Business Quote by John Irving
“I always thought that you could do worse than find yourself dying in the company of a devoted former student.”
About This Quote
The speaker reflects on the dread of confronting personal failure or mortality, especially when surrounded by someone who once admired them.
In simple terms: Facing death or failure feels worse when a former student watches.
Key Takeaway
Fear of judgment from those we once taught.
Themes
mortality
mentor-student dynamics
self‑evaluation
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- a professor confronting retirement
- a coach dealing with a losing season
- an artist facing creative block
Key Concepts
existential anxiety
legacy
Practical Applications
- Seek honest feedback from trusted peers
- reframe failure as learning opportunity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the presence of a former student change your perception of failure?
- Can confronting mortality inspire better living?
A Different Perspective
The quote dramatizes fear; many find growth in such moments rather than dread.
![“Alan [Ferber] is a great trombonist and composer. I'm thankful that I got some associations like that through peers and former students. That's kind of what it is.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4fe/jon-gordon-1655_association_alan-ferber-is-a-great-trombonist-and-co_2090724.jpg)
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
