--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am from time to time congratulating…" description: "\"I am from time to time congratulating myself on my general want of success as a lecturer; apparent want of success, but is it nota real triumph? I do m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/henry-david-thoreau-20_barrels_i-am-from-time-to-time-congratulating-my_306388.jpg" --- # I am from time to time congratulating myself on my general… ![“I am from time to time congratulating myself on my general want of success as a lecturer; apparent want of success, but is it nota real triumph? I do my work clean as I go along, and they will not be likely to want me anywhere again. So there is no danger of my repeating myself, and getting to a…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/henry-david-thoreau-20_barrels_i-am-from-time-to-time-congratulating-my_306388.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/henry-david-thoreau-20_barrels_i-am-from-time-to-time-congratulating-my_306388.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/henry-david-thoreau-20_barrels_i-am-from-time-to-time-congratulating-my_306388.jpg) > “I am from time to time congratulating myself on my general want of success as a lecturer; apparent want of success, but is it nota real triumph? I do my work clean as I go along, and they will not be likely to want me anywhere again. So there is no danger of my repeating myself, and getting to a barrel of sermons, which you must upset, and begin again with.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning the value of self‑praise and the fear of stagnation in one's work. **In simple terms:** Self‑praise can mask true growth. Key Takeaway Seek genuine progress, not empty accolades. Themes self‑reflection achievement humility Mood contemplative critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic career - creative writing - public speaking - career development Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What motivates your work beyond praise? - How can you measure true impact? A Different Perspective Self‑congratulation may breed complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begin again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-again/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Lecturer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lecturer/) [Sermons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermons/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) ## Related quotes > [Poor and most middle-class people believe "If I have a lot of money, I could do what I want and I'd be a success."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/poor-and-most-middle-class-people-believe-if-i-have-a-lot-of-money-i/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [“One thing Jim Rohn taught me is: “If you want to have more, you have to become more. Success is not something you pursue.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/one-thing-jim-rohn-taught-me-is-if-you-want-to-have-more-you-have-to/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [“As Edison is credited with saying, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." We all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/as-edison-is-credited-with-saying-opportunity-is-missed-by-most/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“Lots of folks want success without sacrifice. Life doesn't work that way. Be willing to pay the price for your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/lots-of-folks-want-success-without-sacrifice-life-doesn-t-work-that/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Just know, when you truly want success, youll never give up on it. No matter how bad the situation may get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-know-when-you-truly-want-success-youll-never-give-up-on-it-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is our misfortune that we are living in an age. which on people have done Pile of corpsesand want to get success. vivid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohd-aariff-khan/it-is-our-misfortune-that-we-are-living-in-an-age-which-on-people/) [Mohd Aariff Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohd-aariff-khan/) > [One piece of advice I have is: Want something else more than success. Success is a lovely thing, but your desire to say something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/one-piece-of-advice-i-have-is-want-something-else-more-than-success/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Men want success and sex. Women want everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/men-want-success-and-sex-women-want-everything/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [“I don,t just want success for my self ,I want my success to benefit others . Osman Gulum”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osman-gulum/i-don-t-just-want-success-for-my-self-i-want-my-success-to-benefit/) Osman Gulum > [“Burnout is real. If you want success without the hustle and grind, plan for breaks and set boundaries for yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felecia-etienne/burnout-is-real-if-you-want-success-without-the-hustle-and-grind-plan/) [Felecia Etienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felecia-etienne/) > [It's what everyone is after, I mean they want success and when they get it it's an incredible pressure but what you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-beckley/it-s-what-everyone-is-after-i-mean-they-want-success-and-when-they/) [Gerry Beckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-beckley/) > [You want success on different levels. I wouldn't be honest if I said I don't look over there in the pop world