Jack Gilbert Quotes

Be careful of success; it has a dark side.

Success can set the table for tragedy if the victors are not careful.

But I’ve never seen the Icarus story as a lesson about the limitations of humans. I see it as a lesson about the limitations of wax as an adhesive.

If you're first, no one will ever remember. If you're wrong, no one will ever forget.

Who soars too near the sun, with golden wings, melts them.

If you let your head get too big, it'll break your neck.

I believe that Icarus was not failing as he fell, but just coming to the end of his triumph.

If you don't risk anything, you risk even more.

Victory is fleeting. Losing is forever.

It did remind me of something out of Greek mythology - the richest king who gets everything he wants, but ultimately his family has a curse on it from the Gods.

If you risk nothing, then you risk everything.

I have so much to live up to as well as live down.

You can never assume that something is going to do well.

Beware of being blinded by your own success.

I have to watch my moves very carefully because if there are people to support you, there are also those who would like nothing more than to see you fall.

Men fall from great fortune because of the same shortcomings that led to their rise.

I'm keenly aware of the Pride coming before the Fall . . . but I really do like what I've been able to do here.

My success will be remembered by others. I don't have to constantly remind myself. However, I must always remember my failure, for if I forget them, I am bound to myself.

Success and glory are in the advance, disaster and shame lurk in the rear.

The path marked Pride will lead you over a cliff.

The higher up, the harder the fall.

Success comes and goes. Your flops stay with you for life.

The marks humans leave are too often scars. You build a hideous minimall or start a coup or try to become a rock star and you'll think "they'll remember me now," but (a) they don't remember you, and (b) all you leave behind are more scars. Your coup becomes a dictatorship. Your minimall becomes a lesion.

Husband, we talked about this," Persephone chided. "You can't go around incinerating every hero. Besides, he's brave. I like that." Hades rolled his eyes. "You liked that Orpheus fellow too. Look how well that turned out.

More people are ruined by victory, I imagine, than be defeat.