--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unfortunately, we don't have all that…" description: "\"“Unfortunately, we don't have all that many good examples to follow. The people that our cultures label as \"successful\" are the ones who have become we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/tom-walsh-21995_culture_unfortunately-we-don-t-have-all-that-man_2815955.jpg" --- # Unfortunately, we don't have all that many good examples… ![“Unfortunately, we don't have all that many good examples to follow. The people that our cultures label as "successful" are the ones who have become wealthy or famous or celebrities, but the truly successful people--those who have become happy and who are living happy, loving, giving lives--aren't…” quote by Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/tom-walsh-21995_culture_unfortunately-we-don-t-have-all-that-man_2815955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/tom-walsh-21995_culture_unfortunately-we-don-t-have-all-that-man_2815955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/tom-walsh-21995_culture_unfortunately-we-don-t-have-all-that-man_2815955.jpg) > ““Unfortunately, we don't have all that many good examples to follow. The people that our cultures label as "successful" are the ones who have become wealthy or famous or celebrities, but the truly successful people--those who have become happy and who are living happy, loving, giving lives--aren't often featured in our newspapers or newscasts. We see the politicians and the criminals and the athletes and the entertainment "stars," but we don't see the people who can truly inspire us to be happy by being just who we are.”” [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society highlights wealth and fame, overlooking ordinary people who live happy, giving lives. **In simple terms:** Famous people get attention, ordinary happy lives are ignored Key Takeaway Seek inspiration from everyday happiness Themes values happiness media Mood thoughtful inspiring Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - media consumption - personal fulfillment - community building Key Concepts contentment authenticity role models Questions to Reflect On - What defines success for you? - How can you celebrate ordinary happiness? A Different Perspective Not all success is public; privacy can hide true joy ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Role models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-models/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-people/) ## Related quotes > [“I often wonder what type of evolution has occurred inside the minds of those our society has cast aside because they couldn't afford a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-kent-white/i-often-wonder-what-type-of-evolution-has-occurred-inside-the-minds/) [Tyler Kent White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-kent-white/) > [Not that that's my goal, but when you're very wealthy and very famous, you can have a lot more decisions in what you do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/not-that-that-s-my-goal-but-when-you-re-very-wealthy-and-very-famous/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [The very wealthy and the very famous have a much closer affinity with the indigent street person than with the rest of us. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/the-very-wealthy-and-the-very-famous-have-a-much-closer-affinity-with/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [If you look at the Internet, the vast majority of start-ups are not successful. But the ones that are, are very very successful. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-williams/if-you-look-at-the-internet-the-vast-majority-of-start-ups-are-not/) [Evan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-williams/) > [There will always be a great failure for successful ones. You cant have everything in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/my-adviser/there-will-always-be-a-great-failure-for-successful-ones-you-cant/) My Adviser > [We named the book 'Extreme Ownership' because we really found that when we looked at not only at leaders but at teams that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/we-named-the-book-extreme-ownership-because-we-really-found-that-when/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [It looks like the thing that separates out the capable students from the really successful ones is not so much their knowledge...but their persistence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/it-looks-like-the-thing-that-separates-out-the-capable-students-from/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [The parts I've been most successful in are the ones I've desperately, desperately wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/the-parts-i-ve-been-most-successful-in-are-the-ones-i-ve-desperately/) [Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/) > [I think the actresses who are really successful are the ones who are comfortable in their own skins and still look human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-think-the-actresses-who-are-really-successful-are-the-ones-who-are/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [I've found that if you have two films that don't perform well it doesn't matter that you've had a bunch of successful ones. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-craven/i-ve-found-that-if-you-have-two-films-that-don-t-perform-well-it/) [Wes Craven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-craven/) > [The ones who are successful are the ones who really want it. You have to have that inner drive otherwise it's not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerri-strug/the-ones-who-are-successful-are-the-ones-who-really-want-it-you-have/) [Kerri Strug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerri-strug/) > [EVERYBODYs a self-made man, but only the successful ones are ever willing to admit it!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayu-gathut-abyantoro-seno/everybodys-a-self-made-man-but-only-the-successful-ones-are-ever/) [Hayu Gathut Abyantoro Seno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayu-gathut-abyantoro-seno/) > [Actors who are super successful are the ones who thrive on the image by creating their forte.