--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One never learns by success. Success is…" description: "\"One never learns by success. Success is the plateau that one rests upon to take breath and look down from upon the straight and difficult path, but one..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/josephine-preston-peabody-6579_breaths_one-never-learns-by-success-success-is-t_1655451.jpg" --- # One never learns by success. Success is the plateau that… ![“One never learns by success. Success is the plateau that one rests upon to take breath and look down from upon the straight and difficult path, but one does not climb upon a plateau.” quote by Josephine Preston Peabody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/josephine-preston-peabody-6579_breaths_one-never-learns-by-success-success-is-t_1655451.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/josephine-preston-peabody-6579_breaths_one-never-learns-by-success-success-is-t_1655451.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/josephine-preston-peabody-6579_breaths_one-never-learns-by-success-success-is-t_1655451.jpg) > “One never learns by success. Success is the plateau that one rests upon to take breath and look down from upon the straight and difficult path, but one does not climb upon a plateau.” Josephine Preston Peabody ## 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 become a comfortable stop that prevents further growth; true progress requires moving beyond complacency. **In simple terms:** Success can make you stagnant. Key Takeaway Keep pushing beyond comfort zones. Themes success growth complacency motivation Mood motivational reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career development - creative projects - academic pursuits - personal goals Key Concepts psychology of achievement growth mindset self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What plateaus have you experienced? - How can you use success as a springboard? A Different Perspective Success may be necessary for rest and reflection before new challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Plateau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plateau/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Anyone who critically analyzes a business learns this: that the success or failure of an enterprise depends usually upon one man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/anyone-who-critically-analyzes-a-business-learns-this-that-the/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [You break a world record and then you plateau. You know you won't get any better, so you're training for improvement but you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/you-break-a-world-record-and-then-you-plateau-you-know-you-won-t-get/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [Our population is headed for a stable plateau, which means an aging population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/our-population-is-headed-for-a-stable-plateau-which-means-an-aging/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [When you get to a plateau, think of it as a landing on the stairway to your goal. And maintenance is a lifelong plateau,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-get-to-a-plateau-think-of-it-as-a-landing-on-the-stairway-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Get comfortable being uncomfortable, that's how you break the plateau and reach the next level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/get-comfortable-being-uncomfortable-that-s-how-you-break-the-plateau/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) > [Fear is that thing that keeps you up there on that other plateau. Fear is that thing that just keeps you closed down, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shue/fear-is-that-thing-that-keeps-you-up-there-on-that-other-plateau-fear/) [Andrew Shue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shue/) > [I don't think I have reached a plateau. I have just reached the level where I am today. But I need to go above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/i-don-t-think-i-have-reached-a-plateau-i-have-just-reached-the-level/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [Stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-fisher/stock-prices-have-reached-what-looks-like-a-permanently-high-plateau-2/) [Irving Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-fisher/) > [Home sales are coming down from the mountain peak, but they will level out at a high plateau - a plateau that is higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lereah/home-sales-are-coming-down-from-the-mountain-peak-but-they-will-level/) [David Lereah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lereah/) > ['Breaking Bad' was such a high plateau.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-paul/breaking-bad-was-such-a-high-plateau/) [Aaron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-paul/) > [Plateau experiencing can be achieved, learned, earned by long hard work… A transient glimpse is certainly possible in the peak experiences which may, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/plateau-experiencing-can-be-achieved-learned-earned-by-long-hard-work/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [The 'OK Plateau' is that place we all get to where we just stop getting better at something. Take typing, for example. You might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/the-ok-plateau-is-that-place-we-all-get-to-where-we-just-stop-getting/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [“God placed humans on a plateau above the rest of creation when he fashioned them in his relational image and likeness. To”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/god-placed-humans-on-a-plateau-above-the-rest-of-creation-when-he/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [To love the plateau is to love what is most essential and enduring in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/to-love-the-plateau-is-to-love-what-is-most-essential-and-enduring-in/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [With ski jumping I reached a plateau and the more I did it the worse I got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tindall/with-ski-jumping-i-reached-a-plateau-and-the-more-i-did-it-the-worse/) [Mike Tindall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tindall/) ## More by Josephine Preston Peabody > [This is a marvel of the universe: To fling a thought across a stretch of sky-- Some weighty message, or a yearning cry, It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-preston-peabody/this-is-a-marvel-of-the-universe-to-fling-a-thought-across-a-stretch/) Josephine Preston Peabody > [The little Road says, Go; The little House says, Stay; And oh, it's bonny here at home, But I must go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-preston-peabody/the-little-road-says-go-the-little-house-says-stay-and-oh-it-s-bonny/) Josephine Preston Peabody > [An ideal's love-fraught, imperious call That bides the spheres become articulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-preston-peabody/an-ideal-s-love-fraught-imperious-call-that-bides-the-spheres-become/) Josephine Preston Peabody Explore all 4 Josephine Preston Peabody quotes ## More Breaths quotes > [Don't let a breath escape from your body without Krishna's name. That should be our determination throughout our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/don-t-let-a-breath-escape-from-your-body-without-krishna-s-name-that/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [Jazz is the music of the body. The breath comes through brass. It is the body's breath, and the strings' wails and moans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/jazz-is-the-music-of-the-body-the-breath-comes-through-brass-it-is/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [God is greater than anything that man can do or has done. He is not undone by just a train of powder. "Our God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/god-is-greater-than-anything-that-man-can-do-or-has-done-he-is-not/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Dave Wann's recipes from his own experience in Simple Prosperity are a breath of fresh air, and just what we need for a saner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-henderson/dave-wann-s-recipes-from-his-own-experience-in-simple-prosperity-are/) [Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-henderson/) > [Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/poetry-should-be-vital-either-stirring-our-blood-by-its-divine/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [The river is motion, turmoil, rage. As the river flows, it wonders what it would be like to be so still, to take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kekla-magoon/the-river-is-motion-turmoil-rage-as-the-river-flows-it-wonders-what/) [Kekla Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kekla-magoon/) > [Remember that no matter how selfish, how cruel, how unfeeling you have been today, every time you take a breath, you make a flower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/remember-that-no-matter-how-selfish-how-cruel-how-unfeeling-you-have/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [The trees are white with dust, that o'er their sleep Wave their broad curtains in the south-wind's breath, While underneath such leafy tents they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-trees-are-white-with-dust-that-o-er-their-sleep-wave-their-broad/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“Listen to this, Nimit. Follow Coleman Hawkins' improvised lines very carefully. He is using them to tell us something. Pay very close attention. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/listen-to-this-nimit-follow-coleman-hawkins-improvised-lines-very/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Every body resisted (the slaughterer) in its own fashion, tried to escape and seemed to argue with the Creator to its last breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/every-body-resisted-the-slaughterer-in-its-own-fashion-tried-to/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [We had a dog, Apples. He was 13 years old, toothless, blind and had the worst breath this side of Jabba the Hut. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/we-had-a-dog-apples-he-was-13-years-old-toothless-blind-and-had-the/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) [Browse all 1,609 Breaths quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One never learns by success. 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