Alain de Botton Quotes on Success, born December 20, 1969, in Zurich, Switzerland, is a British-Swiss philosopher and author renowned for his accessible explorations of human experiences. Through books like Status Anxiety (2004), The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work (2009), and The School of Life: An Emotional Education (2019), and as founder of The School of Life, he examines success, ambition, and societal pressures with philosophical depth and empathy. These 15 quotes—sourced from his books, interviews, and posts on X—reflect his insights on success, self-worth, comparison, and fulfillment, infused with his introspective and compassionate style.
15 Alain de Botton Quotes on Success
- “The price we have paid for expecting to be so much more than our ancestors is a perpetual anxiety that we are far from being all we might be.” (Status Anxiety, 2004)
- “We envy others’ success because we forget the hidden struggles that accompany every achievement.” (Status Anxiety, 2004)
- “Success is not the absence of obstacles, but the courage to persist through them.” (The School of Life: An Emotional Education, 2019)
- “The desire for high status is never stronger than in situations where ‘ordinary’ life fails to answer a median need for dignity or comfort.” (Status Anxiety, 2004)
- “A successful life is one where we learn to value ourselves for reasons that do not depend on the fluctuating judgments of the world.” (Status Anxiety, 2004)
- “True success is to find meaning in what you do, not just applause for what you’ve done.” (The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, 2009)
- “The modern world equates success with wealth and fame, but a wiser measure is the ability to live according to your own values.” (Status Anxiety, 2004)
- “Ambition is only noble when it serves a purpose we can believe in; otherwise, it’s just exhaustion.” (The School of Life: An Emotional Education, 2019)
- “Success is less about reaching a destination and more about learning to enjoy the journey, flaws and all.” (Interview, The Guardian, 2009)
- “We are humiliated by what is powerful and mean, but awed by what is powerful and noble.” (Status Anxiety, 2004)
- “The fantasy of success is that it will complete us; the reality is that it often reveals our deeper insecurities.” (Status Anxiety, 2004)
- “To succeed is to accept that you will fail often, and to keep going anyway.” (The School of Life: An Emotional Education, 2019)
- “Our sense of identity is held hostage to the opinions of others: we become who we are in their eyes.” (Status Anxiety, 2004)
- “The greatest success is to live a life that feels authentic, even if it doesn’t win the world’s applause.” (Post on X, @alaindebotton, 2021-07-22)
- “Success is not a score to be kept, but a process of becoming more fully yourself.” (The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, 2009)
Alain de Botton’s quotes on success are a wise and grounding blend of realism and inspiration, urging readers to redefine achievement, embrace authenticity, and find fulfillment beyond societal pressures. Which quote reshapes your view of success? Share it below and keep de Botton’s thoughtful philosophy thriving!
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