Nothing is more humiliating than to see idiots succeed in enterprises we have failed in.

Rire des gens d'esprit, c'est le privilège des sots.

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

one of the most frustrating things is seeing people that clearly are not reaching potential because they are not working hard enough

God, what a ghastly enterprise to be in, though — and what an odd way to achieve success. I'm an exhibitionist who wants to hide, but is unsuccessful at hiding; therefore, somehow I succeed.

Failure is not a disgrace. It’s just a pitch that you missed, and you’d better get ready for the next one... My son and I are Americans, we prepare for glory by failing until we don’t.

Any time you see someone more successful than you are, they are doing something you aren't.

There is no disgrace in honest failure; there is disgrace in fearing to fail

When companies fail, it’s usually for reasons that almost everyone knows but almost no one has voiced. When someone isn’t making good decisions, few have the guts to tell that person, especially if that person is the boss.

I have seen companies that have shady practices thrive for a period of time. But the success never lasts. Whether it is a scandal or a long-term erosion of customer loyalty, doing business—doing life—without values is short sighted and leads to failure.

Compile a list of failures and disappointments. This should include new initiatives and offerings by your enterprise that have failed outright or fell far below expectations.

The it-ish understand: failure is a part of success.

The success haters. ... That's what I call them—the people who have never got what they want and turned sour on everybody who has. The world's full of them. ... As soon as you've made good they begin to watch for you to fail. ...

No one wants to see cool people doing brilliantly. I want to see the struggle. That's the fun bit.