"If at first you do succeed - try to hide your astonishment"

When someone attempts something challenging for the first time, they might not expect immediate success. Often, people anticipate setbacks or initial failures when embarking on unfamiliar tasks. Achieving unexpected triumph on the first attempt can lead to a sense of surprise or even disbelief. The suggestion to hide that astonishment reflects a nuanced understanding of human behavior and social dynamics.

Concealing surprise in the face of success might point to the value of humility and composure. Exuding confidence, even if one internally feels shocked, can influence how others perceive both the accomplishment and the person achieving it. It enables an individual to maintain an air of competence, which can be important in both personal and professional environments. If astonishment is evident, it might inadvertently signal to peers or observers that the success was a fluke or merely a lucky break, rather than the result of skill or capability.

There’s also a touch of humor and irony. Often, cultural narratives encourage persistence in the face of failure, with sayings like “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Flipping that familiar phrase on its head, this perspective acknowledges that sometimes beginners luck is real, or that preparation pays off more quickly than expected. Faced with that outcome, a person might naturally be caught off guard, and the deadpan recommendation is to act as though success was always the plan.

This attitude brings with it a sense of lightness in the face of achievement. Instead of taking the moment too seriously or resting on laurels, the advice is to approach accomplishment with a balance of poise and modesty. No matter how surprising victory might be, meeting it with calm acceptance fosters grace and leaves a more lasting impression than self-congratulation or disbelief.