--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success is not measured by the position…" description: "\"“Success is not measured by the position one has reached in life, rather by the obstacles one overcomes while trying to succeed”\" — Booker T. Washington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/booker-t-washington-2277_inspirational_success-is-not-measured-by-the-position_581986.png" --- # Success is not measured by the position one has reached in… ![“Success is not measured by the position one has reached in life, rather by the obstacles one overcomes while trying to succeed” quote by Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/booker-t-washington-2277_inspirational_success-is-not-measured-by-the-position_581986.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/booker-t-washington-2277_inspirational_success-is-not-measured-by-the-position_581986.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/booker-t-washington-2277_inspirational_success-is-not-measured-by-the-position_581986.png) > ““Success is not measured by the position one has reached in life, rather by the obstacles one overcomes while trying to succeed”” [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is judged not by rank but by overcoming obstacles on the path to achievement. **In simple terms:** Success is about overcoming obstacles, not titles. Key Takeaway Focus on resilience over status. Themes success perseverance growth Mood motivational determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - personal development - community leadership Key Concepts social mobility self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles have you overcome? - How do you measure personal growth? A Different Perspective External validation can distract from inner progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success is not measured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-is-not-measured/) [Trying to succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-to-succeed/) ## Related quotes > [I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/i-have-learned-that-success-is-to-be-measured-not-so-much-by-the/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Success is not to be measured by the position someone has reached in life, but the obstacles he has overcome while trying to succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/success-is-not-to-be-measured-by-the-position-someone-has-reached-in/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Success is not to be measured so much by the status one has attained in life but rather by the obstacles one has overcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/success-is-not-to-be-measured-so-much-by-the-status-one-has-attained/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Success is not measured by where you are in life, but the obstacles you've over come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/success-is-not-measured-by-where-you-are-in-life-but-the-obstacles/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [He who hopes to avoid all failure and misfortune is trying to live in a fairyland; the wise man realistically accepts failures as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/he-who-hopes-to-avoid-all-failure-and-misfortune-is-trying-to-live-in/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [I'm not trying to succeed for the people who are waiting for me to fail. I'm doing it for myself. I'm one for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zara-phillips/i-m-not-trying-to-succeed-for-the-people-who-are-waiting-for-me-to/) [Zara Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zara-phillips/) > [The wise man realistically accepts as part of life and builds a philosophy to meet them and make the most of them. He lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/the-wise-man-realistically-accepts-as-part-of-life-and-builds-a/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [Im Living in a Dream with The People in my Team, were just trying to succeed, having fun, smoking weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-mar/im-living-in-a-dream-with-the-people-in-my-team-were-just-trying-to/) [Mikey Mar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-mar/) > [If the argument is that failure helps you succeed, well, so does success and it's quicker. This suggests at least one reason for trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geras/if-the-argument-is-that-failure-helps-you-succeed-well-so-does/) Norman Geras > [The way you succeed at all this stuff is by stopping trying to succeed and just working very hard without thinking about it, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-way-you-succeed-at-all-this-stuff-is-by-stopping-trying-to/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The definition of success differs from person to person; so if you are trying to succeed according to somebody else's definition, you may end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/the-definition-of-success-differs-from-person-to-person-so-if-you-are/) [JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/) > [In order for a situation to come to an end, one must let it. Even in the midst of defeat one can pull out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-order-for-a-situation-to-come-to-an-end-one-must-let-it-even-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't want losing to spin you out from the goal you're trying to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/you-don-t-want-losing-to-spin-you-out-from-the-goal-you-re-trying-to/) [Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/) > [Confidence allows you to progress in something you're attempting to accomplish, whether it's playing basketball or baseball or whether it's trying to succeed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/confidence-allows-you-to-progress-in-something-you-re-attempting-to/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life... as by the obstacles which he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington-2/success-is-to-be-measured-not-so-much-by-the-position-that-one-has-3/) [Booker T Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington-2/) ## More by Booker T. Washington > [“There are some things that one individual can do for another, and there are some things that one race can do for another. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/there-are-some-things-that-one-individual-can-do-for-another-and/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [I let no man drag me down so low as to make me hate him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/i-let-no-man-drag-me-down-so-low-as-to-make-me-hate-him/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The wisest among my race understand that agitations of social equality is the extremist folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all privileges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-wisest-among-my-race-understand-that-agitations-of-social/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“I began learning long ago that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/i-began-learning-long-ago-that-those-who-are-happiest-are-those-who/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [If you truly want to measure the success of a man, you do not measure it by a position he has achieved, but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/if-you-truly-want-to-measure-the-success-of-a-man-you-do-not-measure/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The time will come when the Negro in the South will be accorded all the political rights which his ability, character, and material possessions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-time-will-come-when-the-negro-in-the-south-will-be-accorded-all/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Kada smo u kontaktu sa drugim čovekom, mi mu ili pomažemo ili smetamo. Nema trećeg: ili ga vučemo na dole, ili ga izvlačimo na…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/kada-smo-u-kontaktu-sa-drugim-ovekom-mi-mu-ili-poma-emo-ili-smetamo/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/excellence-is-to-do-a-common-thing-in-an-uncommon-way/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [We must reinforce argument with results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/we-must-reinforce-argument-with-results/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Mere connection with what is known as a superior race will not permanently carry an individual forward unless the individual has worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/mere-connection-with-what-is-known-as-a-superior-race-will-not/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [No race that has anything to contribute to the markets of the world is long in any degree ostracized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/no-race-that-has-anything-to-contribute-to-the-markets-of-the-world/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The highest test of the civilization of any race is in its willingness to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-highest-test-of-the-civilization-of-any-race-is-in-its/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The Negro is not the man farthest down. The condition of the coloured farmer in the most backward parts of the Southern States of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-negro-is-not-the-man-farthest-down-the-condition-of-the-coloured/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“it takes no more time to be polite to every one than it does to be rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/it-takes-no-more-time-to-be-polite-to-every-one-than-it-does-to-be/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) [Explore all 174 Booker T. Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Success is not measured by the position one has reached in life, rather by the obstacles one overcomes while trying to succeed”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Booker T. 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