Marshall Goldsmith Quotes

I've been a much happier person in my early thirties than I was in my twenties.

Once upon a time, I dreamed of becoming a great man. Later, a good man. Now, finally, I find it difficult enough and honor enough to be -- a man.

Now here I am almost 52 years old, it's really easy. I'm way more at peace. But when you're a competitor, and you're as intent on becoming the best in the world as I was, it comes with consequences.

It's a little silly to finally learn how to write at this age. But I long ago realized I was secretly sincere.

I'm at peace with myself and where I am. In the past, I was always looking to see how everybody else was doing. I wasn't competitive, I was comparative. I just wanted to be where everybody else was. Now I've gotten to an age when I am not comparing anymore.

I'm far more comfortable in my 40s than I ever was.

The best work I can do is to take myself as much as I can out of it and get it as simple as I can.

Financially I'm comfortable. But life has a lot more in store for me.

I would say I'm quite happy in my life the majority of the time. Earlier in my life I was more questioning, overly trying to figure things out. I like this way much better.

I don't ever want to feel complacent.

I've always tried to do my very best, and I want to be the very best age, whatever age I am.

Man needs, for his happiness, not only the enjoyment of this or that, but hope and enterprise and change.

It is right to be contented with what we have, never with what we are.

People think they have to be ambitious. But at a certain age, all you want is to be around nice, decent people.

I'd like to think I haven't done my best yet.

When people call me God, I say, no, I'm still an angel or saint of acting. I still have a long way to go.

There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible.

I feel really content in my 30s actually. I don't feel like the wisest person in the world but I definitely don't worry or stress like I used to.

I'm still learning, you know. At 80, I feel there is a lot I don't know.

There is no number or level of success that would make me think, 'Wow, I didn't think that was possible.'

I've been around the track a lot. I've had the best of the years, and I don't want a single year back.

I'm not much of a partier anymore. I enjoy clarity much more.

I love being middle-aged in general. I'm more at peace with myself now. I still have tormented times, but they are few and far between. You don't feel you have to be the centre of your world when you get older. Becoming a mother had been a turning point which stopped me from being the centre of my world.

Ambition is best tempered with self-knowledge!

I don't think I'd be happy if I were satisfied. I enjoy challenge, and I wouldn't say that I'm an ambitious person career-wise or financially, really. I would like to travel more comfortably, but that's really about all I need.