--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you believe that you are infallible…" description: "\"“Once you believe that you are infallible, that success will automatically lead to more success, and that you have \"got it made,\" reality will be sure ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/felix-dennis-3862_business-start-up_once-you-believe-that-you-are-infallible_2948778.png" --- # Once you believe that you are infallible, that success… ![“Once you believe that you are infallible, that success will automatically lead to more success, and that you have "got it made," reality will be sure to give you a rude wake-up call. Believing your own bullshit is always a perilous activity, but never more fatal than for the owner of a start-up…” quote by Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/felix-dennis-3862_business-start-up_once-you-believe-that-you-are-infallible_2948778.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/felix-dennis-3862_business-start-up_once-you-believe-that-you-are-infallible_2948778.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/felix-dennis-3862_business-start-up_once-you-believe-that-you-are-infallible_2948778.png) > ““Once you believe that you are infallible, that success will automatically lead to more success, and that you have "got it made," reality will be sure to give you a rude wake-up call. Believing your own bullshit is always a perilous activity, but never more fatal than for the owner of a start-up venture.”” [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Believing oneself infallible leads to complacency; reality will challenge overconfidence, especially in startups where hubris can be fatal. **In simple terms:** Overconfidence invites harsh reality checks. Key Takeaway Stay humble and test assumptions. Themes business psychology entrepreneurship Mood cautious motivational Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - startup founding - investment decisions - leadership training Key Concepts hubris failure startup risk self‑deception Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent self‑deception? - How can founders balance confidence with humility? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can also stem from necessary optimism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe Infallible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-infallible-2904968/) [Believing Bullshit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-bullshit-4434087/) [Business-start-up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-start-up/) [Infallible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallible/) [Infallible Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallible-success-4434086/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-got-493472/) ## Related quotes > [Much as I venerate the name of Newton, I am not obliged to believe that he was infallible. I see ... with regret that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/much-as-i-venerate-the-name-of-newton-i-am-not-obliged-to-believe/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [Believing your own bullshit is always a perilous activity, but never more fatal than for the owner of a start-up venture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/believing-your-own-bullshit-is-always-a-perilous-activity-but-never/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [If you want to achieve success you got to learn to face the failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/if-you-want-to-achieve-success-you-got-to-learn-to-face-the-failure/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [Success has got no limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-kakkar/success-has-got-no-limits/) [Neha Kakkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-kakkar/) > [What am I doing with the gifts that have been given and the opportunities that are mine to make things better for others? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/what-am-i-doing-with-the-gifts-that-have-been-given-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The best part of success is that it got me past the basic survival level of existence so that I was comfortable. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/the-best-part-of-success-is-that-it-got-me-past-the-basic-survival/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [Success has got nothing to do with being happy. I've been very rich, and been unhappy, and I've been very poor, and been happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/success-has-got-nothing-to-do-with-being-happy-i-ve-been-very-rich/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [We've been around for awhile, had a lot of success. Got a chance to sit around and go, 'Oh, yeah, we're pretty good.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/we-ve-been-around-for-awhile-had-a-lot-of-success-got-a-chance-to-sit/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [“Success is not got in twinkling of an eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akanksha-agrawal/success-is-not-got-in-twinkling-of-an-eye/) [Akanksha Agrawal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akanksha-agrawal/) > [In 2007, I had on-paper success. I got to go to that Aspen comedy festival, which was pretty exclusive, I guess. Then I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-kinane/in-2007-i-had-on-paper-success-i-got-to-go-to-that-aspen-comedy/) [Kyle Kinane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-kinane/) > [“Visualize a way to make a specific part of your world a better place for all those living in it and not just yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-fanning/visualize-a-way-to-make-a-specific-part-of-your-world-a-better-place/) [Michael C. Fanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-fanning/) > [“Your mission or purpose is like a magnet that keeps you moving is a well established direction”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-p-johnson/your-mission-or-purpose-is-like-a-magnet-that-keeps-you-moving-is-a/) [Doris P. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-p-johnson/) > [“Why climb the corporate ladder when you can build an elevator in your own building?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-e-leyenhorst/why-climb-the-corporate-ladder-when-you-can-build-an-elevator-in-your/) [Joshua E. Leyenhorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-e-leyenhorst/) > [Thinking there had to be a better way was a brilliant stroke of serendipity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/thinking-there-had-to-be-a-better-way-was-a-brilliant-stroke-of/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [“A small businesses ability to gain an edge for a profitable niche is not by just focusing on the dynamic market gap, but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/a-small-businesses-ability-to-gain-an-edge-for-a-profitable-niche-is/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) ## More by Felix Dennis > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [It's a long, slow sunset for ink-on-paper magazines, but sunsets can produce vast sums of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/it-s-a-long-slow-sunset-for-ink-on-paper-magazines-but-sunsets-can/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [I love the business of business; I love the risk raking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-love-the-business-of-business-i-love-the-risk-raking/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [People really do not have time to read all the newspapers in the world and all the sites that we now commonly use on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/people-really-do-not-have-time-to-read-all-the-newspapers-in-the/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Fear