--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: E-mail is a victim of its own success." description: "\"E-mail is a victim of its own success.\" — Mitch Kapor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/mitch-kapor-7363_e-mail_e-mail-is-a-victim-of-its-own-success-21_2173562.jpg" --- # E-mail is a victim of its own success. ![“E-mail is a victim of its own success.” quote by Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/mitch-kapor-7363_e-mail_e-mail-is-a-victim-of-its-own-success-21_2173562.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/mitch-kapor-7363_e-mail_e-mail-is-a-victim-of-its-own-success-21_2173562.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/mitch-kapor-7363_e-mail_e-mail-is-a-victim-of-its-own-success-21_2173562.jpg) > “E-mail is a victim of its own success.” [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that email’s success leads to overload, reducing its effectiveness. **In simple terms:** Email overload reduces usefulness. Key Takeaway Adopt smarter communication tools. Themes technology communication overload Mood practical critical Type essay advice When to use this quote - email triage - instant messaging - meeting policies - digital hygiene Key Concepts information theory productivity Questions to Reflect On - How can you prioritize essential messages? - What habits reduce email fatigue? A Different Perspective Alternative channels may lack formality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [E-mail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/e-mail/) [Email](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/email/) [Mail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mail/) [Mail Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mail-victim-4663887/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Victim Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim-success-622532/) ## Related quotes > [E-mail also changed things in that you don't have to write a full document to discuss something. You can just send an e-mail to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-crocker/e-mail-also-changed-things-in-that-you-don-t-have-to-write-a-full/) [Steve Crocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-crocker/) > [Using e-mail, I can communicate with scientists all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/using-e-mail-i-can-communicate-with-scientists-all-over-the-world/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I could go on a long rant about how much I despise e-mail. I wish it was more socially acceptable to ignore people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-huffman/i-could-go-on-a-long-rant-about-how-much-i-despise-e-mail-i-wish-it/) [Steve Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-huffman/) > [With our blogs and tweets, digital cameras, and unlimited-gigabyte e-mail archives, participation in the online culture now means creating a trail of always present,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/with-our-blogs-and-tweets-digital-cameras-and-unlimited-gigabyte-e/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [I'm not very technically minded. I mean, I don't know how to do e-mail on computers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-not-very-technically-minded-i-mean-i-don-t-know-how-to-do-e-mail/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Sometimes you're a victim of your own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/sometimes-you-re-a-victim-of-your-own-success/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [“You know, we’re a victim of our own success,” the former senator said quietly. “We’ve managed to handle every nation-state that ever crossed us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/you-know-we-re-a-victim-of-our-own-success-the-former-senator-said/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [When you're a victim, you automatically have a built-in excuse for failure. When you are a victim, it's always somebody else's fault. When you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/when-you-re-a-victim-you-automatically-have-a-built-in-excuse-for/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I'm very proud of 'The Office' - it was one of the best things I'll ever do. But you do become a slight victim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-m-very-proud-of-the-office-it-was-one-of-the-best-things-i-ll-ever/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [You become a victim of your own success. It's what happens in TV when Fox has a big hit with the X-Files. And they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-aukerman/you-become-a-victim-of-your-own-success-it-s-what-happens-in-tv-when/) [Scott Aukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-aukerman/) > [No one needs to feel sorry for me or anyone else who has fallen victim to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/no-one-needs-to-feel-sorry-for-me-or-anyone-else-who-has-fallen/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'm a victim of my own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/i-m-a-victim-of-my-own-success/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [I'm predicting that we'll finally have a computer will search my e-mail automatically and delete every message that begins with 'thought you'd be interested,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/i-m-predicting-that-we-ll-finally-have-a-computer-will-search-my-e/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [It's amazing how email has changed our lives. You ever get a handwritten letter in the mail today? 'What the? Has someone been kidnapped?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/it-s-amazing-how-email-has-changed-our-lives-you-ever-get-a/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [The perception of what we as professors provide has changed. Constant and demanding e-mails are just another manifestation of what our society has become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-payne/the-perception-of-what-we-as-professors-provide-has-changed-constant/) [Dan Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-payne/) ## More by Mitch Kapor > [Velano Vascular has developed a simple, game-changing innovation that will improve the way medicine has been practiced for decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/velano-vascular-has-developed-a-simple-game-changing-innovation-that/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [The Internet, the network of networks, is growing at an exponential pace. It's growing so fast, in fact, nobody really knows how many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/the-internet-the-network-of-networks-is-growing-at-an-exponential/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [If only I'd stayed on the West Coast, I might have made something of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/if-only-i-d-stayed-on-the-west-coast-i-might-have-made-something-of/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [I'd always wanted to live in San Francisco, and my circumstances never permitted it. I'm so happy I made the move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-d-always-wanted-to-live-in-san-francisco-and-my-circumstances-never/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [When regulations restricting competition are relaxed, nobody's market share is protected. If telephone companies can offer video programming, cable revenue will surely drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/when-regulations-restricting-competition-are-relaxed-nobody-s-market/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [Fundly is at the dynamic intersection of high-growth technology startups, social entrepreneurship, and the exploding world of social media. Kapor Capital is proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/fundly-is-at-the-dynamic-intersection-of-high-growth-technology/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [In my case, having knocked around at different jobs helped me get a sense of what the world is actually like and also helped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/in-my-case-having-knocked-around-at-different-jobs-helped-me-get-a/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [I'm like George