Acceptance Quote by Anthony de Mello
““We were brought up to need people. For what? For acceptance, approval, appreciation, applause - for what they call success. Those are words that do not correspond to reality. They are conventions, things that are invented, but we don't realize that they don't correspond to reality. What is success? It is what one group decided is a good thing. Another group will decide the same thing is bad.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Awareness, 1990
Success is a socially constructed concept, not an objective truth; it varies across groups and cultures.
In simple terms: Success is a human-made idea.
Key Takeaway
Question the definitions you accept.
Themes
success
social constructs
culture
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career planning
- personal goals
- education
- marketing
Key Concepts
relativism
norms
group dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines success for you beyond societal expectations?
- How might redefining success change your life?
A Different Perspective
Success can pressure conformity and ignore personal fulfillment.
