Blessings and burdens are not mutually exclusive. - Ryan Holiday

Aspiration leads to success (and adversity). Success creates its own adversity (and, hopefully, new ambitions). And adversity leads to aspiration and more success. It’s an endless loop.

Success breeds softness.

It also breeds fear: We become addicted to our creature comforts. And then we become afraid of losing them.

If you wish to improve, be content to appear clueless or stupid in extraneous matters — don’t wish to seem knowledgeable. And if some regard you as important, distrust yourself.” — EPICTETUS, ENCHIRIDION, 13a