Careful Words

success (n.)

'T is man's to fight, but Heaven's to give success.

Alexander Pope (1688-1744): The Iliad of Homer. Book vi. Line 427.

  Forward, as occasion offers. Never look round to see whether any shall note it. . . . Be satisfied with success in even the smallest matter, and think that even such a result is no trifle.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 a d): Meditations. ix. 29.

  Success is man's god.

Aeschylus (525-456 b c): Choephorae, 59.

  Most people judge men only by success or by fortune.

Isaac De Benserade (1612-1691): Maxim 212.

'T is not in mortals to command success,

But we 'll do more, Sempronius,—we 'll deserve it.

Joseph Addison (1672-1719): Cato. Act i. Sc. 2.

Nothing succeeds like success.

  The secret of success is constancy to purpose.

Benjamin Disraeli (Earl Beaconsfield) (1805-1881): Speech, June 24, 1870.

Born for success he seemed,

With grace to win, with heart to hold,

With shining gifts that took all eyes.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882): In Memoriam.

Didst thou never hear

That things ill got had ever bad success?

And happy always was it for that son

Whose father for his hoarding went to hell?

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Henry VI. Part III. Act ii. Sc. 2.

  The Duke of Wellington brought to the post of first minister immortal fame,—a quality of success which would almost seem to include all others.

Benjamin Disraeli (Earl Beaconsfield) (1805-1881): Sybil. Book i. Chap. iii.

Besides, this Duncan

Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been

So clear in his great office, that his virtues

Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against

The deep damnation of his taking-off;

And pity, like a naked new-born babe,

Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed

Upon the sightless couriers of the air,

Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,

That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur

To prick the sides of my intent, but only

Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself,

And falls on the other.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Macbeth. Act i. Sc. 7.