---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because success is such a weasel word…"
description: "\"Because success is such a weasel word anyway, it's such a horribly American word, and it's such a vamp and, I think it's a death trap.\" — Daniel Berrigan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/daniel-berrigan-14445_congratulations_because-success-is-such-a-weasel-word-an_1909487.png"
---

#  Because success is such a weasel word anyway, it's such a…

![“Because success is such a weasel word anyway, it's such a horribly American word, and it's such a vamp and, I think it's a death trap.” quote by Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/daniel-berrigan-14445_congratulations_because-success-is-such-a-weasel-word-an_1909487.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/daniel-berrigan-14445_congratulations_because-success-is-such-a-weasel-word-an_1909487.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/daniel-berrigan-14445_congratulations_because-success-is-such-a-weasel-word-an_1909487.png)

> “Because success is such a weasel word anyway, it's such a horribly American word, and it's such a vamp and, I think it's a death trap.”

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The term “success” is overused, culturally loaded, and can become a trap that misleads people.

**In simple terms:** Success is a vague, harmful word.

Key Takeaway

Beware of chasing empty labels.

Themes

culture language values

Mood

critical reflective

Type

philosophical social commentary

When to use this quote

- career planning
- personal development
- media analysis
- education
- marketing

Key Concepts

semantic drift psychology social critique

Questions to Reflect On

- What does success truly mean to you?
- How can you define success on your own terms?

A Different Perspective

It can motivate positive effort when defined clearly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vamp/) [Weasels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weasels/)

## Related quotes

> [One of our defects as a nation is a tendency to use what have been called ''weasel words.'' When a weasel sucks eggs the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/one-of-our-defects-as-a-nation-is-a-tendency-to-use-what-have-been-2/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> ['Austerity' is a real weasel word because it's an attempt to make something value-based and abstract out of something which, in reality, consists simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lanchester/austerity-is-a-real-weasel-word-because-it-s-an-attempt-to-make/)

[John Lanchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lanchester/)

> [“Extra' was a very American word. Americans seemed to have extras of everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minfong-ho/extra-was-a-very-american-word-americans-seemed-to-have-extras-of/)

Minfong Ho

> [But the United States did not keep its word. Is an American's word reliable these days?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nguyen-van-thieu/but-the-united-states-did-not-keep-its-word-is-an-american-s-word/)

[Nguyen Van Thieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nguyen-van-thieu/)

> [Now go and stake some vamps. Especially the sparkly emo ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/now-go-and-stake-some-vamps-especially-the-sparkly-emo-ones/)

[Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/)

> [That was the fun of acting, being a blank canvas you could transform into the character - Indian princess, 20s vamp, Mother Courage, Oxford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-quick/that-was-the-fun-of-acting-being-a-blank-canvas-you-could-transform/)

[Diana Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-quick/)

> [“+"That sounds like the beginning of a love story, not the end of one."~katherine. vamp diaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine/that-sounds-like-the-beginning-of-a-love-story-not-the-end-of-one/)

Katherine

> [I started to duck under the spears, only to have the two vamps on the other wall suddenly appear in my face. Or, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-started-to-duck-under-the-spears-only-to-have-the-two-vamps-on-the/)

[Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/)

> [I do have a Mexican accent, but that doesn't mean that I'm a Latin vamp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/i-do-have-a-mexican-accent-but-that-doesn-t-mean-that-i-m-a-latin-vamp/)

[Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/)

> [The vampire stared at me, his mouth slack as Ghastek assessed his options. I took a couple of forms from my desk, put them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-vampire-stared-at-me-his-mouth-slack-as-ghastek-assessed-his/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [You look like the vamp who bled the cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/you-look-like-the-vamp-who-bled-the-cat/)

[Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/)

> [A vampire victim. I'd never seen a lone kill. They were like potato chips; once a vamp tasted them, he couldn't stop at just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/a-vampire-victim-i-d-never-seen-a-lone-kill-they-were-like-potato/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“Silly little vamp, afraid of her feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/silly-little-vamp-afraid-of-her-feelings/)

[Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/)

> [“I sighed. I hate the vamp jobs. They think they're so suave. It's not enough for them to slaughter and eat you like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/i-sighed-i-hate-the-vamp-jobs-they-think-they-re-so-suave-it-s-not/)

[Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/)

> [She stared at him in that vapid, intoxicated way employed only by women under a vamp's control. Or the way I sometimes got when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/she-stared-at-him-in-that-vapid-intoxicated-way-employed-only-by/)

[Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/)

