--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mediocre men sometimes fear great office…" description: "\"Mediocre men sometimes fear great office, and when they do not aim at it, or when they refuse it, all that is to be concluded is that they are aware of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_aim_mediocre-men-sometimes-fear-great-office_814988.png" --- # Mediocre men sometimes fear great office, and when they do… ![“Mediocre men sometimes fear great office, and when they do not aim at it, or when they refuse it, all that is to be concluded is that they are aware of their mediocrity.” quote by Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_aim_mediocre-men-sometimes-fear-great-office_814988.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_aim_mediocre-men-sometimes-fear-great-office_814988.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_aim_mediocre-men-sometimes-fear-great-office_814988.png) > “Mediocre men sometimes fear great office, and when they do not aim at it, or when they refuse it, all that is to be concluded is that they are aware of their mediocrity.” [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who recognize their mediocrity may avoid great responsibilities, revealing fear of excellence. **In simple terms:** Fear of greatness can keep mediocrity in place. Key Takeaway Confront fear to pursue higher goals. Themes mediocrity ambition fear Mood thoughtful encouraging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - public service - leadership roles - creative projects Key Concepts self‑awareness personal development Questions to Reflect On - What holds you back from aiming higher? - How can you turn fear into motivation? A Different Perspective Societal pressure may also limit ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-office/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) ## Related quotes > [“Major Major had been born too late and too mediocre. Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/major-major-had-been-born-too-late-and-too-mediocre-some-men-are-born/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Mediocre men often have the most acquired knowledge. It is in the darker. It is in the darker regions of science that great men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/mediocre-men-often-have-the-most-acquired-knowledge-it-is-in-the/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [Professors of literature, who for the most part are genteel but mediocre men, can make but a poor defense of their profession, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/professors-of-literature-who-for-the-most-part-are-genteel-but/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [Women want mediocre men, and men are working hard to be as mediocre as possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/women-want-mediocre-men-and-men-are-working-hard-to-be-as-mediocre-as/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [If you're an extraordinarily gifted woman, the door is open. What women are fighting for is the right to be as mediocre as men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hartigan/if-you-re-an-extraordinarily-gifted-woman-the-door-is-open-what-women/) [Grace Hartigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hartigan/) > [Tragic paradox of freedom: the mediocre men who alone make its exercise possible cannot guarantee its duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/tragic-paradox-of-freedom-the-mediocre-men-who-alone-make-its/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [He (Gorton) is not fit to hold the great office of Prime Minister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-fraser/he-gorton-is-not-fit-to-hold-the-great-office-of-prime-minister/) [Malcolm Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-fraser/) > [Trust, encouragement, reward, loyalty... satisfaction. That's what I'm... you know. Trust people and they'll be true to you. Treat them greatly, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trust-encouragement-reward-loyalty-satisfaction-that-s-what-i-m-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have a great office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/i-have-a-great-office/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [Yes. It is true. I, Michael Scott, am signing up with an online dating service. Thousands of people have done it, and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yes-it-is-true-i-michael-scott-am-signing-up-with-an-online-dating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When Heaven is about to confer a great office upon you, it first exercises your mind with suffering and your sinews and bones with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/when-heaven-is-about-to-confer-a-great-office-upon-you-it-first/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [When people say to me: would you rather be thought of as a funny man or a great boss? My answer's always the same,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-say-to-me-would-you-rather-be-thought-of-as-a-funny-man/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I venture to claim two qualifications for the great office which I hold, which to my mind, without making invidious distinctions, is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chamberlain/i-venture-to-claim-two-qualifications-for-the-great-office-which-i/) [Joseph Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chamberlain/) > [When Heaven is about to confer a great office on a man, it first exercises his mind with suffering, and his sinews and bones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/when-heaven-is-about-to-confer-a-great-office-on-a-man-it-first/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [When fortune surprises us by giving us some great office without having gradually led us to expect it, or without having raised our hopes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/when-fortune-surprises-us-by-giving-us-some-great-office-without/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More by Luc de Clapiers > [Great men undertake great things because they are great; fools, because they think them easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/great-men-undertake-great-things-because-they-are-great-fools-because/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [You must rouse into people's consciousness their own prudence and strength, if you want to raise their character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/you-must-rouse-into-people-s-consciousness-their-own-prudence-and/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [To achieve great things we must live as though we were never going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/to-achieve-great-things-we-must-live-as-though-we-were-never-going-to/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Excessive distrust is not less hurtfJul than its opposite. Most men become useless to him who is unwilling to risk being deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/excessive-distrust-is-not-less-hurtfjul-than-its-opposite-most-men/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [There are those who are so scrupulously afraid of doing wrong that they seldom venture to do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/there-are-those-who-are-so-scrupulously-afraid-of-doing-wrong-that/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [The most absurd and reckless aspirations have sometimes led to extraordinary success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/the-most-absurd-and-reckless-aspirations-have-sometimes-led-to/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [We are very wrong to think that some fault or other can exclude virtue, or to consider the alliance of good and evil as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/we-are-very-wrong-to-think-that-some-fault-or-other-can-exclude/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Men are not to be judged by what they do not know, but by what they know, and by the manner in which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/men-are-not-to-be-judged-by-what-they-do-not-know-but-by-what-they/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Men dissimulate their dearest, most constant, and most virtuous inclination from weakness and a fear of being condemned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/men-dissimulate-their-dearest-most-constant-and-most-virtuous/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [To withdraw ourselves from the law of the strong, we have found ourselves obliged to submit to justice. Justice or might, we must choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/to-withdraw-ourselves-from-the-law-of-the-strong-we-have-found/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [None are more liable to mistakes than those who act only on second thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/none-are-more-liable-to-mistakes-than-those-who-act-only-on-second/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [The mind is the soul's eye, not its source of power. That lies in the heart, in other words, in the passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/the-mind-is-the-soul-s-eye-not-its-source-of-power-that-lies-in-the/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [It is easier to say new things than to reconcile those which have already been said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/it-is-easier-to-say-new-things-than-to-reconcile-those-which-have/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Those who can bear all can dare all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/those-who-can-bear-all-can-dare-all/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [It is of no use to possess a lively wit if it is not of the right proportion: the perfection of a clock is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/it-is-of-no-use-to-possess-a-lively-wit-if-it-is-not-of-the-right/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) [Explore all 190 Luc de Clapiers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mediocre men sometimes fear great office, and when they do not aim at it, or when they refuse it, all that is to be concluded is that they are aware of their mediocrity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Luc de Clapiers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/mediocre-men-sometimes-fear-great-office-and-when-they-do-not-aim-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/mediocre-men-sometimes-fear-great-office-and-when-they-do-not-aim-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_aim_mediocre-men-sometimes-fear-great-office_814988.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_aim_mediocre-men-sometimes-fear-great-office_814988.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_aim_mediocre-men-sometimes-fear-great-office_814988.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mediocre men sometimes fear great office, and when they do not aim at it, or when they refuse it, all that…” — Luc de Clapiers", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Luc de Clapiers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mediocre men sometimes fear great office,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/mediocre-men-sometimes-fear-great-office-and-when-they-do-not-aim-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/mediocre-men-sometimes-fear-great-office-and-when-they-do-not-aim-at/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```