Academy award Quote by Ray Dalio
““I realized that all of them—like me, like everyone—make mistakes, struggle with their weaknesses, and don’t feel that they are particularly special or great. They are no happier than the rest of us, and they struggle just as much or more than average folks. Even after they surpass their wildest dreams, they still experience more struggle than glory. This has certainly been true for me. While I surpassed my wildest dreams decades ago, I am still struggling today. In time, I realized that the satisfaction of success doesn’t come from achieving your goals, but from struggling well. To understand what I mean, imagine your greatest goal, whatever it is—making a ton of money, winning an Academy Award, running a great organization, being great at a sport. Now imagine instantaneously achieving it. You’d be happy at first, but not for long. You would soon find yourself needing something else to struggle for. Just look at people who attain their dreams early— the child star, the lottery winner, the professional athlete who peaks early. They typically don’t end up happy unless they get excited about something else bigger and better to struggle for. Since life brings both ups and downs, struggling well doesn’t just make your ups better; it makes your downs less bad. I’m still struggling and I will until I die, because even if I try to avoid the struggles, they will find me.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Principles, Ray Dalio, 2017
Success feels hollow without ongoing challenges; fulfillment comes from engaging with struggle, not just achieving goals.
In simple terms: Success needs struggle for lasting fulfillment.
Embrace continuous challenges.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- personal goals
- creative projects
- physical training
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you find purpose in daily challenges?
- What new goal can replace a achieved one?
Constant struggle may cause burnout if not balanced.