## More by Daniel Berrigan

> [And their conviction is that if it is done with that kind of purity it will go somewhere. I believe that with all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/and-their-conviction-is-that-if-it-is-done-with-that-kind-of-purity/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [Start with the impossible. Proceed calmly towards the improbable. No worry, there are at least five exits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/start-with-the-impossible-proceed-calmly-towards-the-improbable-no/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [One is called to live nonviolently, even if the change one works for seems impossible. It may or may not be possible to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/one-is-called-to-live-nonviolently-even-if-the-change-one-works-for/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [A revolution is interesting insofar as it avoids like the plague the plague it promised to heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/a-revolution-is-interesting-insofar-as-it-avoids-like-the-plague-the/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [Of course, let us have peace, we cry, "but at the same time let us have normalcy, let us lose nothing, let our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/of-course-let-us-have-peace-we-cry-but-at-the-same-time-let-us-have/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [There is no peace because the making of peace is at least as costly as the making of war - at least as exigent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/there-is-no-peace-because-the-making-of-peace-is-at-least-as-costly/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [No principle is worth the sacrifice of a single human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/no-principle-is-worth-the-sacrifice-of-a-single-human-being/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [Faith is rarely where your head is at. Nor is it where your heart is at. Faith is where your ass is at!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/faith-is-rarely-where-your-head-is-at-nor-is-it-where-your-heart-is/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [The arms race is worse than it ever was, the dumping of creation down a military rat hole is worse than it ever was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/the-arms-race-is-worse-than-it-ever-was-the-dumping-of-creation-down/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [I don't have to prove my life. I just have to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/i-don-t-have-to-prove-my-life-i-just-have-to-live/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [I'd like to die with my boots on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/i-d-like-to-die-with-my-boots-on/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [The death of a single human being is too heavy a price for the vindication of any principle, however sacred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/the-death-of-a-single-human-being-is-too-heavy-a-price-for-the/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [I think of my brother just out of prison again. He will have spent ten years of the last 30 in prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/i-think-of-my-brother-just-out-of-prison-again-he-will-have-spent-ten/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [You just have to do what you know is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/you-just-have-to-do-what-you-know-is-right/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

> [Because we want the peace with half a heart and half a life and will, the war, of course, continues, because the waging of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/because-we-want-the-peace-with-half-a-heart-and-half-a-life-and-will/)

[Daniel Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

[Explore all 46 Daniel Berrigan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/)

## More Congratulations quotes

> [Congratulations to Facebook on going public with all my private information...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-facebook-on-going-public-with-all-my-private/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ I don't think anybody can be a success who doesn't like what they do. \[But it's\] no job if it has no challenge; there's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/i-don-t-think-anybody-can-be-a-success-who-doesn-t-like-what-they-do/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

> [Often a certain abdication of prudence and foresight is an element of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/often-a-certain-abdication-of-prudence-and-foresight-is-an-element-of/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [That means more to me, truthfully, than commercial success. To be a loved human being is much more important to me then any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-brien/that-means-more-to-me-truthfully-than-commercial-success-to-be-a/)

[Richard O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-brien/)

> [Congratulations to each and every one of you for the concert last night in New York and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-ormandy/congratulations-to-each-and-every-one-of-you-for-the-concert-last/)

[Eugene Ormandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-ormandy/)

> [Congratulations to Thierry Henry on a truly wonderful career. One of the great footballers of our time and a top bloke. Bonne chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/congratulations-to-thierry-henry-on-a-truly-wonderful-career-one-of/)

[Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/)

> [Heath took our first congratulations love birds photo!(: Together for eternity &lt;3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/heath-took-our-first-congratulations-love-birds-photo-together-for/)

[Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/)

> [“Congratulations. You took me down. And now, you have made everything that is sad, relevant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pleasefindthis/congratulations-you-took-me-down-and-now-you-have-made-everything/)

pleasefindthis

> [From day-break to day end may you two find solace in each others arms! Many congratulations on your big day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/from-day-break-to-day-end-may-you-two-find-solace-in-each-others-arms/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/compliments-of-congratulation-are-always-kindly-taken-and-cost/)

[Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/)

> [“You're back where you swore yourself you wouldn't be The familiar shackles you can't tell from your own skin Your head's under water when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/you-re-back-where-you-swore-yourself-you-wouldn-t-be-the-familiar/)

[Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/)

> [Never rank, rate, or compare coaches, children, concerts, or championships or congratulations. Just enjoy them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/never-rank-rate-or-compare-coaches-children-concerts-or-championships/)

[Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/)

> [Congratulations! Wishing you lots of wonderful moments of togetherness now &amp; always, may God bless you. Happy Engagement Day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-wishing-you-lots-of-wonderful-moments-of-togetherness/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Congratulations on doing what we pay you to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-on-doing-what-we-pay-you-to-do/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Congratulations to Prince Charles for banning foie gras from all his functions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-prince-charles-for-banning-foie-gras-from-all-his/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

Browse all 527 Congratulations quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Because success is such a weasel word anyway, it's such a horribly American word, and it's such a vamp and, I think it's a death trap.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Daniel Berrigan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/because-success-is-such-a-weasel-word-anyway-it-s-such-a-horribly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Congratulations"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/because-success-is-such-a-weasel-word-anyway-it-s-such-a-horribly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/daniel-berrigan-14445_congratulations_because-success-is-such-a-weasel-word-an_1909487.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/daniel-berrigan-14445_congratulations_because-success-is-such-a-weasel-word-an_1909487.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/daniel-berrigan-14445_congratulations_because-success-is-such-a-weasel-word-an_1909487.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Because success is such a weasel word anyway, it's such a horribly American word, and it's such a vamp and…” — Daniel Berrigan",
                "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": "Daniel Berrigan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-berrigan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Because success is such a weasel...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/because-success-is-such-a-weasel-word-anyway-it-s-such-a-horribly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-berrigan/because-success-is-such-a-weasel-word-anyway-it-s-such-a-horribly/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
