Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker claims he did not seek success because success sought him.
In plain terms
He says fame found him naturally without him chasing it.
What can you take from it?
True success often comes to you when you focus on your work.

Where it applies

  • career growth
  • public recognition
  • personal branding

Putting it to work

  • focus on craft
  • avoid self-promotion

Questions to consider

  • Do you chase success or wait for it?
  • How do you define achievement?

Another view

Success usually requires effort and seeking opportunities.

More from Samuel Johnson

  1. Sir, there is no settling the point of precedency between a louse and a flea.

    Permalink to quote #192
  2. It is strange that there should be so little reading in the world, and so much writing. People in general do not willingly read, if they can have any thing els…

    Permalink to quote #194
  3. A man might write such stuff for ever, if he would abandon his mind to it.

    Permalink to quote #191

Related quotes

  1. You just wait. I'm going to be the biggest Chinese Star in the world.

    Bruce LeeBruce Lee quote #178
  2. Send me 300 francs; that sum will enable me to go to Paris. There, at least, one can cut a figure and surmount obstacles. Everything tells me I shall succeed. …

    Napoleon BonaparteNapoleon Bonaparte quote #1
  3. A pinch of notoriety will do.

    Quentin CrispQuentin Crisp quote #1