Lucas, bringing together a creative team that will come up with a unique, well-crafted product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-m-like-george-lucas-bringing-together-a-creative-team-that-will/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [You can't be in the tech community... without realizing there's a big shortage of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/you-can-t-be-in-the-tech-community-without-realizing-there-s-a-big/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [Everyone has a subconscious and automatic preference of this over that. Once you're aware of that, you can take steps to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/everyone-has-a-subconscious-and-automatic-preference-of-this-over/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [If information wants to be free, then that's true everywhere, not just in information technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/if-information-wants-to-be-free-then-that-s-true-everywhere-not-just/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [I soon realized that the best thing I could do for the profession of human services was to get out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-soon-realized-that-the-best-thing-i-could-do-for-the-profession-of/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [Diversifying our tech talent pool is an imperative for the tech sector. More diverse engineers and entrepreneurs will bring about a new type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/diversifying-our-tech-talent-pool-is-an-imperative-for-the-tech/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [StumbleUpon has humanized the Web and mastered a way for people to discover online content by incorporating an individual's personal preferences and recommendations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/stumbleupon-has-humanized-the-web-and-mastered-a-way-for-people-to/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [I'm fascinated by management and organizations: how organizations get things done and how successful organizations are built and maintained, how they evolve as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-m-fascinated-by-management-and-organizations-how-organizations-get/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) [Explore all 92 Mitch Kapor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) ## More E-mail quotes > [I could go on a long rant about how much I despise e-mail. I wish it was more socially acceptable to ignore people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-huffman/i-could-go-on-a-long-rant-about-how-much-i-despise-e-mail-i-wish-it/) [Steve Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-huffman/) > [With our blogs and tweets, digital cameras, and unlimited-gigabyte e-mail archives, participation in the online culture now means creating a trail of always present,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/with-our-blogs-and-tweets-digital-cameras-and-unlimited-gigabyte-e/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [“I loved the story but also enjoyed the format of the book, which includes e-mail messages. Janice L. Jones”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-m-taylor/i-loved-the-story-but-also-enjoyed-the-format-of-the-book-which/) [Vicki M. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-m-taylor/) > [I have an amazing social-media wing man who manages my Facebook fan site. All my blogs get copied there. My e-mail in-box exploded, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-have-an-amazing-social-media-wing-man-who-manages-my-facebook-fan/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I find out as much from the guy in backstage TV as I do from my C.F.O. Anybody can e-mail me. I do town…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-grossman/i-find-out-as-much-from-the-guy-in-backstage-tv-as-i-do-from-my-c-f-o/) [Mindy Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-grossman/) > [Anyone who's an executive at a record label does not understand what the Internet is, how it works, how people use it, how fans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/anyone-who-s-an-executive-at-a-record-label-does-not-understand-what/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [We haven't lost romance in the digital age, but we may be neglecting it. In doing so, antiquated art forms are taking on new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/we-haven-t-lost-romance-in-the-digital-age-but-we-may-be-neglecting/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [I used to say that I didn't want anything to do with e-mail. It seemed really impersonal, complicated and weird. I had no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bd-wong/i-used-to-say-that-i-didn-t-want-anything-to-do-with-e-mail-it-seemed/) [BD Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bd-wong/) > [I do not mourn the death of the printed letter in a snobby, East Coast, patrician way - 'Where have our manners gone?' -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-do-not-mourn-the-death-of-the-printed-letter-in-a-snobby-east-coast/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [Besieged by lawsuits that threatened to engulf almost everyone at the White House, Clinton assistants shunned paper or e-mail records of their daily deliberations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/besieged-by-lawsuits-that-threatened-to-engulf-almost-everyone-at-the/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Using e-mail, I can communicate with scientists all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/using-e-mail-i-can-communicate-with-scientists-all-over-the-world/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [More negatives write than call. It's a cheap shot for me to go on the air with the critical letters or E-mail I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hall/more-negatives-write-than-call-it-s-a-cheap-shot-for-me-to-go-on-the/) [John Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hall/) > [I hate the computer. I hate their spell-check. I won't ever do e-mail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/i-hate-the-computer-i-hate-their-spell-check-i-won-t-ever-do-e-mail/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [When infuriated by an outrageous column, do not be suckered into responding with an abusive e-mail. Pundits so targeted thumb through these red-faced electronic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/when-infuriated-by-an-outrageous-column-do-not-be-suckered-into/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Why e-mail a full emotional statement when, instead, you can text a totally insignificant and ambiguous half-considered phrase?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/why-e-mail-a-full-emotional-statement-when-instead-you-can-text-a/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) [Browse all 79 E-mail quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/e-mail/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "E-mail is a victim of its own success.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mitch Kapor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/e-mail-is-a-victim-of-its-own-success/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "E-mail" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/e-mail-is-a-victim-of-its-own-success/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/mitch-kapor-7363_e-mail_e-mail-is-a-victim-of-its-own-success-21_2173562.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/mitch-kapor-7363_e-mail_e-mail-is-a-victim-of-its-own-success-21_2173562.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/mitch-kapor-7363_e-mail_e-mail-is-a-victim-of-its-own-success-21_2173562.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“E-mail is a victim of its own success.” — Mitch Kapor", "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": "Mitch Kapor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "E-mail is a victim of its...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/e-mail-is-a-victim-of-its-own-success/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/e-mail-is-a-victim-of-its-own-success/#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 } } ] } ```