--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success is a ladder you cannot climb with…" description: "\"Success is a ladder you cannot climb with your hands in your pockets\" — American Proverb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/american-proverb-19875_climb_success-is-a-ladder-you-cannot-climb-wit_3024673.jpg" --- # Success is a ladder you cannot climb with your hands in… ![“Success is a ladder you cannot climb with your hands in your pockets” quote by American Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/american-proverb-19875_climb_success-is-a-ladder-you-cannot-climb-wit_3024673.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/american-proverb-19875_climb_success-is-a-ladder-you-cannot-climb-wit_3024673.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/american-proverb-19875_climb_success-is-a-ladder-you-cannot-climb-wit_3024673.jpg) > “Success is a ladder you cannot climb with your hands in your pockets” American Proverb ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires active effort; you cannot achieve it passively. **In simple terms:** Work actively for success. Key Takeaway Don’t be idle; act toward goals. Themes success effort action proverb Mood direct practical Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - skill learning - business development Key Concepts Motivation self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What actions will you take today? - How do you avoid complacency? A Different Perspective Passive attitudes hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ladder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [When you got a dream, you don't just climb half way up the ladder, you climb all the way to the top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cher-lloyd/when-you-got-a-dream-you-don-t-just-climb-half-way-up-the-ladder-you/) [Cher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cher-lloyd/) > [In order for us to reach success, we must first find, the ladder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hensel/in-order-for-us-to-reach-success-we-must-first-find-the-ladder/) [Robert M. Hensel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hensel/) > [Success is a ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in your pocket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-is-a-ladder-that-cannot-be-climbed-with-your-hands-in-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You construct a ladder and you climb that ladder, out of the hell you have constructed for yourself and back into the real world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barracuda/you-construct-a-ladder-and-you-climb-that-ladder-out-of-the-hell-you/) barracuda > [I did Star 80, which was a magnificent experience as well, but still, I was at the height of my career at the beginning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/i-did-star-80-which-was-a-magnificent-experience-as-well-but-still-i/) [Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/) > [Climb up the ladder! Climb up the ladder! Are you stupid?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/climb-up-the-ladder-climb-up-the-ladder-are-you-stupid/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [Don’t just climb the ladder of success - a ladder that leads, after all, to higher and higher levels of stress and burnout -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/don-t-just-climb-the-ladder-of-success-a-ladder-that-leads-after-all/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [When I see a barrier, I cry and I curse, and then I get a ladder and climb over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-johnson/when-i-see-a-barrier-i-cry-and-i-curse-and-then-i-get-a-ladder-and/) [John H. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-johnson/) > [I fell in love, it slowly dimmed leaving me almost blind. But somehow I managed to build a ladder and climb out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aakho-cumu/i-fell-in-love-it-slowly-dimmed-leaving-me-almost-blind-but-somehow-i/) Aakho Cumu > [Bring anger and pride under your feet, turn them into a ladder and climb higher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/bring-anger-and-pride-under-your-feet-turn-them-into-a-ladder-and/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Success is a ladder that can't be climbed with your hands inside your pockets...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osvaldo-m/success-is-a-ladder-that-can-t-be-climbed-with-your-hands-inside-your/) [Osvaldo M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osvaldo-m/) > [Success is a ladder cursed to those who dont have hands but what about you, my dear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/success-is-a-ladder-cursed-to-those-who-dont-have-hands-but-what/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“You can forget trying to climb the success ladder, all you will ever need in life is brought to you in the Cosmic Ordering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/you-can-forget-trying-to-climb-the-success-ladder-all-you-will-ever/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [None of the legends sitting on top of the world were born there...instead they were happy to climb the success ladder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/none-of-the-legends-sitting-on-top-of-the-world-were-born-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Success is a ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in your pocket - The road to success is always under construction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/success-is-a-ladder-that-cannot-be-climbed-with-your-hands-in-your-2/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) ## More by American Proverb > [“Opportunities like eggs, come one at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/opportunities-like-eggs-come-one-at-a-time/) American proverb > [Two's company, three's a crowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/two-s-company-three-s-a-crowd/) American Proverb > [Variety is the spice of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/variety-is-the-spice-of-life/) American Proverb > [The wicked work harder to preach hell than the righteous do to get to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/the-wicked-work-harder-to-preach-hell-than-the-righteous-do-to-get-to/) American Proverb > [Harm set, harm get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/harm-set-harm-get/) American Proverb > [No good Indian but a dead Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/no-good-indian-but-a-dead-indian/) American