--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He that fails in his endeavors after…" description: "\"He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/samuel-johnson-50_courage_he-that-fails-in-his-endeavors-after-wea_1830185.png" --- # He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will… ![“He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/samuel-johnson-50_courage_he-that-fails-in-his-endeavors-after-wea_1830185.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/samuel-johnson-50_courage_he-that-fails-in-his-endeavors-after-wea_1830185.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/samuel-johnson-50_courage_he-that-fails-in-his-endeavors-after-wea_1830185.png) > “He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth and power can corrupt integrity, leading to loss of honesty and courage over time. **In simple terms:** Power can erode moral character Key Takeaway Guard integrity against the corrupting influence of wealth Themes ethics corruption power integrity courage Mood cautionary reflective serious Type philosophical ethical political When to use this quote - political leadership - corporate governance - personal ambition - financial success Key Concepts moral decay ethical resilience social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards protect honesty? - Can power be used ethically? A Different Perspective Even the virtuous may succumb without vigilance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Fails Endeavors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fails-endeavors-2267376/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Honesty Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty-courage-300597/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Retain Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retain-honesty-2267375/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [The quality an artist must have is objectivity in judging his work, plus the honesty and courage not to kid himself about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-quality-an-artist-must-have-is-objectivity-in-judging-his-work/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Honesty first; then courage; then brains - and all are indispensable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/honesty-first-then-courage-then-brains-and-all-are-indispensable/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [We live in a time when the values of courage and honesty, particularly for women writers, equate to confessing only the darkest, most painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-live-in-a-time-when-the-values-of-courage-and-honesty-particularly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My main trick is to work with amazing people. 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