--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sure, nothing succeeds like success. Fact…" description: "\"Sure, nothing succeeds like success. Fact is, dearest, we are fools. We cling to an ideal no one wants or cares about. I am the greater fool of the two..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/emma-goldman-774_attempt_sure-nothing-succeeds-like-success-fact_1640185.png" --- # Sure, nothing succeeds like success. Fact is, dearest, we… ![“Sure, nothing succeeds like success. Fact is, dearest, we are fools. We cling to an ideal no one wants or cares about. I am the greater fool of the two of us. I go on eating out my heart and poisoning every moment of my life in the attempt to rouse people's sensibilities. At least if I could do it…” quote by Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/emma-goldman-774_attempt_sure-nothing-succeeds-like-success-fact_1640185.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/emma-goldman-774_attempt_sure-nothing-succeeds-like-success-fact_1640185.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/emma-goldman-774_attempt_sure-nothing-succeeds-like-success-fact_1640185.png) > “Sure, nothing succeeds like success. Fact is, dearest, we are fools. We cling to an ideal no one wants or cares about. I am the greater fool of the two of us. I go on eating out my heart and poisoning every moment of my life in the attempt to rouse people's sensibilities. At least if I could do it with closed eyes. The irony is I see the futility of my efforts and yet I can't let go.” [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chasing idealized success can become self‑destructive, as we cling to false narratives despite recognizing their emptiness. **In simple terms:** Pursuing false ideals harms us. Key Takeaway Question the value of your ambitions. Themes illusion self‑sabotage idealism foolishness existential dread Mood melancholic introspective Type quote critical philosophical When to use this quote - career ambition - relationship dynamics - creative projects - personal health Key Concepts psychology philosophy critique of success Questions to Reflect On - What ideal are you clinging to? - How does this pursuit affect your well‑being? A Different Perspective May ignore constructive aspects of striving. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempt/) [Can-t-let-go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-let-go/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Closed eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closed-eyes/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fool Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool-eating-560759/) [Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) [Futility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/futility/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Irony Futility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony-futility-560758/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Like Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-success/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [My heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-heart/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poisoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poisoning/) [Sensibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensibility/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There's always that one special person that no matter what they've done to you, you just can't let them go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebechka24/there-s-always-that-one-special-person-that-no-matter-what-they-ve/) [Bebechka24](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebechka24/) > [Winning isn't the end of the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pleat/winning-isn-t-the-end-of-the-world/) [David Pleat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pleat/) > [Ignore reality, there's nothing you can do about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-imbruglia/ignore-reality-there-s-nothing-you-can-do-about-it/) [Natalie Imbruglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-imbruglia/) > [Dreams are illusions, and we can't let go of them because we would be dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/dreams-are-illusions-and-we-can-t-let-go-of-them-because-we-would-be/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [You can only lose what you cling to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/you-can-only-lose-what-you-cling-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I was feeling down and blue; but after that memory of you popped into my head; I couldn't just help but smile and laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tynee-williams/i-was-feeling-down-and-blue-but-after-that-memory-of-you-popped-into/) [Tynee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tynee-williams/) > [What is it about us human beings that we can’t let go of lost things?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-marmon-silko/what-is-it-about-us-human-beings-that-we-can-t-let-go-of-lost-things/) [Leslie Marmon Silko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-marmon-silko/) > [Memory cuts both ways; it can either provide you with tremendous strength and a foundation to carry you through your life, or it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/memory-cuts-both-ways-it-can-either-provide-you-with-tremendous/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [He was a martyr of peace but was the victim of hate. 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All wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/poor-human-nature-what-horrible-crimes-have-been-committed-in-thy/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Lack of fairness to an opponent is essentially a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/lack-of-fairness-to-an-opponent-is-essentially-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? 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That is the law of life, individual and social.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/today-is-the-parent-of-tomorrow-the-present-casts-its-shadow-far-into/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Salvation lies in an energetic march onward towards a brighter and clearer future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/salvation-lies-in-an-energetic-march-onward-towards-a-brighter-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The more hideous the mental contortions, the greater the delight and bravos of the mass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-more-hideous-the-mental-contortions-the-greater-the-delight-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) [Explore all 368 Emma Goldman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## More Attempt quotes > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. 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