--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One piece of advice I have is: Want…" description: "\"One piece of advice I have is: Want something else more than success. Success is a lovely thing, but your desire to say something, your worth, and your..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_one-piece-of-advice-i-have-is-want-somet_320492.png" --- # One piece of advice I have is: Want something else more… ![“One piece of advice I have is: Want something else more than success. Success is a lovely thing, but your desire to say something, your worth, and your identity shouldn’t rely on it, because it’s not guaranteed and it’s not permanent and it’s not sufficient. So work hard, fall in love with the…” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_one-piece-of-advice-i-have-is-want-somet_320492.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_one-piece-of-advice-i-have-is-want-somet_320492.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_one-piece-of-advice-i-have-is-want-somet_320492.png) > “One piece of advice I have is: Want something else more than success. Success is a lovely thing, but your desire to say something, your worth, and your identity shouldn’t rely on it, because it’s not guaranteed and it’s not permanent and it’s not sufficient. So work hard, fall in love with the writing — the characters, the story, the words, the themes — and make sure that you are who you are regardless of your life circumstances. That way, when the good things come, they don’t warp you, and when the bad things hit you, you don’t fall apart.” [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your identity and self‑worth should not be tied to external success; focus on intrinsic passion for your craft. **In simple terms:** Don’t let success define you; love the work itself. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner motivation beyond outcomes. Themes identity self‑worth creativity resilience motivation Mood reflective determined hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing - career development - personal growth - handling fame - overcoming setbacks Key Concepts intrinsic motivation self‑concept creative fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What internal values sustain you when external rewards fade? - How can you separate your self‑image from achievements? A Different Perspective Success is fleeting and can distort self‑perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Fall in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-in-love/) [Falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-in-love/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lovely things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovely-things/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Want something else more than success. Success is a lovely thing, but your desire to say something, your worth, and your identity shouldn’t rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/want-something-else-more-than-success-success-is-a-lovely-thing-but/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I realize that I want something more. Success is great, but then you also wake up in your hotel room at four in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-realize-that-i-want-something-more-success-is-great-but-then-you/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I don't turn to anyone for advice. I do what I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azealia-banks/i-don-t-turn-to-anyone-for-advice-i-do-what-i-want/) [Azealia Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azealia-banks/) > [My advice would be if you want to pursue a career in the music business, don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/my-advice-would-be-if-you-want-to-pursue-a-career-in-the-music/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) > [“While you’re reading this, I have three pieces of advice that I want you to remember: Don’t ever grow up. Don’t become a bore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/while-you-re-reading-this-i-have-three-pieces-of-advice-that-i-want/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [“I hate those people who say you always find the one when you stop looking for her. It is the advice you least want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/i-hate-those-people-who-say-you-always-find-the-one-when-you-stop/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [The trouble with giving advice is that others want to return the favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/the-trouble-with-giving-advice-is-that-others-want-to-return-the-favor/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [Of course, I seek advice where I can but I want to be myself and to do what I feel like is the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-odegaard/of-course-i-seek-advice-where-i-can-but-i-want-to-be-myself-and-to-do/) [Martin Odegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-odegaard/) > [Often when we ask for advice, we don't really want advice-we want someone to say "That's great! Go for it!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/often-when-we-ask-for-advice-we-don-t-really-want-advice-we-want/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [The only advice I can give those who want to sell thei films is to surround yourself with people who are friends and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-rees/the-only-advice-i-can-give-those-who-want-to-sell-thei-films-is-to/) [Dee Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-rees/) > [No matter what it is that you want to do, you should dream as big as you can and go for it. Don't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-henderson/no-matter-what-it-is-that-you-want-to-do-you-should-dream-as-big-as/) [Logan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-henderson/) > [When it comes to writing characters, whether men or women, I think a good writer writes good characters. I know many men who, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/when-it-comes-to-writing-characters-whether-men-or-women-i-think-a/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [“There's a certain magic about writing even when the characters refuse to act the way I want them to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-bevan/there-s-a-certain-magic-about-writing-even-when-the-characters-refuse/) Gloria Bevan > [I used to say I wasn't interested in writing about characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-used-to-say-i-wasn-t-interested-in-writing-about-characters/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [“If your characters write your story, rather than you writing your characters, it's like your dog taking YOU for a walk. Don't