Success Quote by Walter Annenberg

Annenberg’s line reads like friendly advice, but it carries the hard-edged worldview of a businessman who watched attention become the scarce resource of modern life. “Not easy” does quiet work here: it lowers expectations, warns against entitlement, and frames fascination as something earned, not granted. In a culture that sells “find your passion” as a lifestyle accessory, he’s arguing the opposite. Interest and enthusiasm don’t arrive as a lightning bolt; they’re pursued, tested, and built.

The pairing of “intrigue” with “bind” is especially telling. Intrigue is the spark; bind is the glue. He’s not describing a hobby that briefly amuses you but a commitment that can hold you through boredom, doubt, and the long middle where most people quit. That’s a very Annenberg kind of pragmatism: the point isn’t self-expression, it’s stamina.

Then comes the unromantic punch: “This you must seek for yourself.” No mentor, institution, or parent can outsource it for you. It’s both empowering and slightly ruthless, a refusal to flatter the listener with easy reassurance. Coming from a man who built an empire in publishing and broadcasting, the subtext is almost meta: the world will compete aggressively for your attention, but it won’t hand you meaning. You have to decide what’s worth letting in, and what’s worth sticking with after the novelty evaporates.