"I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm"
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
About this Quote
This quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt is a suggestion to not take our good luck for given. We typically focus on the successes of those who are early to the game, but we don't frequently consider the struggles of those who are the very first to attempt something. The early riser might get the worm, but the early worm is the one who has to take the threat and deal with the capacity of failure. Roosevelt is reminding us to be mindful of the dangers taken by those who are the very first to try something, and to appreciate the nerve and determination it takes to be an early worm. He is also recommending that we must not be so fast to judge those who fail, as they are frequently the ones who have actually taken the most significant risks. We must be grateful for the successes of the early riser, but we should also acknowledge the bravery of the early worm.