Command Quote by Joseph Addison
“This not in mortals to command success, but we'll do more, Sempronius, we'll deserve it.”
About This Quote
Source Play: “The Spectator” (Essay No. 126), 1711
The speaker suggests that humans are not destined for success, but through effort and merit they can earn it, urging proactive striving.
In simple terms: Success isn’t guaranteed; we must earn it through effort.
Key Takeaway
Work hard and earn your success.
Themes
effort
merit
self‑determination
ambition
Mood
motivational
pragmatic
Type
inspirational
realistic
When to use this quote
- career planning
- academic pursuits
- entrepreneurship
- personal development
Key Concepts
virtue ethics
self‑efficacy
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions can you take to improve your chances of success?
- How do you handle setbacks when effort doesn’t pay off?
A Different Perspective
It assumes merit always leads to success, ignoring structural barriers.
![“The Lord commands us to do good unto all men without exception, though the majority are very undeserving when judged according to their own merits... [The Scripture] teaches us that we must not think of man's real value, but only of his creation in the image of God to which we owe all possible…” quote by John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/640/john-calvin-490_age_the-lord-commands-us-to-do-good-unto-all_699524.jpg)
![“Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine is too complicated for all the elements to be able to enter into the analytical comparison we wish to make, we separate the more inconvenient [elements], we…” quote by Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d9/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_able_geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics_6945.jpg)