let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-bell/if-your-characters-write-your-story-rather-than-you-writing-your/) [Jessica Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-bell/) ## More by Veronica Roth > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I was beginning to feel that I had finally found a place to stay, a place that was not so unstable or corrupt or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-was-beginning-to-feel-that-i-had-finally-found-a-place-to-stay-a/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something. Overcompensating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-acts-so-tough-that-he-s-probably-afraid-of-marshmallows-and-really/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [You always look like someone's sucked the life right out of you when something fascinates you. -Tris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-always-look-like-someone-s-sucked-the-life-right-out-of-you-when/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“We can be mended. We mend each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-can-be-mended-we-mend-each-other/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Don’t worry about me handling the pain," I say. "I’ve had a lot of practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/don-t-worry-about-me-handling-the-pain-i-say-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Soon I will honor my parents by dying as they died. and if all they believed about death was true, soon I will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/soon-i-will-honor-my-parents-by-dying-as-they-died-and-if-all-they/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Mas lembre-se, já agora, que por vezes as pessoas que oprimimos tornam-se mais poderosas do que nós gostaríamos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mas-lembre-se-j-agora-que-por-vezes-as-pessoas-que-oprimimos-tornam/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“am aware of how little space there is between us—six inches at most. That space feels charged with electricity. I feel like it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/am-aware-of-how-little-space-there-is-between-us-six-inches-at-most/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Oh, good,” I say, a sour taste in my mouth. “Heroism is what I was focused on. Not, you know, trying not to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/oh-good-i-say-a-sour-taste-in-my-mouth-heroism-is-what-i-was-focused/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Caleb frowns at him. "How old are you, anyway?" "Eighteen." "And you don't think you're too old to be with my little sister?" Tobias…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/caleb-frowns-at-him-how-old-are-you-anyway-eighteen-and-you-don-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [What do you think they're going to do to us when they find us guilty?" she says after a few minutes of silence have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-do-you-think-they-re-going-to-do-to-us-when-they-find-us-guilty/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“La paz está restringida, eso es libertad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/la-paz-est-restringida-eso-es-libertad/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [In some parts of the ancient world, the hawk symbolized the sun. Back when I got this, I figured if I always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-some-parts-of-the-ancient-world-the-hawk-symbolized-the-sun-back/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) [Explore all 1,589 Veronica Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More Bad thing quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [I think the people I talk about are generally so stupid that they don't even know I'm saying bad things about them. I've run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-think-the-people-i-talk-about-are-generally-so-stupid-that-they-don/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [I'm not going to pretend that bad things don't happen. I just hope my daughter has enough understanding that when they do, just give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-that-bad-things-don-t-happen-i-just-hope-my/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I've heard some pretty bad things in my life. I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Be Thankful for all things in life. Even for the bad things. SOMETIMES the worst situations in life turn out to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-all-things-in-life-even-for-the-bad-things-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. You have to be sure about yourself and about your work and your career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/in-my-business-you-should-be-very-strong-in-mind-you-have-to-be-sure/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) > [“I don’t know why I latched onto the idea of being friends, but it sits right with my gut. I want Hartley in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-watt/i-don-t-know-why-i-latched-onto-the-idea-of-being-friends-but-it-sits/) [Erin Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-watt/) > [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [“Dear Delphine, When you are older I want you to find Chinua Achebe. I want you to read Things Fall Apart. Don't be hardheaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-williams-garcia/dear-delphine-when-you-are-older-i-want-you-to-find-chinua-achebe-i/) [Rita Williams-Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-williams-garcia/) > [Lobbying is not a bad thing. I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't have lobbyists or we shouldn't have lobbying to petition our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/lobbying-is-not-a-bad-thing-i-m-not-trying-to-say-that-we-shouldn-t/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [In life, we don't know why things happen. I believe God is not responsible for the bad things that happen to you. Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/in-life-we-don-t-know-why-things-happen-i-believe-god-is-not/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) Browse all 2,889 Bad thing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One piece of advice I have is: Want something else more than success. Success is a lovely thing, but your desire to say something, your worth, and your identity shouldn’t rely on it, because it’s not guaranteed and it’s not permanent and it’s not sufficient. So work hard, fall in love with the writing — the characters, the story, the words, the themes — and make sure that you are who you are regardless of your life circumstances. 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