--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the face of increasing pressures to…" description: "\"“In the face of increasing pressures to perform at a level unattainable for them, and in fear of being discovered as incompetent, they begin to direct ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/andrzej-lobaczewski-32410_fear_in-the-face-of-increasing-pressures-to-p_2769237.jpg" --- # In the face of increasing pressures to perform at a level… ![“In the face of increasing pressures to perform at a level unattainable for them, and in fear of being discovered as incompetent, they begin to direct attacks against anyone with greater talent or skill, removing them from appropriate posts and playing an active role in degrading their social and…” quote by Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/andrzej-lobaczewski-32410_fear_in-the-face-of-increasing-pressures-to-p_2769237.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/andrzej-lobaczewski-32410_fear_in-the-face-of-increasing-pressures-to-p_2769237.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/andrzej-lobaczewski-32410_fear_in-the-face-of-increasing-pressures-to-p_2769237.jpg) > ““In the face of increasing pressures to perform at a level unattainable for them, and in fear of being discovered as incompetent, they begin to direct attacks against anyone with greater talent or skill, removing them from appropriate posts and playing an active role in degrading their social and professional adjustment.”” [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Under pressure, insecure individuals attack more talented peers, sabotaging their own advancement. **In simple terms:** Insecurity leads to sabotage. Key Takeaway Address underlying fear. Themes insecurity competition bullying Mood analytical concerned Type psychological social When to use this quote - workplace dynamics - academic settings - team projects Key Concepts Psychology of power organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - What insecurities drive your actions? - How can you support rather than undermine? A Different Perspective Such attacks can backfire professionally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attacks Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacks-greater-3228994/) [Degrading Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrading-social-3228996/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Greater Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-talent-1279957/) [Increasing Pressures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increasing-pressures-3228995/) [Role Degrading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-degrading-3228993/) ## Related quotes > [“Talent is often developed at the expense of character. 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Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) ## More by Andrzej Lobaczewski > [ “They dream of a world in which their simple and radical way of experiencing and perceiving reality would dominate; \[35\] where they would, of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/they-dream-of-a-world-in-which-their-simple-and-radical-way-of/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“The following question derives from the above comparison: Can the human hive inhabiting our globe achieve sufficient comprehension of macrosocial pathological phenomenon which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/the-following-question-derives-from-the-above-comparison-can-the/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“Oh, indeed, they can imitate feelings, but the only real feelings they seem to have – the thing that drives them and causes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/oh-indeed-they-can-imitate-feelings-but-the-only-real-feelings-they/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“However, there have always been “society pedagogues”, less outstanding but more numerous, who have become fascinated by their own great ideas, which might, sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/however-there-have-always-been-society-pedagogues-less-outstanding/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“I think it is more helpful to characterize criminal psychopaths as “unsuccessful psychopaths”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/i-think-it-is-more-helpful-to-characterize-criminal-psychopaths-as/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“if an individual in a position of political power is a psychopath, he or she can create an epidemic of psychopathology in people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/if-an-individual-in-a-position-of-political-power-is-a-psychopath-he/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“In other words, psychopathy is being recognized as a more or less different type of human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/in-other-words-psychopathy-is-being-recognized-as-a-more-or-less/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [ “At the same time, such people easily interpenetrate the social structure with a ramified \[14\] network of mutual pathological conspiracies poorly connected to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/at-the-same-time-such-people-easily-interpenetrate-the-social/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“In the macrosocial phenomenon we shall later call “pathocracy”, a certain hereditary anomaly isolated as “essential psychopathy” is catalytically and causatively essential for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/in-the-macrosocial-phenomenon-we-shall-later-call-pathocracy-a/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“Politics is no exception, and, by its very nature, would tend to attract more of the pathological “dominator types” than other fields. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/politics-is-no-exception-and-by-its-very-nature-would-tend-to-attract/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“Whether you know it or not, each and every day your life is touched by the effects of psychopathy on our world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/whether-you-know-it-or-not-each-and-every-day-your-life-is-touched-by/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“We also began to realize that the profiles that emerged also describe rather accurately many individuals who seek positions of power in fields of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/we-also-began-to-realize-that-the-profiles-that-emerged-also-describe/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“The high incidence of sociopathy in human society has a profound effect on the rest of us who must live on this planet, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/the-high-incidence-of-sociopathy-in-human-society-has-a-profound/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [“Likeable”, “Charming”, “Intelligent”, “Alert”, “Impressive”, “Confidence-inspiring,” and “A great success with the ladies”. This is how Hervey Cleckley described most of his subjects in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/likeable-charming-intelligent-alert-impressive-confidence-inspiring/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) [Explore all 15 Andrzej Lobaczewski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. 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Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) [Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In the face of increasing pressures to perform at a level unattainable for them, and in fear of being discovered as incompetent, they begin to direct attacks against anyone with greater talent or skill, removing them from appropriate posts and playing an active role in degrading their social and professional adjustment.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrzej Lobaczewski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/in-the-face-of-increasing-pressures-to-perform-at-a-level/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/in-the-face-of-increasing-pressures-to-perform-at-a-level/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/andrzej-lobaczewski-32410_fear_in-the-face-of-increasing-pressures-to-p_2769237.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/andrzej-lobaczewski-32410_fear_in-the-face-of-increasing-pressures-to-p_2769237.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/andrzej-lobaczewski-32410_fear_in-the-face-of-increasing-pressures-to-p_2769237.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the face of increasing pressures to perform at a level unattainable for them, and in fear of being…” — Andrzej Lobaczewski", "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": "Andrzej Lobaczewski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In the face of increasing pressures...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/in-the-face-of-increasing-pressures-to-perform-at-a-level/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/in-the-face-of-increasing-pressures-to-perform-at-a-level/#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 } } ] } ```