--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ego is very cunning in that way: it…" description: "\"“The ego is very cunning in that way: it goes on finding supports, props, new pastures to feed itself on. If you fail, you blame circumstances. If you ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/osho-519_quote_the-ego-is-very-cunning-in-that-way-it-g_2107377.jpg" --- # The ego is very cunning in that way: it goes on finding… ![“The ego is very cunning in that way: it goes on finding supports, props, new pastures to feed itself on. If you fail, you blame circumstances. If you succeed, it is you who have succeeded. If you fail it is fate, kismet; if you fail it is the society, the ugly society. If you fail, it is the…” quote by Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/osho-519_quote_the-ego-is-very-cunning-in-that-way-it-g_2107377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/osho-519_quote_the-ego-is-very-cunning-in-that-way-it-g_2107377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/osho-519_quote_the-ego-is-very-cunning-in-that-way-it-g_2107377.jpg) > ““The ego is very cunning in that way: it goes on finding supports, props, new pastures to feed itself on. If you fail, you blame circumstances. If you succeed, it is you who have succeeded. If you fail it is fate, kismet; if you fail it is the society, the ugly society. If you fail, it is the cunning people, the cunning competitors. But if you succeed, you succeed.”” [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ego constantly creates excuses, blaming external factors for failure and claiming credit for success. **In simple terms:** Ego shifts blame to protect itself. Key Takeaway Recognize ego’s patterns and own responsibility. Themes ego responsibility self-awareness accountability Mood reflective critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal setbacks - career achievements - relationships - public criticism Key Concepts psychology defense mechanisms self-deception Questions to Reflect On - When have you blamed external forces for a setback? - How can you claim credit without inflating ego? A Different Perspective Ego can also motivate self-improvement if acknowledged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning/) [Cunning Competitors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning-competitors-4238485/) [Cunning People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning-people-1744953/) [Ego Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego-cunning-4238483/) [Fail Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-cunning-4238484/) ## Related quotes > [Cunning is neither the consequence of sense, nor does it give sense. A proof that it is not sense, is that cunning people never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/cunning-is-neither-the-consequence-of-sense-nor-does-it-give-sense-a/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [The more clever and cunning people are, the stranger the events will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-more-clever-and-cunning-people-are-the-stranger-the-events-will-be/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“The one thing I learned is that the Russians are some of the most cunning people on earth. They never do anything without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/the-one-thing-i-learned-is-that-the-russians-are-some-of-the-most/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [“When a man possesses the innocence of a child, we call him a fool. When a child possesses the cunning of a man, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/when-a-man-possesses-the-innocence-of-a-child-we-call-him-a-fool-when/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Stratagem is the right hand of cunning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-curtis/stratagem-is-the-right-hand-of-cunning/) [George William Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-curtis/) > [“Till swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit, His waxen wings did mount above his reach, And melting heavens conspired his overthrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/till-swollen-with-cunning-of-a-self-conceit-his-waxen-wings-did-mount/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Treason and murder ever kept together, As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose, Working so grossly in a natural cause That admiration did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/treason-and-murder-ever-kept-together-as-two-yoke-devils-sworn-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Art is the final cunning of the human soul which would rather do anything than face the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/art-is-the-final-cunning-of-the-human-soul-which-would-rather-do/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [Why do some die and some live? The answer was clearly, that on the whole the best fitted live. From the effects of disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-russel-wallace/why-do-some-die-and-some-live-the-answer-was-clearly-that-on-the/) [Alfred Russel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-russel-wallace/) > [That humanity and sincerity which dispose men to resist injustice and tyranny render them unfit to cope with the cunning and power of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-humanity-and-sincerity-which-dispose-men-to-resist-injustice-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The terrible immoralities are the cunning ones hiding behind masks of morality, such as exploiting people while pretending to help them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/the-terrible-immoralities-are-the-cunning-ones-hiding-behind-masks-of/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [It is a pity that, commonly, more care is had--yea, and that among very wise men--to find out rather a cunning man for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ascham/it-is-a-pity-that-commonly-more-care-is-had-yea-and-that-among-very/) [Roger Ascham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ascham/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) ## More by Osho > [“That which is of great value cannot be attained through aggression. You will be able to find the mystery of life only if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/that-which-is-of-great-value-cannot-be-attained-through-aggression/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“If you love a person, you project things which are not there. If you hate a person, again you project things which are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/if-you-love-a-person-you-project-things-which-are-not-there-if-you/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“The first step in awareness is to be watchful of your body. Slowly,slowly one becomes alert about each gesture,each movement. And as you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-first-step-in-awareness-is-to-be-watchful-of-your-body-slowly/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“Whenever one starts meditating, the mind becomes rebellious. It starts all types of arguments: “What are you doing, why are you wasting time? Use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/whenever-one-starts-meditating-the-mind-becomes-rebellious-it-starts/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“Whatever has been said about you by others, simply drop it. It is absolutely crap. They don’t know about themselves; what can they say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/whatever-has-been-said-about-you-by-others-simply-drop-it-it-is/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“They happen only when you are distant,aloof. They happen, they cannot be brought. They happen you cannot force them to happen. They are spontaneous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/they-happen-only-when-you-are-distant-aloof-they-happen-they-cannot/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“The ego is possible only in conflict, struggle. If you have nothing to fight about, you will create some way or other to