Being successful Quote by Cornel West
“I remind young people everywhere I go, one of the worst things the older generation did was to tell them for twenty-five years "Be successful, be successful, be successful" as opposed to "Be great, be great, be great". There's a qualitative difference.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public lecture, 2022
Older generations push constant success, but true greatness requires deeper purpose and impact.
In simple terms: Success focus vs greatness focus
Key Takeaway
Aim for lasting impact, not just achievement
Themes
purpose
legacy
growth
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- career mentorship
- education reform
- personal development
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we teach greatness over success?
- What does greatness mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Greatness may be harder to define and measure.
![“You can't really move forward until you look back. [From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University]” quote by Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/273/cornel-west-708_george-w_you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you_37313.jpg)
