---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who fox-like got his rank, Is…"
description: "\"He who fox-like got his rank, Is wolf-like in his office.\" — Vasily Zhukovsky"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/vasily-zhukovsky-68538_democracy_he-who-fox-like-got-his-rank-is-wolf-lik_2648094.png"
---

#  He who fox-like got his rank, Is wolf-like in his office.

![“He who fox-like got his rank, Is wolf-like in his office.” quote by Vasily Zhukovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/vasily-zhukovsky-68538_democracy_he-who-fox-like-got-his-rank-is-wolf-lik_2648094.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/vasily-zhukovsky-68538_democracy_he-who-fox-like-got-his-rank-is-wolf-lik_2648094.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/vasily-zhukovsky-68538_democracy_he-who-fox-like-got-his-rank-is-wolf-lik_2648094.png)

> “He who fox-like got his rank, Is wolf-like in his office.”

[Vasily Zhukovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-zhukovsky/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He contrasts early promise with later arrogance, warning against letting status corrupt character.

**In simple terms:** Early talent can become hubris.

Key Takeaway

Maintain humility as success grows.

Themes

humility pride career character

Mood

cautionary reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- personal development
- organizational politics

Key Concepts

social dynamics ego leadership

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you stay grounded?
- What checks prevent ego inflation?

A Different Perspective

Success may breed complacency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Fox Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fox-like-2325815/) [Foxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foxes/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Like Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-office-867501/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Rank Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rank-wolf-2325814/) [Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wolf/) [Wolf Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wolf-like-655795/)

## Related quotes

> [“That's right' said the fox. 'To me, you are still just a little boy like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/that-s-right-said-the-fox-to-me-you-are-still-just-a-little-boy-like/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“For me you're only a little boy just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/for-me-you-re-only-a-little-boy-just-like-a-hundred-thousand-other/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [I like Fox, but I also like Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-like-fox-but-i-also-like-anderson-cooper-and-don-lemon/)

[Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/)

> [“This isn't just for now, it's for always, Little Fox." "I like the sound of always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-garber/this-isn-t-just-for-now-it-s-for-always-little-fox-i-like-the-sound/)

[Stephanie Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-garber/)

> [Watching Fox, that's like watching the Cartoon Network. Fox is nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/watching-fox-that-s-like-watching-the-cartoon-network-fox-is-nuts/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [“Then the 92nd little pig built a house out of depleted uranium and the wolf was like, "dude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/then-the-92nd-little-pig-built-a-house-out-of-depleted-uranium-and/)

[Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/)

> [To die alone, on rock under sun at the brink of the unknown, like a wolf, like a great bird, seems to me very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/to-die-alone-on-rock-under-sun-at-the-brink-of-the-unknown-like-a/)

[Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/)

> [If you could breathe a breath so strong you could blow out the wolf. Like you blow out the copo. Like you blow out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/if-you-could-breathe-a-breath-so-strong-you-could-blow-out-the-wolf/)

[Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/)

> [Shorty thought she subtle but she really was blatant when she shook her thing and violated. Now these wolf-like thoughts are formulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/shorty-thought-she-subtle-but-she-really-was-blatant-when-she-shook/)

[Q-tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/)

> [Anna looked at Brother Wolf. ‘I’d like to see someone try to put a radio control collar on Charles. It might be fun to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/anna-looked-at-brother-wolf-i-d-like-to-see-someone-try-to-put-a/)

[Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/)

> [“At least you look at my face. I’ll give you that, you little she-wolf. How do you like it?” “I don’t. It’s all burned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/at-least-you-look-at-my-face-i-ll-give-you-that-you-little-she-wolf/)

[George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/)

> [“...one of the wolf-like beasts wraps it's arms around me and howls into my ear, obscuring all other sounds. I lash at the creature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/one-of-the-wolf-like-beasts-wraps-it-s-arms-around-me-and-howls-into/)

[Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/)

> [Let's be perfectly clear, shall we. The fox is not a little orange puppy dog with doe eyes and a waggly tail. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/let-s-be-perfectly-clear-shall-we-the-fox-is-not-a-little-orange/)

[Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/)

> [A fox is a wolf who sends flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/a-fox-is-a-wolf-who-sends-flowers/)

[Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/)

> [I think the corporate world is pretty starved for personality. The reason you have comic strips like 'Dilbert' and sitcoms like 'The Office' is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/i-think-the-corporate-world-is-pretty-starved-for-personality-the/)

[Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/)

## More by Vasily Zhukovsky

> [“Lalla Ruk Dearest dream, my soul's enchantment Lovely guest from heav'n above, Most benevolent attender To the earthly realm below, You gave me blissful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-zhukovsky/lalla-ruk-dearest-dream-my-soul-s-enchantment-lovely-guest-from-heav/)

[Vasily Zhukovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-zhukovsky/)

> [“To a Familiar Genius Flying By Reveal yourself, anonymous enchanter! What heaven hastens you to me? Why draw me to that promised land again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-zhukovsky/to-a-familiar-genius-flying-by-reveal-yourself-anonymous-enchanter/)

[Vasily Zhukovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-zhukovsky/)

> [“The Mysterious Visitor Spirit, lovely guest, who are you? Whence have you flown down to us? Taciturn and without a sound Why have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-zhukovsky/the-mysterious-visitor-spirit-lovely-guest-who-are-you-whence-have/)

[Vasily Zhukovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-zhukovsky/)

[Explore all 4 Vasily Zhukovsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-zhukovsky/)

## More Democracy quotes

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [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/)

> [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/)

[William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/)

> [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/)

[Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/)

> [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

> [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "He who fox-like got his rank, Is wolf-like in his office.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Vasily Zhukovsky"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-zhukovsky/he-who-fox-like-got-his-rank-is-wolf-like-in-his-office/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Democracy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-zhukovsky/he-who-fox-like-got-his-rank-is-wolf-like-in-his-office/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/vasily-zhukovsky-68538_democracy_he-who-fox-like-got-his-rank-is-wolf-lik_2648094.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/vasily-zhukovsky-68538_democracy_he-who-fox-like-got-his-rank-is-wolf-lik_2648094.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/vasily-zhukovsky-68538_democracy_he-who-fox-like-got-his-rank-is-wolf-lik_2648094.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“He who fox-like got his rank, Is wolf-like in his office.” — Vasily Zhukovsky",
                "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": "Vasily Zhukovsky",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-zhukovsky/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "He who fox-like got his rank,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-zhukovsky/he-who-fox-like-got-his-rank-is-wolf-like-in-his-office/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-zhukovsky/he-who-fox-like-got-his-rank-is-wolf-like-in-his-office/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