fight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-ego-is-possible-only-in-conflict-struggle-if-you-have-nothing-to/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Politics is mundane; politicians are servants of the people. Religion is sacred; it guides peoples spiritual growth. Politics is the lowest as far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/politics-is-mundane-politicians-are-servants-of-the-people-religion/) [OSHO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“There is a great need to be needed. Remember, you feel good whenever you are needed. Sometimes, even if it brings misery to you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/there-is-a-great-need-to-be-needed-remember-you-feel-good-whenever/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“All possible resources have to be used, so that you can learn to use your anger in such a way that it becomes compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/all-possible-resources-have-to-be-used-so-that-you-can-learn-to-use/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“The three religions born outside India don’t have any name for it because they never went far in search of oneself. They remained childish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-three-religions-born-outside-india-don-t-have-any-name-for-it/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“Shiva is saying: the body is a product of nature and your will to do. The nature is merely the source, the womb. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/shiva-is-saying-the-body-is-a-product-of-nature-and-your-will-to-do/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“No, life is meant to be a celebration; celebration is its central note. If someone asks you, better ask this question of yourself: ”Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/no-life-is-meant-to-be-a-celebration-celebration-is-its-central-note/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“Imagination is a great force. On the path of meditation, imagination is a barrier; on the path of love, imagination is a help. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/imagination-is-a-great-force-on-the-path-of-meditation-imagination-is/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Yoga means that now there is no hope, now there is no future, now there are no desires. One is ready to know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/yoga-means-that-now-there-is-no-hope-now-there-is-no-future-now-there/) [OSHO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) [Explore all 479 Osho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) ## More Cunning quotes > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [It is a pity that, commonly, more care is had--yea, and that among very wise men--to find out rather a cunning man for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ascham/it-is-a-pity-that-commonly-more-care-is-had-yea-and-that-among-very/) [Roger Ascham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ascham/) > [The terrible immoralities are the cunning ones hiding behind masks of morality, such as exploiting people while pretending to help them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/the-terrible-immoralities-are-the-cunning-ones-hiding-behind-masks-of/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [That humanity and sincerity which dispose men to resist injustice and tyranny render them unfit to cope with the cunning and power of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-humanity-and-sincerity-which-dispose-men-to-resist-injustice-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do some die and some live? The answer was clearly, that on the whole the best fitted live. From the effects of disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-russel-wallace/why-do-some-die-and-some-live-the-answer-was-clearly-that-on-the/) [Alfred Russel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-russel-wallace/) > [Art is the final cunning of the human soul which would rather do anything than face the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/art-is-the-final-cunning-of-the-human-soul-which-would-rather-do/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Treason and murder ever kept together, As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose, Working so grossly in a natural cause That admiration did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/treason-and-murder-ever-kept-together-as-two-yoke-devils-sworn-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Till swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit, His waxen wings did mount above his reach, And melting heavens conspired his overthrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/till-swollen-with-cunning-of-a-self-conceit-his-waxen-wings-did-mount/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Stratagem is the right hand of cunning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-curtis/stratagem-is-the-right-hand-of-cunning/) [George William Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-curtis/) > [“When a man possesses the innocence of a child, we call him a fool. When a child possesses the cunning of a man, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/when-a-man-possesses-the-innocence-of-a-child-we-call-him-a-fool-when/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [“Would you like to sit?" Kellen asked her. "You'd better do it soon," Owen whispered close to her ear, "or I'm going to bend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-cunning/would-you-like-to-sit-kellen-asked-her-you-d-better-do-it-soon-owen/) [Olivia Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-cunning/) > [I am defined by my will to survive, not by intelligence or cunning or money or good looks. The Creator didn't see her way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaune-quick-to-see-smith/i-am-defined-by-my-will-to-survive-not-by-intelligence-or-cunning-or/) [Jaune Quick–to–See Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaune-quick-to-see-smith/) > [A cunning mind emphatically delights in its own cunning, and is the ready prey of cunning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brownell-jameson/a-cunning-mind-emphatically-delights-in-its-own-cunning-and-is-the/) [Anna Brownell Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brownell-jameson/) [Browse all 535 Cunning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The ego is very cunning in that way: it goes on finding supports, props, new pastures to feed itself on. If you fail, you blame circumstances. If you succeed, it is you who have succeeded. If you fail it is fate, kismet; if you fail it is the society, the ugly society. If you fail, it is the cunning people, the cunning competitors. But if you succeed, you succeed.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Osho" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-ego-is-very-cunning-in-that-way-it-goes-on-finding-supports-props/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cunning" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-ego-is-very-cunning-in-that-way-it-goes-on-finding-supports-props/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/osho-519_quote_the-ego-is-very-cunning-in-that-way-it-g_2107377.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/osho-519_quote_the-ego-is-very-cunning-in-that-way-it-g_2107377.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/osho-519_quote_the-ego-is-very-cunning-in-that-way-it-g_2107377.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The ego is very cunning in that way: it goes on finding supports, props, new pastures to feed itself on. If…” — Osho", "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": "Osho", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The ego is very cunning in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-ego-is-very-cunning-in-that-way-it-goes-on-finding-supports-props/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-ego-is-very-cunning-in-that-way-it-goes-on-finding-supports-props/#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 } } ] } ```