--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The substitute that thinks his place…" description: "\"The substitute that thinks his place below him, will certainly be below his place.\" — John Kessel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/john-kessel-11460_inspirational_the-substitute-that-thinks-his-place-bel_1516941.png" --- # The substitute that thinks his place below him, will… ![“The substitute that thinks his place below him, will certainly be below his place.” quote by John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/john-kessel-11460_inspirational_the-substitute-that-thinks-his-place-bel_1516941.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/john-kessel-11460_inspirational_the-substitute-that-thinks-his-place-bel_1516941.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/john-kessel-11460_inspirational_the-substitute-that-thinks-his-place-bel_1516941.png) > “The substitute that thinks his place below him, will certainly be below his place.” [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thinking you are superior to others ensures you remain in a lower position. **In simple terms:** Feeling superior leads to being disadvantaged. Key Takeaway Avoid arrogance. Themes humility social hierarchy self-awareness Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - workplace - relationships - leadership - team dynamics Key Concepts psychology status ego Questions to Reflect On - How does humility change your outcomes? - What status signals do you ignore? A Different Perspective None of superiority can blind you to growth opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [He who thinks his place below him, will certainly be below his place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-george-savile-8th-baronet/he-who-thinks-his-place-below-him-will-certainly-be-below-his-place/) [Sir George Savile, 8th Baronet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-george-savile-8th-baronet/) > [Every president, as he nears the end of his final term in office, thinks about his place in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-troia-mcfarland/every-president-as-he-nears-the-end-of-his-final-term-in-office/) [Kathleen Troia McFarland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-troia-mcfarland/) > [Glasgow is certainly a place where they will tell you if they don't think you are anything special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-heughan/glasgow-is-certainly-a-place-where-they-will-tell-you-if-they-don-t/) [Sam Heughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-heughan/) > [Here was a place where real things were going on. 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There is no substitute for NATO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bidzina-ivanishvili/our-policy-is-european-and-euro-atlantic-integration-there-is-no/) [Bidzina Ivanishvili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bidzina-ivanishvili/) > [Christ is a substitute for everything, but nothing is a substitute for Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christ-is-a-substitute-for-everything-but-nothing-is-a-substitute-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But rules cannot substitute for character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/but-rules-cannot-substitute-for-character/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [In war, indeed, there can be no substitute for victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-indeed-there-can-be-no-substitute-for-victory/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [The only thing for a pacifist to do is to find a substitute for war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-to-find-a-substitute-for-war/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [There is no substitute for intuition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/there-is-no-substitute-for-intuition/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [The best way to build team chemistry is the way Rupp used to substitute, when they fouled out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-best-way-to-build-team-chemistry-is-the-way-rupp-used-to/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [Typing is no substitute for thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/typing-is-no-substitute-for-thinking/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [... law is a substitute for love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccloy/law-is-a-substitute-for-love/) [Helen McCloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccloy/) > [You leave out God, and you substitute the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/you-leave-out-god-and-you-substitute-the-devil/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by John Kessel > [Don't ask yourself what you did wrong; ask yourself what you did right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/don-t-ask-yourself-what-you-did-wrong-ask-yourself-what-you-did-right/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [Never mishandle hope or self-confidence - those are elements of life, not just a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/never-mishandle-hope-or-self-confidence-those-are-elements-of-life/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [Study hard, practice hard, play ferociously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/study-hard-practice-hard-play-ferociously/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [Shared victory is a double victory, shared defeat is half-defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/shared-victory-is-a-double-victory-shared-defeat-is-half-defeat/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [The pessimistic coach complains about the play. 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