"Pride is still aiming at the best houses: Men would be angels, angels would be gods. Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell; aspiring to be angels men rebel"
- Alexander Pope
About this Quote
This quote by Alexander Pope speaks with the human condition of pursuing more. It suggests that pride is a driving force in our lives, pressing us to grab the best and highest things. We are never ever pleased with what we have, and rather, we make every effort to be better than we are. Pope suggests that if we were angels, we would wish to be gods, and if we were gods, we would wish to be angels. This talks to the concept that no matter what we have, we will constantly desire more. We will never be content with our existing state, and rather, we will always be striving for something much better. This quote acts as a tip that ambition is a part of human nature, and that it is essential to pursue the very best, however also to be content with what we have.
"Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality"
"The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom"
