--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Want something else more than success…" description: "\"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,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_want-something-else-more-than-success-su_2885252.jpg" --- # Want something else more than success. Success is a lovely… ![“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…” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_want-something-else-more-than-success-su_2885252.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_want-something-else-more-than-success-su_2885252.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/veronica-roth-66_bad-thing_want-something-else-more-than-success-su_2885252.jpg) > “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. Success shouldn't define identity; focus on the craft and intrinsic motivation. **In simple terms:** Don't let success dictate self‑worth. Key Takeaway Cultivate love for the work itself. Themes creativity identity success Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - writing - career development - personal growth Key Concepts intrinsic motivation self‑definition resilience Questions to Reflect On - What drives you beyond accolades? - How can you protect your identity from success? A Different Perspective External validation can still dominate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [One piece of advice I have is: Want something else more than success. Success is a lovely thing, but your desire to say something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/one-piece-of-advice-i-have-is-want-something-else-more-than-success/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I don't want to have success to have success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-don-t-want-to-have-success-to-have-success/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [The key to your success, to my success, to everyone's success is determined by our daily agenda. What you and I do every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-key-to-your-success-to-my-success-to-everyone-s-success-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [All you need is something to say, and a burning desire to say it... it doesn't matter where your hands are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/all-you-need-is-something-to-say-and-a-burning-desire-to-say-it-it/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [O what is it about having one's own Babe upon one's Hip that makes a Woman wish to go home to her Mother? A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/o-what-is-it-about-having-one-s-own-babe-upon-one-s-hip-that-makes-a/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“Become what you desire! Before you say "I want"...say - "I am"...There is a great difference between "I want love" and "I am love"...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-creighton-bradshaw/become-what-you-desire-before-you-say-i-want-say-i-am-there-is-a/) G. Creighton Bradshaw > [Forbid us something, and that thing we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/forbid-us-something-and-that-thing-we-desire/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“Other than damnation I know no magic to satisfy your wishes; for ye believe one thing, desire another, speak unlike, act differently and obtain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-osman-spare/other-than-damnation-i-know-no-magic-to-satisfy-your-wishes-for-ye/) [Austin Osman Spare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-osman-spare/) > [And truly it is a very natural and ordinary thing to desire to acquire, and always, when men do it who can, they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/and-truly-it-is-a-very-natural-and-ordinary-thing-to-desire-to/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“I was deluding myself, for love was one thing but desire was something else entirely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-was-deluding-myself-for-love-was-one-thing-but-desire-was-something/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“A brick could make everything better for me. Now, if I could only find a way to get my hands on one. But it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-make-everything-better-for-me-now-if-i-could-only-find/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I’m the thing you most desire, you represent the thing I least desire, death. It’s just the opposite of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-m-the-thing-you-most-desire-you-represent-the-thing-i-least-desire/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The world is little, people are little, human life is little. There is only one big thing — desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-world-is-little-people-are-little-human-life-is-little-there-is/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Maybe a thing that you do not like is really in your interest. It is possible that a thing that you may desire may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-bakr/maybe-a-thing-that-you-do-not-like-is-really-in-your-interest-it-is/) [Abu Bakr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-bakr/) > [Could it be that to truly love a thing is not to desire it, but to desire happiness for it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/could-it-be-that-to-truly-love-a-thing-is-not-to-desire-it-but-to/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## 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": "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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