--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's one thing to be a high achiever…" description: "\"It's one thing to be a high achiever; it's quite another to privately sneer at your girlfriend's friends after feigning friendliness because they have ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mallory-ortberg-7200_achiever_it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-high-achiever-it_2369565.jpg" --- # It's one thing to be a high achiever; it's quite another… ![“It's one thing to be a high achiever; it's quite another to privately sneer at your girlfriend's friends after feigning friendliness because they have the "misfortune" to drive a bus for a living.” quote by Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mallory-ortberg-7200_achiever_it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-high-achiever-it_2369565.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mallory-ortberg-7200_achiever_it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-high-achiever-it_2369565.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mallory-ortberg-7200_achiever_it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-high-achiever-it_2369565.jpg) > “It's one thing to be a high achiever; it's quite another to privately sneer at your girlfriend's friends after feigning friendliness because they have the "misfortune" to drive a bus for a living.” [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. High achievers may secretly disdain others while pretending friendliness, revealing hypocrisy. **In simple terms:** Success can hide contempt. Key Takeaway Check your true motives. Themes success hypocrisy social dynamics class authenticity Mood critical reflective Type advice literary When to use this quote - dating - networking - career advancement Key Concepts sociology psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - Why hide true feelings? - How to foster authentic connections? A Different Perspective Maintaining genuine relationships is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achiever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achiever/) [Feigning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feigning/) [Friendliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendliness/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Girlfriend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girlfriend/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“Pretty normal for a high-achiever to be shut out by superiors for various self-serving reasons. Keep achieving anyways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/pretty-normal-for-a-high-achiever-to-be-shut-out-by-superiors-for/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [Jaylen's a high achiever. You can be a high achiever in every which way. He's a guy that - we've talked about several times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/jaylen-s-a-high-achiever-you-can-be-a-high-achiever-in-every-which/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [I followed the rules, and I was a high achiever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-greenberg/i-followed-the-rules-and-i-was-a-high-achiever/) [Daniel Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-greenberg/) > [If we dedicate ourselves over and over again to the goal of climbing one peak to the next...resisting the urge to become discouraged by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-noe/if-we-dedicate-ourselves-over-and-over-again-to-the-goal-of-climbing/) John R Noe > [No high achiever ever woke up in the morning and said ‘let’s see what happens.’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/no-high-achiever-ever-woke-up-in-the-morning-and-said-let-s-see-what/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [The feigning sleeper can delude others he cannot delude himself. The false mystic, unfortunately, can delude both others and himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-feigning-sleeper-can-delude-others-he-cannot-delude-himself-the/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [People are shuffling by in long coats, with shopping bags and takeout, smoking cigarettes and feigning laughter - filling up their lives with distractions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-payne/people-are-shuffling-by-in-long-coats-with-shopping-bags-and-takeout/) [Rob Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-payne/) > [We all appear as dunces when feigning an interest in things we care nothing about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-appear-as-dunces-when-feigning-an-interest-in-things-we-care/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How can we expect our students to become bold and fearless in thought and action if we encase them in sentimental shrines feigning a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/how-can-we-expect-our-students-to-become-bold-and-fearless-in-thought/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [Blow, blow, thou winter wind Thou art not so unkind, As man's ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/blow-blow-thou-winter-wind-thou-art-not-so-unkind-as-man-s-ingratitude/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The less the mind understands and the more things it perceives, the greater its power of feigning is; and the more things it understands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/the-less-the-mind-understands-and-the-more-things-it-perceives-the/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [Twas never merry world Since lowly feigning was called compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/twas-never-merry-world-since-lowly-feigning-was-called-compliment/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The main Business of Natural Philosophy is to argue from Phænomena without feigning Hypotheses, and to deduce Causes from Effects till we come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/the-main-business-of-natural-philosophy-is-to-argue-from-ph-nomena/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [“I think that this feigning, this ceaseless pretense of interest in matters to me supremely boring, was what wore me out more than anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/i-think-that-this-feigning-this-ceaseless-pretense-of-interest-in/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“The best about cats is they love cannot feign...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/the-best-about-cats-is-they-love-cannot-feign/) Will Advise ## More by Mallory Ortberg > [Not wanting to give everyone in your life one of your kidneys is not the same thing as hoping they die of kidney failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/not-wanting-to-give-everyone-in-your-life-one-of-your-kidneys-is-not/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [I agree that biphobia is real, but I think it's absolutely worth considering that someone who "despises" having sex with her husband - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-agree-that-biphobia-is-real-but-i-think-it-s-absolutely-worth/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [If you get a dog, take care of your dog! You can just not have a dog if you don't feel like taking care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/if-you-get-a-dog-take-care-of-your-dog-you-can-just-not-have-a-dog-if/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [It is so tempting to return rudeness with rudeness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/it-is-so-tempting-to-return-rudeness-with-rudeness/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [I think that it's a great idea to have honest conversations about children before getting married. I also think it's impossible to promise someone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-think-that-it-s-a-great-idea-to-have-honest-conversations-about/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [Don't beat yourself up over what you dream about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/don-t-beat-yourself-up-over-what-you-dream-about/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [One of the glorious things about being a person in the world is that you don't have to worry about whether or not someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/one-of-the-glorious-things-about-being-a-person-in-the-world-is-that/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [You