Status Anxiety

Wednesday, 8th October 2008

My ten-point guide to being just like me and Peter Mandelson

9. It is better to be hated than mildly disliked. If you merely irritate people, they are unlikely to change their mind about you — but if they loathe you with a passion, it is easier to bring them round. One minute they detest you, the next they want to be your best friend. This is a quirk of the human psyche. As the saying goes, there is a thin line between love and hate.

10. Above all, do not be a quitter. Everything you need to know about how to fail upwards is contained in the following anonymous quotation that used to hang above the desk of Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s: ‘Press on: nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. Press on!’

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robert

October 9th, 2008 7:36pm Report this comment

How depressing

Victoria

October 10th, 2008 3:22pm Report this comment

The quotation you cite is not anonymous. It was said (or written) by Calvin Coolidge.

David Short

October 13th, 2008 6:13pm Report this comment

This can be summed up in just one phrase: suck up to those above you, and spit on those below.

All it takes is a total lack of self-respect.

The great Gatsby

October 15th, 2008 5:37pm Report this comment

Some of your articles, pretty
funny, hehe.

Anielka

October 22nd, 2008 6:16pm Report this comment

Actually, despite being side-splittingly funny I found:
(i) the Macdonald's quote very inspiring (reminded me of Woody Allen - "80% of success is turning up")
(ii) I have a lot more in common with Mr. Mandelson than I thought
(iii) I feel much more comfortable with being hated than I did prior to reading this.
Thank you.