--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have known tolerably well, a good many…" description: "\"“I have known tolerably well, a good many “successful” men—“ big” financially—men famous during the last half-century, and a less interesting crowd I d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/richard-white-40288_good-man_i-have-known-tolerably-well-a-good-many_70074.jpg" --- # I have known tolerably well, a good many “successful”… ![“I have known tolerably well, a good many “successful” men—“ big” financially—men famous during the last half-century, and a less interesting crowd I do not care to encounter. Not one that I have ever known would I care to meet again, either in this world or the next; nor is one of them associated…” quote by Richard White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/richard-white-40288_good-man_i-have-known-tolerably-well-a-good-many_70074.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/richard-white-40288_good-man_i-have-known-tolerably-well-a-good-many_70074.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/richard-white-40288_good-man_i-have-known-tolerably-well-a-good-many_70074.jpg) > ““I have known tolerably well, a good many “successful” men—“ big” financially—men famous during the last half-century, and a less interesting crowd I do not care to encounter. Not one that I have ever known would I care to meet again, either in this world or the next; nor is one of them associated in my mind with the idea of humor, thought or refinement. A set of mere money-getters and traders, they were essentially unattractive and uninteresting.”” [Richard White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker dismisses financially successful, famous men as lacking humor, intellect, and refinement, seeing them as shallow and unappealing. **In simple terms:** Wealth without depth is unattractive. Key Takeaway Success without character is empty. Themes materialism superficiality values humor intellectualism Mood cynical disillusioned Type critical observational When to use this quote - evaluating role models - networking events - career aspirations Key Concepts character wealth culture Practical Applications - personal development - leadership training Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make a person truly admirable? - How do we balance ambition with personal growth? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Essentially Unattractive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essentially-unattractive-922183/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Known Tolerably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-tolerably-922182/) [Men Famous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-famous-922180/) [Successful Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-men/) [Unattractive Uninteresting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unattractive-uninteresting-922181/) ## Related quotes > [I studied the lives of great men and famous women; and I found that the men and women who got to the top were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/i-studied-the-lives-of-great-men-and-famous-women-and-i-found-that/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [Effort makes some great men famous. Even greater effort enables other great men to remain unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/effort-makes-some-great-men-famous-even-greater-effort-enables-other/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Successful men follow the same advice they prescribe for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/successful-men-follow-the-same-advice-they-prescribe-for-others/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It was ironic, but when you scratched the surface, most successful men were working for one thing only--to retire--and the sooner the better. 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Soon it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/success-or-failure-depends-more-upon-attitude-than-upon-capacity/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Think of all the really successful men and women you know. 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