Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.
Alexander PopeRead
Sure of their qualities and demanding praise, more go to ruined fortunes than are raised.
Interpretation
People who are overly confident and seek recognition often face failure rather than success.
This quote by Alexander Pope reflects on the pitfalls of arrogance and entitlement. It suggests that individuals who are assured of their abilities and constantly seek admiration may end up compromising their potential and resources, leading to more failures than successes. The underlying message warns against the dangers of pride and the misguided belief that approval will lead to fortune.
In practice
During a motivational speech about humility in leadership.
Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.
What dire offence from am'rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things.
Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare; And beauty draws us with a single hair.
An honest man's the noblest work of God.
One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight;_x000D_ _x000D_ Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight.
Who breaks a butterfly on a wheel?
I believe any success in life is made by going into an area with a blind, furious optimism.
Never be afraid to ask for too much when selling or offer too little when buying.
To succeed in business it is necessary to make others see things as you see them.
Most people who open restaurants will fail, because they lack the fundamental understanding of restaurant math. Either they think they're superstar cooks or they think they're superstar hosts.
The North Star has always been the same, which for us, is about making insanely great products that really change the world in some way - enrich people's lives.
By the time a player becomes a Grandmaster, almost all of his training time is dedicated to work on this first phase. The opening is the only phase that holds out the potential for true creativity and doing something entirely new.
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