
Those who were unlucky in life in spite of their skills would eventually rise. The lucky fool might have benefited from some luck in life; over the longer run he would slowly converge to the state of a less-lucky idiot. Each one would revert to his long-term properties.
Nassim Nicholas TalebRead
Individuals should think about the worst-case scenarios and plan for them. The world will be crazier than you think it will be. Put money away, and then you can live with much more freedom.
Nassim Nicholas TalebRead
A good maxim allows you to have the last word without even starting a conversation.
Nassim Nicholas TalebRead
A Stoic is someone who transforms fear into prudence, pain into transformation, mistakes into initiation, and desire into undertaking.
Nassim Nicholas TalebRead
Similar quotes
Every vocation becomes more agreeable when united with devotion.
Saint Francis De SalesRead
Weaknesses of character are normally shown in a game of chess.
Garry KasparovRead
The scar will remain, but it is better for a man to lose both arms than his soul; and these hard years, instead of being lost, may be made the most precious of your lives, if they teach you to rule yourselves.
Louisa May AlcottRead
Are you sure self-pity is a luxury you can afford, Jack?
Stephen KingRead
When you label so much of what happens to you as 'bad,' it reinforces the feeling that you are a powerless pawn at the mercy of outside forces over which you have no control. And - this is key - labeling something a bad thing almost guarantees that you'll experience it as such.
Srikumar RaoRead
Be governed by your internal compass, not by some clock on the wall.
Stephen CoveyRead