--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success or failure can only be measured…" description: "\"Success or failure can only be measured in terms of a particular objective. The success of a person whose life objective is money or status will look v..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/michael-josephson-2363_differences_success-or-failure-can-only-be-measured_2627915.png" --- # Success or failure can only be measured in terms of a… ![“Success or failure can only be measured in terms of a particular objective. The success of a person whose life objective is money or status will look very different than the success of one who sets out to make a positive difference in the world.” quote by Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/michael-josephson-2363_differences_success-or-failure-can-only-be-measured_2627915.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/michael-josephson-2363_differences_success-or-failure-can-only-be-measured_2627915.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/michael-josephson-2363_differences_success-or-failure-can-only-be-measured_2627915.png) > “Success or failure can only be measured in terms of a particular objective. The success of a person whose life objective is money or status will look very different than the success of one who sets out to make a positive difference in the world.” [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is measured by personal objectives, not universal standards; money vs impact differ. **In simple terms:** Success measured by personal goals. Key Takeaway Define your own success. Themes success values purpose Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career - philanthropy - personal development Key Concepts ethical philosophy goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What are your core life objectives? - How do you balance personal ambition with societal impact? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-success-1563070/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Objective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-objective-979748/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Objective Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objective-success-2166064/) [Objectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectives/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Success Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-failure/) [Success or failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-or-failure/) [Success Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-person-250673/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [In a balanced organization, working towards a common objective, there is success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/in-a-balanced-organization-working-towards-a-common-objective-there/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [There is no objective criteria for either success or failure. People who achieve their goals are successful, those who don't are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/there-is-no-objective-criteria-for-either-success-or-failure-people/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [There are those who travel and those who are going somewhere. They are different and yet they are the same. The success has this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-those-who-travel-and-those-who-are-going-somewhere-they-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've worked with people at different stages of their careers and different success levels, and one thing I've noticed about the guys at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-roberts/i-ve-worked-with-people-at-different-stages-of-their-careers-and/) [Shawn Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-roberts/) > [I was a little different. I still say Im a little different, because success to me is not having the most money, or having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herschel-walker/i-was-a-little-different-i-still-say-im-a-little-different-because/) [Herschel Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herschel-walker/) > [You go ahead, stand still, or go backwards in life. Your objective should be to go ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-go-ahead-stand-still-or-go-backwards-in-life-your-objective/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Life's objective is life itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/life-s-objective-is-life-itself/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [You cannot regard your own life with objective curiosity all the time...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/you-cannot-regard-your-own-life-with-objective-curiosity-all-the-time/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I would like to be everyone, a cripple, a dying man, a whore, and then come back to write about my thoughts, my emotions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-would-like-to-be-everyone-a-cripple-a-dying-man-a-whore-and-then/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“A life without an objective is much like a ship at sea with no port in mind. It drifts with the waves or storms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-life-without-an-objective-is-much-like-a-ship-at-sea-with-no-port/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no use in one person attempting to tell another what the meaning of life is. It involves too intimate an awareness. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-progoff/there-is-no-use-in-one-person-attempting-to-tell-another-what-the/) [Ira Progoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-progoff/) > [Whatever your plan, you never invest your own self-worth in its ultimate success or failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/whatever-your-plan-you-never-invest-your-own-self-worth-in-its/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“The rise or fall, success or failure of your dreams is largely dependent on the association you build yourself around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-rise-or-fall-success-or-failure-of-your-dreams-is-largely/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you were to plot my success or failure, it goes, it very seldom stays on a high plateau.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-beck/if-you-were-to-plot-my-success-or-failure-it-goes-it-very-seldom/) [Jeff Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-beck/) > [I tell you all this because it's worth recognizing that there is no such thing as an overnight success. You will do well to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/i-tell-you-all-this-because-it-s-worth-recognizing-that-there-is-no/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) ## More by Michael Josephson > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [America is a song that sounds the best when we all sing together - at least for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/america-is-a-song-that-sounds-the-best-when-we-all-sing-together-at/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/approach-the-new-year-with-resolve-to-find-the-opportunities-hidden/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [The difference between stepping stones and stumbling blocks is not in the event itself but how you think about it and what you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/the-difference-between-stepping-stones-and-stumbling-blocks-is-not-in/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Pretty isn't beauty. 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The bigger the goal, the greater the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/the-key-to-success-is-effort-the-bigger-the-goal-the-greater-the/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [“We can't live forever but what we do can change lives forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/we-can-t-live-forever-but-what-we-do-can-change-lives-forever/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Take pride in how far you've come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don't forget to enjoy the journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/take-pride-in-how-far-you-ve-come-have-faith-in-how-far-you-can-go/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Leadership is not a matter of authority, it is a matter of influence. A true leader teaches others to understand more, motivates them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/leadership-is-not-a-matter-of-authority-it-is-a-matter-of-influence-a/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [People who don't believe in you are right only if you believe they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/people-who-don-t-believe-in-you-are-right-only-if-you-believe-they-are/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [There is within you, waiting to be called, a great source of power called courage. Call its name and it will give you the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/there-is-within-you-waiting-to-be-called-a-great-source-of-power/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [No word makes me happier than the word "daddy" when it's directed to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-word-makes-me-happier-than-the-word-daddy-when-it-s-directed-to-me/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Ethics is not for wimps. It's not easy being a good person. That's why it's such a lofty goal and an admirable achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/ethics-is-not-for-wimps-it-s-not-easy-being-a-good-person-that-s-why/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) [Explore all 170 Michael Josephson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) ## More Differences quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Shortly after I turned 50, both Ted Turner and the AARP came into my life. The only difference? With AARP, there were benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/shortly-after-i-turned-50-both-ted-turner-and-the-aarp-came-into-my/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [There are those who open their hearts to others...who never think twice about giving of themselves. They are the wonderful warmhearted people who make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/there-are-those-who-open-their-hearts-to-others-who-never-think-twice/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. 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B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) [Browse all 8,110 Differences quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Success or failure can only be measured in terms of a particular objective. 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