Enormous Quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton
“There is nothing so weak, for working purposes, as this enormous importance attached to immediate victory. There is nothing that fails like success.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Man Who Was Thursday" (1908)
Overemphasizing short‑term wins makes us ignore deeper, lasting value; success can breed complacency and failure.
In simple terms: Chasing quick wins blinds us to lasting value.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize long‑term impact over immediate triumphs.
Themes
success
short‑term thinking
values
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- political campaigns
- personal goals
- team leadership
Key Concepts
impermanence
hubris
Questions to Reflect On
- What long‑term goals are you neglecting for quick wins?
- How can you measure lasting impact?
A Different Perspective
Immediate victory may sacrifice sustainability and deeper learning.
![“[In science any model depends on a pre-chosen taxonomy] a set of classifications into which we divide the enormous complexity of the real world... Land, labor, and capital are extremely heterogeneous aggregates, not much better than earth, air, fire, and water.” quote by Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/47e/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_air_in-science-any-model-depends-on-a-pre-ch_12383.jpg)
![“What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for [Donald] Trump, and do not participate in that brand of animus, that gas-bagging of enormous bigotry.” quote by Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/01d/michael-eric-dyson-1424_animus_what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-c_14940.jpg)