and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hamilton/you-want-success-on-different-levels-i-wouldn-t-be-honest-if-i-said-i/) [Anthony Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hamilton/) > [“We live in a microwave life where people want success without passing through the process of hard work. This is because our daily discussions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzoma-nnadi/we-live-in-a-microwave-life-where-people-want-success-without-passing/) [Uzoma Nnadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzoma-nnadi/) > [“If you want success, figure out the price, then pay it. It sounds trivial and obvious, but if you unpack the idea it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-want-success-figure-out-the-price-then-pay-it-it-sounds/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-is-a-state-of-mind-if-you-want-success-start-thinking-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Barrels quotes > [It's good to find the barrel of the bat again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-utley/it-s-good-to-find-the-barrel-of-the-bat-again/) [Chase Utley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-utley/) > [The benevolence of wrapping the partridge in a vine leaf brings out its quality, just as the barrel of Diogenes brought forth the qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-des-essarts/the-benevolence-of-wrapping-the-partridge-in-a-vine-leaf-brings-out/) Emmanuel des Essarts > [You could pay a fair market price for a barrel of oil and cut 50 cents a barrel or a dollar barrel off what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bolling/you-could-pay-a-fair-market-price-for-a-barrel-of-oil-and-cut-50/) [Eric Bolling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bolling/) > [ \[Norden\] said, with the Mark 15 Norden bombsight, he could drop a bomb into a pickle barrel at 20,000 feet. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/norden-said-with-the-mark-15-norden-bombsight-he-could-drop-a-bomb/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [When the landscape buckles and jerks around, when a dust column of debris rises from the collapse of a block of buildings on bodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/when-the-landscape-buckles-and-jerks-around-when-a-dust-column-of/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The sudden release of five million barrels of oil, enormous quantities of methane and two million gallons of toxic dispersants into an already greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-sudden-release-of-five-million-barrels-of-oil-enormous-quantities/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [In addition, each barrel of oil we save through conservation further decreases our dangerous reliance on unstable Middle East oil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/in-addition-each-barrel-of-oil-we-save-through-conservation-further/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [Muzzle control has to be a religion. You cannot point that weapon at one of your brothers-or yourself. Know where you barrel is at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-couch/muzzle-control-has-to-be-a-religion-you-cannot-point-that-weapon-at/) [Dick Couch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-couch/) > [The defense budget is more than a piggy bank for people who want to get busy beating swords into pork barrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-defense-budget-is-more-than-a-piggy-bank-for-people-who-want-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Today's political leaders demonstrate their low opinion of the public with every social law they pass. They believe that, if given the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-skousen/today-s-political-leaders-demonstrate-their-low-opinion-of-the-public/) [Mark Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-skousen/) > [Europe and North America, we are told, are less dependent on energy-intensive heavy industry than in the 1960s and 1970s. It seems we squeeze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buchan/europe-and-north-america-we-are-told-are-less-dependent-on-energy/) [James Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buchan/) > [My silence is golden, I Dnt waste time on empty barrels, empty barrels make the most noise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetner/my-silence-is-golden-i-dnt-waste-time-on-empty-barrels-empty-barrels/) [Sweetner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sweetner/) > [The desert seems to be a brown wasteland of dry, prickly scrub whose only purpose is to serve as a setting for the majestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/the-desert-seems-to-be-a-brown-wasteland-of-dry-prickly-scrub-whose/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [To accept the principal that "all power proceeds from the barrel of a gun" is to accept a society which will be dominated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-douglas/to-accept-the-principal-that-all-power-proceeds-from-the-barrel-of-a/) [Tommy Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-douglas/) > [You look tired," Rachel told Jason. "I wish I could jog and sleep at the same time." "Can't you?" Ferrin asked, joining them at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/you-look-tired-rachel-told-jason-i-wish-i-could-jog-and-sleep-at-the/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) Browse all 277 Barrels quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am from time to time congratulating myself on my general want of success as a lecturer; apparent want of success, but is it nota real triumph? I do my work clean as I go along, and they will not be likely to want me anywhere again. 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