--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man who tries to surpass another may…" description: "\"A man who tries to surpass another may perhaps succeed in equaling inot actually surpassing him, but one who merely follows can never quite come up wit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/quintilian-7306_behinds_a-man-who-tries-to-surpass-another-may-p_1971030.jpg" --- # A man who tries to surpass another may perhaps succeed in… ![“A man who tries to surpass another may perhaps succeed in equaling inot actually surpassing him, but one who merely follows can never quite come up with him: a follower, necessarily, is always behind.” quote by Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/quintilian-7306_behinds_a-man-who-tries-to-surpass-another-may-p_1971030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/quintilian-7306_behinds_a-man-who-tries-to-surpass-another-may-p_1971030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/quintilian-7306_behinds_a-man-who-tries-to-surpass-another-may-p_1971030.jpg) > “A man who tries to surpass another may perhaps succeed in equaling inot actually surpassing him, but one who merely follows can never quite come up with him: a follower, necessarily, is always behind.” [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to outdo others often leads to equal effort, while simply following keeps one perpetually behind. **In simple terms:** Trying to outdo may not surpass; following stays behind. Key Takeaway Focus on personal progress rather than competition. Themes competition hum selfimprovement Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - career advancement - academic pursuits - personal development Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - Is it better to lead or to follow? - How can one balance ambition with humility? A Different Perspective May ignore benefits of healthy competition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Followers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followers/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Never quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-quit/) ## Related quotes > [From the grasses in the field to the stars in the sky, each one is doing just that; and there is such profound peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/from-the-grasses-in-the-field-to-the-stars-in-the-sky-each-one-is/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [One need not be a Chamber — to be Haunted— One need not be a House— The Brain — has Corridors — surpassing Material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/one-need-not-be-a-chamber-to-be-haunted-one-need-not-be-a-house-the/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Of all the thoughts of God that are Borne inward unto souls afar, Along the Psalmist's music deep, Now tell me if that any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/of-all-the-thoughts-of-god-that-are-borne-inward-unto-souls-afar/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [In a split second of eternity, everything is changed, transfigured. 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Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man who tries to surpass another may perhaps succeed in equaling inot actually surpassing him, but one who merely follows can never quite come up with him: a follower, necessarily, is always behind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Quintilian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/a-man-who-tries-to-surpass-another-may-perhaps-succeed-in-equaling/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behinds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/a-man-who-tries-to-surpass-another-may-perhaps-succeed-in-equaling/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/quintilian-7306_behinds_a-man-who-tries-to-surpass-another-may-p_1971030.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/quintilian-7306_behinds_a-man-who-tries-to-surpass-another-may-p_1971030.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/quintilian-7306_behinds_a-man-who-tries-to-surpass-another-may-p_1971030.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man who tries to surpass another may perhaps succeed in equaling inot actually surpassing him, but one who…” — Quintilian", "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": "Quintilian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A man who tries to surpass...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/a-man-who-tries-to-surpass-another-may-perhaps-succeed-in-equaling/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/a-man-who-tries-to-surpass-another-may-perhaps-succeed-in-equaling/#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 } } ] } ```