Pleasing Everybody

I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure–It is: Try to please everybody.

— Herbert Bayard Swope

The meaning of the Quote

The quote “I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure–It is: Try to please everybody” is often attributed to Herbert Bayard Swope, a prominent American journalist and editor. This quote suggests that attempting to please everyone is a surefire way to fail rather than succeed.

The essence of the quote lies in the inherent impossibility of satisfying every individual’s expectations and preferences. People have diverse opinions, desires, and values, making it impractical to cater to everyone’s needs simultaneously. By attempting to please everyone, one may end up compromising their own vision, principles, or objectives.

In many situations, pursuing success requires making decisions and taking actions that may not align with everyone’s interests. Striving to satisfy every person’s expectations often leads to a diluted or watered-down approach that lacks a clear direction or conviction. Consequently, it becomes difficult to make significant progress or achieve notable accomplishments.

The quote serves as a reminder that success often requires making choices, taking calculated risks, and staying true to one’s own values and goals. It implies that focusing on a particular audience or target group and delivering value to them can be a more effective strategy than trying to please everyone, which often leads to mediocrity or a lack of direction.