Illusory Success Quotes

Success is an ugly thing. Men are deceived by its false resemblances to merit.... They confound the brilliance of the firmament with the star-shaped footprints of a duck in the mud.

How melancholy a thing is success. Whilst failure inspirits a man, attainment reads the sad prosy lesson that all our glories "Are shadows, not substantial things." Truly said the sayer, "disappointment is the salt of life" a salutary bitter which strengthens the mind for fresh exertion, and gives a double value to the prize.

And now, when I have summed up all my store, Thinking (so I myself deceive) So rich a chaplet thence to weave As never yet the King of Glory wore, Alas! I find the serpent old, That, twining in his speckled breast, About the flowers disguised does fold With wreaths of fame and interest.

When fortune flatters, she does it to betray.

Just remember, Callum when you’re floating up and up in your bubble, that bubbles have a habit of bursting. The higher you climb, the further you have to fall’ - Lynette McGregor

Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.

Everyone in Annawadi talks like this: 'Oh, I will make my child a doctor, a lawyer, and he will make us rich'. It's vanity, nothing more. Your little boat goes west and you congratulate yourself, 'what a navigator I am!' And then the wind blows you east.

Some achieve a reputation for great successes when in fact all they have done is take chances that reasonable people wouldn't take.

It may be remarked in passing that success is an ugly thing. Men are deceived by its false resemblences to merit.

Success is a very hideous thing. Its false resemblance to merit deceives men.

The funny thing about having all this so-called success is that behind it is a certain horrible emptiness.