--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A string of successes can kill you if…" description: "\"A string of successes can kill you if they make you think, 'Hey, I'm smart; I can't make any mistakes'.\" — Harvey Mackay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/harvey-mackay-1775_failure_a-string-of-successes-can-kill-you-if-th_1541150.png" --- # A string of successes can kill you if they make you think… ![“A string of successes can kill you if they make you think, 'Hey, I'm smart; I can't make any mistakes'.” quote by Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/harvey-mackay-1775_failure_a-string-of-successes-can-kill-you-if-th_1541150.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/harvey-mackay-1775_failure_a-string-of-successes-can-kill-you-if-th_1541150.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/harvey-mackay-1775_failure_a-string-of-successes-can-kill-you-if-th_1541150.png) > “A string of successes can kill you if they make you think, 'Hey, I'm smart; I can't make any mistakes'.” [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success can breed complacency, leading to overconfidence and fear of mistakes. **In simple terms:** Success may cause overconfidence and fear of error. Key Takeaway Stay humble and keep learning. Themes confidence humility mistakes Mood cautious analytical Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - personal development - team management - risk assessment Key Concepts cognitive bias learning mindset Questions to Reflect On - What checks can prevent overconfidence? - How can you foster a culture of learning? A Different Perspective Success alone doesn't guarantee future performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Some people would have killed themselves and/or someone else if they were single; and some people would not have done that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-people-would-have-killed-themselves-and-or-someone-else-if-they/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [May I strike my heart's keys clearly, and may none fail because of slack, uncertain, or fraying strings. 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(p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. 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