Proverb > [Give a man enough rope and he'll hang himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/give-a-man-enough-rope-and-he-ll-hang-himself/) American Proverb > [It's never over till it's over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/it-s-never-over-till-it-s-over/) American Proverb > [If you don't have a plan for yourself, you'll be part of someone else's](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/if-you-don-t-have-a-plan-for-yourself-you-ll-be-part-of-someone-else-s/) American Proverb > [He falls into the pit who leads another to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/he-falls-into-the-pit-who-leads-another-to-it/) American Proverb > [You can't have all chiefs, you've got to have Indians too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/you-can-t-have-all-chiefs-you-ve-got-to-have-indians-too/) American Proverb > [Never swap horses crossing a stream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/never-swap-horses-crossing-a-stream/) American Proverb > [“Don't pull all your eggs in one basket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/don-t-pull-all-your-eggs-in-one-basket/) American proverb > [Every sin carries its own punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/every-sin-carries-its-own-punishment/) American Proverb > [A politician is an animal who can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/a-politician-is-an-animal-who-can-sit-on-a-fence-and-yet-keep-both/) American Proverb Explore all 32 American Proverb quotes ## More Climb quotes > [Normally, it's more efficient to climb fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ondra/normally-it-s-more-efficient-to-climb-fast/) [Adam Ondra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ondra/) > [Our ape legs make us great generalists - we can walk, run and climb. But when you try to do too many things at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/our-ape-legs-make-us-great-generalists-we-can-walk-run-and-climb-but/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [“Climb aboard, Jonesy. I'm going to send you up where the air is rare and the view is much more than fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/climb-aboard-jonesy-i-m-going-to-send-you-up-where-the-air-is-rare/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Sometimes you climb the mountain, and you fall and fail. Maybe there is a different path that will take you up. Sometimes a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-fake/sometimes-you-climb-the-mountain-and-you-fall-and-fail-maybe-there-is/) [Caterina Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-fake/) > [The bumps are what you climb on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-bumps-are-what-you-climb-on/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Some day I'm going to climb Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/some-day-i-m-going-to-climb-everest/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [A part of me will always be unflyable, stuck in the climb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/a-part-of-me-will-always-be-unflyable-stuck-in-the-climb/) [Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/) > [Face your fears or they will climb over your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/face-your-fears-or-they-will-climb-over-your-back/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [It is sometimes a mistake to climb. It is always a mistake never even to make the attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-sometimes-a-mistake-to-climb-it-is-always-a-mistake-never-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to climb a mountain before you can enjoy the view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/you-have-to-climb-a-mountain-before-you-can-enjoy-the-view/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Where I'm is one of those stair climbing machines the agent has installed. You climb and climb forever and never get off the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/where-i-m-is-one-of-those-stair-climbing-machines-the-agent-has/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“There are points in your life where you find yourself going nowhere reaching nowhere, standing nowhere. You feel yourself a mess occupied in nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aquib-ali/there-are-points-in-your-life-where-you-find-yourself-going-nowhere/) [Aquib Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aquib-ali/) > [“Don't be afraid to start at the bottom of the ladder. And have the courage to climb to the top.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-hr-rosenthal/don-t-be-afraid-to-start-at-the-bottom-of-the-ladder-and-have-the/) Levi HR Rosenthal > [Dude, I just watched you climb up a f\*cking building!-Lace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/dude-i-just-watched-you-climb-up-a-f-cking-building-lace/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) Browse all 797 Climb quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Success is a ladder you cannot climb with your hands in your pockets", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "American Proverb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/success-is-a-ladder-you-cannot-climb-with-your-hands-in-your-pockets/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Climb" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/success-is-a-ladder-you-cannot-climb-with-your-hands-in-your-pockets/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/american-proverb-19875_climb_success-is-a-ladder-you-cannot-climb-wit_3024673.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/american-proverb-19875_climb_success-is-a-ladder-you-cannot-climb-wit_3024673.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/american-proverb-19875_climb_success-is-a-ladder-you-cannot-climb-wit_3024673.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Success is a ladder you cannot climb with your hands in your pockets” — American Proverb", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "American Proverb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/american-proverb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Success is a ladder you cannot...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/success-is-a-ladder-you-cannot-climb-with-your-hands-in-your-pockets/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/success-is-a-ladder-you-cannot-climb-with-your-hands-in-your-pockets/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```