A crown Golden in show, is but a wreath of thorns, Bring dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights To him who wears the regal diadem
Interpretation
True success often comes with hidden burdens and challenges.
This quote suggests that the outward appearance of success, symbolized by a golden crown, often conceals the hardships and difficulties that accompany it. The metaphor of a 'wreath of thorns' emphasizes the struggles, dangers, and sleepless nights faced by those in positions of power and achievement, reminding us that the pursuit of greatness may lead to significant personal sacrifice and stress.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about the pressures of leadership.
They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand, the gate With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms: Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide; They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, Through Eden took their solitary way.
The stars, that nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps with everlasting oil, give due light to the misled and lonely traveller.
Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipp'd stocks and stones.
Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss
The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate Him.
Apt words have power to suage the tumors of a troubled mind.
If you wish to succeed, you must brave the risk of failure.
Failure is inherent in the game. So if you don't respond well to adversity, you're probably not going to have a long career.
When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: 'Whose?'
I have always been selling. I always had something going on. That was just my nature.
I have known lots of millionaires who were not happy men; they had not got all they wanted and therefore had failed to find success in life. A Singalese proverb says: "He who is happy is rich, but it does not follow that he who is rich is happy." The really rich man is the man who has fewest wants.
You know, I'm trying to chase rings, and that's all I'm about. So that's where the conversation stops for me.
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