"I think that people who get to a certain position, and then try to ferociously defend it or build on it, it's kind of a dead-end street. You see people becoming miserable that way"

This quote by Viggo Mortensen speaks with the idea that when people reach a certain level of success, they can become so concentrated on preserving or broadening their success that they become unhappy. Mortensen recommends that this is a dead-end street, as it can cause a life of anguish. He is recommending that rather of attempting to ferociously safeguard or construct on one's success, it is better to concentrate on other elements of life, such as relationships, hobbies, and personal development. Mortensen's quote motivates people to take an action back and take a look at the bigger picture, instead of getting too captured up in the pursuit of success. He is suggesting that it is important to discover balance and to take pleasure in the journey, instead of ending up being too focused on the location.