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranvir-shorey/actors-who-are-super-successful-are-the-ones-who-thrive-on-the-image/) [Ranvir Shorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranvir-shorey/) > [We all make mistakes, but the people who thrive from their mistakes are the successful ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/we-all-make-mistakes-but-the-people-who-thrive-from-their-mistakes/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [The bold enterprises are the successful ones. Take counsel of hopes rather than of fears to win in this business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-bold-enterprises-are-the-successful-ones-take-counsel-of-hopes/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) ## More by Tom Walsh > [“just for today, i'll do something nice for someone who's not expecting it. .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/just-for-today-i-ll-do-something-nice-for-someone-who-s-not-expecting/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Sometimes we mistake patience for weakness, but the patient person often realizes that it's much more important for another person to discover his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/sometimes-we-mistake-patience-for-weakness-but-the-patient-person/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“We must trust that what we're doing has a purpose. We must realize that we're not here to make kids conform or perform, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/we-must-trust-that-what-we-re-doing-has-a-purpose-we-must-realize/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“just for today, i'll try to maintain a positive perspective, no matter what the situation. . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/just-for-today-i-ll-try-to-maintain-a-positive-perspective-no-matter/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“When we separate ourselves from the rest of the world, the world becomes a lonely and difficult place to live in. When we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/when-we-separate-ourselves-from-the-rest-of-the-world-the-world/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“This need to be right has put a huge burden on me, one that I never deserved to have to carry. Part of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/this-need-to-be-right-has-put-a-huge-burden-on-me-one-that-i-never/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Am I corrupted if I believe that the people who think alike are more admirable and estimable than those who think for themselves? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/am-i-corrupted-if-i-believe-that-the-people-who-think-alike-are-more/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“for today, i'll hold on to my dreams and respect them. .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/for-today-i-ll-hold-on-to-my-dreams-and-respect-them/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [Humor results when society says you can't scratch certain things in public, but they itch in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/humor-results-when-society-says-you-can-t-scratch-certain-things-in/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Some people search out solitude without even thinking that they need to do so--it's an innate urge with them, something that they do as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/some-people-search-out-solitude-without-even-thinking-that-they-need/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Saying a prayer can be as simple as thinking positive thoughts about someone—it’s not an act that needs to be tied to any particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/saying-a-prayer-can-be-as-simple-as-thinking-positive-thoughts-about/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“The simple truth is that love is a part of who we are, not something that others "give" to us if we're worthy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/the-simple-truth-is-that-love-is-a-part-of-who-we-are-not-something/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“It seems that the more we learn about our work, the easier and the more interesting it becomes to us. Tasks that used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/it-seems-that-the-more-we-learn-about-our-work-the-easier-and-the/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“Our culture values independence and isolation far too much, it seems to me--we have a hard time making ourselves part of things, of making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/our-culture-values-independence-and-isolation-far-too-much-it-seems/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) > [“We lose our ability to live fully if we neglect or ignore our responsibility to the other people who share this planet with us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walsh/we-lose-our-ability-to-live-fully-if-we-neglect-or-ignore-our/) [Tom Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) [Explore all 28 Tom Walsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walsh/) ## More Culture quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I don't think the distinction between high and low culture exists anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scott/i-don-t-think-the-distinction-between-high-and-low-culture-exists/) [Jeremy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scott/) > [You get below the Mason-Dixon line and you have some of the best music, culture, the two races, the literature, and it's so rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-duvall/you-get-below-the-mason-dixon-line-and-you-have-some-of-the-best/) [Robert Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-duvall/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [“Being grounded in your lifelong culture and your personal perspective, you are comfortable with the way you see things and may believe it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/being-grounded-in-your-lifelong-culture-and-your-personal-perspective/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) [Browse all 15,940 Culture quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Unfortunately, we don't have all that many good examples to follow. The people that our cultures label as \"successful\" are the ones who have become wealthy or famous or celebrities, but the truly successful people--those who have become happy and who are living happy, loving, giving lives--aren't often featured in our newspapers or newscasts. 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