The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
It's no use crying over spilt milk, because all of the forces of the universe were bent on spilling it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Don't waste time lamenting something that can't be changed.
This quote conveys the importance of accepting mistakes and losses rather than dwelling on them. It emphasizes that once an event has occurred, such as spilling milk, it is futile to cry over it; instead, one should focus on moving forward and learning from the experience.
Themes
AcceptanceLossMoving ForwardMistakes
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting discussing a project setback, one might say this quote to encourage colleagues to focus on future solutions instead of past errors.
More from W. Somerset Maugham
All quotes βCronshaw stopped for a moment to drink. He had pondered for twenty years the problem whether he loved liquor because it made him talk or whether he loved conversation because it made him thirsty.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.' Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look. I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willing avoids the sight of distress.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
Similar quotes
I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well. I only wish my words could just convince myself that it just wasn't real. But that's not the way it feels.
Jim CroceRead
It is best for the wise man not to seem wise.
AeschylusRead
If you can get really good at destroying your own wrong ideas, that is a great gift.
Charlie MungerRead
I feel like we have to keep our eyes on the road. Being nostalgic is like taking an offramp and getting a sandwich - and then you get back on the highway. I don't want to be spending the rest of my life at the gas station.
Eddie VedderRead
The readiest and surest way to get rid of censure, is to correct ourselves.
DemosthenesRead
We're supposed to show people how the world is, to give them the tools they need to make good decisions as citizens or consumers. Depending on what your values are - the environment, your health, animal welfare - the answers are going to be different for every person.
Michael PollanRead