not. For fear itself is fed by fear, and all fears pass. Did no one tell you so? Come take my hand, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/fear-not-for-fear-itself-is-fed-by-fear-and-all-fears-pass-did-no-one/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [False praise is worse than no praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/false-praise-is-worse-than-no-praise/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > ['The Week' is my favourite magazine. Everyone from presidents to CEOs of companies love it, politicians, people in the massive charity business in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/the-week-is-my-favourite-magazine-everyone-from-presidents-to-ceos-of/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Talent is indispensable, although it is 'always' replaceable. Just remember the simple rules concerning talent: Identify It, Hire It, Nurture It, Reward It, Protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/talent-is-indispensable-although-it-is-always-replaceable-just/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [I cannot abide being bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-cannot-abide-being-bored/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Publishing magazines for yourself is not good business, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/publishing-magazines-for-yourself-is-not-good-business-man/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Posthumous reputations have little to do with real lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/posthumous-reputations-have-little-to-do-with-real-lives/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Good ideas are like Nike sports shoes. They may facilitate success for an athlete who possesses them, but on their own they are nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/good-ideas-are-like-nike-sports-shoes-they-may-facilitate-success-for/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [The best thing about being immensely wealthy is not having to be in any particular place at any particular time doing a particular task…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/the-best-thing-about-being-immensely-wealthy-is-not-having-to-be-in/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [What is negotiation but the accumulation of small lies leading to advantage?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/what-is-negotiation-but-the-accumulation-of-small-lies-leading-to/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Obviously, waste disposal is an enormous and fantastic industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/obviously-waste-disposal-is-an-enormous-and-fantastic-industry/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) [Explore all 120 Felix Dennis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) ## More Business-start-up quotes > [“A small businesses ability to gain an edge for a profitable niche is not by just focusing on the dynamic market gap, but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/a-small-businesses-ability-to-gain-an-edge-for-a-profitable-niche-is/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [Thinking there had to be a better way was a brilliant stroke of serendipity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/thinking-there-had-to-be-a-better-way-was-a-brilliant-stroke-of/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [“Why climb the corporate ladder when you can build an elevator in your own building?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-e-leyenhorst/why-climb-the-corporate-ladder-when-you-can-build-an-elevator-in-your/) [Joshua E. Leyenhorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-e-leyenhorst/) > [“Your mission or purpose is like a magnet that keeps you moving is a well established direction”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-p-johnson/your-mission-or-purpose-is-like-a-magnet-that-keeps-you-moving-is-a/) [Doris P. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-p-johnson/) > [“Visualize a way to make a specific part of your world a better place for all those living in it and not just yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-fanning/visualize-a-way-to-make-a-specific-part-of-your-world-a-better-place/) [Michael C. Fanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-fanning/) > [“It’s looks smaller, I know, The way I can make it even BIGGER, The Business!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayestron/it-s-looks-smaller-i-know-the-way-i-can-make-it-even-bigger-the/) [Mayestron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayestron/) > [“Always consider who you’re learning from. Don’t listen to people who are not experiencing the success you want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehab-atalla/always-consider-who-you-re-learning-from-don-t-listen-to-people-who/) [Ehab Atalla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehab-atalla/) > [“Question of the day: Two Indie authors publish their first books which are true to form, statistical failures. There are over a million books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-garibay/question-of-the-day-two-indie-authors-publish-their-first-books-which/) [Amber Garibay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-garibay/) > [“Even during a mid-life crisis do not deviate from your goal. History remembers only those who succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hockson-floin/even-during-a-mid-life-crisis-do-not-deviate-from-your-goal-history/) [Hockson Floin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hockson-floin/) > [“We emerge from our Cloud of Ambiguity when we are ready or willing to let go of what has held us back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mininni/we-emerge-from-our-cloud-of-ambiguity-when-we-are-ready-or-willing-to/) [Lisa Mininni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mininni/) > [“Experience brings acceptance of the fact you cannot do everything yourself. I find people who start business later in life understand the value in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-holt/experience-brings-acceptance-of-the-fact-you-cannot-do-everything/) [Sheila Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-holt/) > [“Your Core Values are the "glue" that holds your business together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-p-johnson/your-core-values-are-the-glue-that-holds-your-business-together/) [Doris P. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-p-johnson/) > [“Transforming the complex to the simple is pure genius.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-p-johnson/transforming-the-complex-to-the-simple-is-pure-genius/) [Doris P. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-p-johnson/) > [“If you are going to be in business, you must learn about money: how it works, how it flows, and how to put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idowu-koyenikan/if-you-are-going-to-be-in-business-you-must-learn-about-money-how-it/) [Idowu Koyenikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idowu-koyenikan/) > [“Position your value not your price”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-duke-the-strategist/position-your-value-not-your-price/) [Mac Duke The Strategist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-duke-the-strategist/) [Browse all 41 Business-start-up quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-start-up/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Once you believe that you are infallible, that success will automatically lead to more success, and that you have \"got it made,\" reality will be sure to give you a rude wake-up call. 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