need to be able to express your resentment and sense of loss in a way that doesn't damage your partner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-need-to-be-able-to-express-your-resentment-and-sense-of-loss-in-a/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [Some people give gifts in order to bewilder, confuse, and manipulate their recipients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/some-people-give-gifts-in-order-to-bewilder-confuse-and-manipulate/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [Unlike celibacy, which people choose, asexuality is an intrinsic part of who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/unlike-celibacy-which-people-choose-asexuality-is-an-intrinsic-part/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [The mere idea of asking a family member if they intentionally stopped sending me an annual bonus makes me feel like breaking out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/the-mere-idea-of-asking-a-family-member-if-they-intentionally-stopped/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [You have a right to be treated professionally at work, and it's your supervisor's job to make sure all their employees can perform their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-have-a-right-to-be-treated-professionally-at-work-and-it-s-your/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [We are all going to die, sometimes even in the middle of a lease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/we-are-all-going-to-die-sometimes-even-in-the-middle-of-a-lease/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [o one is right when it comes to destination weddings. It’s a big ask, requesting people take time off work and fly off to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/o-one-is-right-when-it-comes-to-destination-weddings-it-s-a-big-ask/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [I love the art history ones because it's so little work for me. There's so many paintings that when I look at them, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-love-the-art-history-ones-because-it-s-so-little-work-for-me-there/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) [Explore all 93 Mallory Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) ## More Achiever quotes > [We create a standard for how we want to do things and everybody's got to buy into that standard or you really can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/we-create-a-standard-for-how-we-want-to-do-things-and-everybody-s-got/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [“Don't pretend to be what you're not, instead, pretend to what you want to be, it is not pretence, it is a journey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-pretend-to-be-what-you-re-not-instead-pretend-to-what-you-want/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I don't think art is a goal orientated business. I don't do things for the challenges, I only do them because I love them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lake/i-don-t-think-art-is-a-goal-orientated-business-i-don-t-do-things-for/) [Greg Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lake/) > [Jaylen's a high achiever. You can be a high achiever in every which way. He's a guy that - we've talked about several times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/jaylen-s-a-high-achiever-you-can-be-a-high-achiever-in-every-which/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [“Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-great-achiever-is-inspired-by-a-great-mentor/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [She explained that many people, but especially women, feel fraudulent when they are praised for their accomplishments. Instead of feeling worthy of recognition, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/she-explained-that-many-people-but-especially-women-feel-fraudulent/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Probably any successful career has X number of breaks in it, and maybe the difference between successful people and those who aren't super achievers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/probably-any-successful-career-has-x-number-of-breaks-in-it-and-maybe/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [“Money is not the first step to becoming a great achiever. Your ideas determine the cost you will need to pay. So if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/money-is-not-the-first-step-to-becoming-a-great-achiever-your-ideas/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Understand that workaholics aren't productive people. Quite the contrary. A workaholic is someone who takes twice as much time to accomplish half as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/understand-that-workaholics-aren-t-productive-people-quite-the/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Im an over achiever, so how bout I start a team of leaders, and pick up Stevie Wonder to be the wide receiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-the-creator/im-an-over-achiever-so-how-bout-i-start-a-team-of-leaders-and-pick-up/) [Tyler The Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-the-creator/) > [“Take the challenge of your life. Reach out to your goals. There is no limit to what you can achieve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/take-the-challenge-of-your-life-reach-out-to-your-goals-there-is-no/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Shortridge High School was an elitist high school. In a way it was a scandal because you could go there no matter where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/shortridge-high-school-was-an-elitist-high-school-in-a-way-it-was-a/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Result of HARDWORK Is Neither Friends Nor Enemy, To the AGE Of the ACHIEVER!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sujit-lalwani/result-of-hardwork-is-neither-friends-nor-enemy-to-the-age-of-the/) [Sujit Lalwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sujit-lalwani/) > [“Achievers are those who have redefined impossible, changing what can't be done into a work in progress. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/achievers-are-those-who-have-redefined-impossible-changing-what-can-t/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [With the MacArthur grant, I realized that people have high expectations of me, that they were placing me in this group of achievers. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/with-the-macarthur-grant-i-realized-that-people-have-high/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) [Browse all 118 Achiever quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achiever/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's one thing to be a high achiever; it's quite another to privately sneer at your girlfriend's friends after feigning friendliness because they have the \"misfortune\" to drive a bus for a living.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mallory Ortberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-high-achiever-it-s-quite-another-to-privately/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achiever" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-high-achiever-it-s-quite-another-to-privately/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mallory-ortberg-7200_achiever_it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-high-achiever-it_2369565.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mallory-ortberg-7200_achiever_it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-high-achiever-it_2369565.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mallory-ortberg-7200_achiever_it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-high-achiever-it_2369565.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's one thing to be a high achiever; it's quite another to privately sneer at your girlfriend's friends…” — Mallory Ortberg", "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": "Mallory Ortberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's one thing to be a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-high-achiever-it-s-quite-another-to-privately/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-high-achiever-it-s-quite-another-to-privately/#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 } } ] } ```