Undeserved Success Quotes

All patronage is perilous to men of real ability and merit. It aids only those who lack other claims to support.

Now, more than ever, I realize just how illusory my undeserved success has been. I still hold out some hope of doing better, but age and unhappiness have sapped my strength.

I have worked on very good movies that have been buried, and I've worked on some resounding mediocrities that have been paraded through the marketplace like they were masterpieces.

It felt wrong to be so proud of something that I had absolutely nothing to do with, but I couldn't help myself.

The new Khaled is enjoying life, man. Because you know what, nobody is going to congratulate you on what you really deserve.

Did you get your money by fraud? By pandering to men's vices or men's stupidity? By catering to fools, in the hope of getting more than your ability deserves? By lowering your standards? By doing work you despise for purchasers you scorn? If so, then your money will not give you a moment's or a penny's worth of joy. Then all the things you buy will become, not a tribute to you, but a reproach; not an achievement, but a reminder of shame.

To call someone “privileged” is to say that his or her successes are undeserved. It’s a personal insult posing as social critique.

The artist is today and has been for many years, despite his absence of merit, simply a spoiled child. So many honors, so much money bestowed on men without souls and without education.

Nothing wilts faster than laurels that have been rested upon.

Envy among other ingredients has a mixture of the love of justice in it. We are more angry at undeserved than at deserved good-fortune.

Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.

If a person is successful, we imagine they are probably also ethical, conscientious and deserving of their good fortune. This obscures the fact that many people who get ahead have done so by doing less than moral actions, which they cleverly disguise from view.

It is strange the way the ignorant and inexperienced so often and so undeservedly succeed when the informed and the experienced fail.

Sometimes, when we play against weaker teams, everyone says, 'Oh, you won because you played weaker teams.'

I constantly think I'm a fraud - that this success is not warranted or justified.

In any area of human endeavour, there is going to be mediocrity. You're going to find people who get money that they shouldn't get.

I don't deserve a Songwriters Hall of Fame Award. But fifteen years ago, I had a brain operation and I didn't deserve that, either. So I'll keep it.

There is no disappointment so numbing...as someone no better than you achieving more.

Ability is the art of getting credit for all the home runs somebody else hits.

The legitimate aim of criticism is to direct attention to the excellent. The bad will dig its own grave, and the imperfect may safely be left to that final neglect from which no amount of present undeserved popularity can rescue it.

Achieving success as an actor has not been easy for me. My biggest, probably most irrational complaint has been that I've had to work harder for what I've gotten. I've seen other people with nepotism or wealth or cheesy good looks on their side who've had it easy...

Such kings of shreds have wooed and won her, Such crafty knaves her laurel owned, It has become almost an honor Not to be crowned.

Fortune, the great commandress of the world, Hath divers ways to advance her followers: To some she gives honor without deserving; To other some, deserving without honor; Some wit, some wealth,--and some, wit without wealth; Some wealth without wit; some nor wit nor wealth.

Some have greatness thrust upon them, but not lately.

I feel like fame is wasted on me.