Sometimes success can bring complacency.

Hear now the words of Brad Parscale, who declared: “Sometimes success can bring complacency.” These words, though simple, bear the weight of ages, for they remind us of a truth carved deep into the bones of history: that the very triumphs which lift us high may also lull us into slumber. Success, that golden crown so many seek, may become a trap when it whispers that the battle is finished, that the struggle need not continue. But the wise know that to rest too long upon victory is to invite decline, for the world moves ever forward, and the complacent are soon overtaken.

The ancients taught that fire must always be fed, lest it fade into ash. So it is with ambition, vision, and strength. Complacency is the slow poison of the soul, creeping in when the feast is rich, when the laurels are fresh upon one’s brow. Victory tempts the heart to believe that no further striving is needed, that one has already reached the summit. But in truth, every summit is but the base of another mountain, waiting to be climbed.

Consider the fall of mighty Troy, that city of stone and pride. For ten long years, it withstood the Greeks, boasting of its strength, rejoicing in its high walls. Yet in the hour of seeming triumph, Troy grew complacent. They welcomed within their gates the wooden horse, believing the war won, the danger past. But hidden inside was destruction, and in their prideful rest, they invited their own ruin. Thus does history teach us: success without vigilance breeds downfall.

Or think of the empire of Rome, which conquered nations and spanned continents. In its youth, Rome was fierce, disciplined, unyielding. But as its power grew, its spirit weakened. Luxuries replaced labor, vanity replaced virtue. Citizens sought pleasure more than duty, and rulers loved power more than justice. The empire rotted from within, not because of the strength of its enemies, but because complacency had devoured its heart. Success had blinded it, and decline became inevitable.

The lesson, O seekers, is this: guard your spirit in the hour of triumph. Rejoice in victory, but do not let it bind you in sloth. Remember always that success is not an end, but a beginning. The true warrior celebrates today, yet sharpens his blade for tomorrow. The true builder admires the house he has made, yet plans the next foundation. In this way, success remains a stepping stone, not a prison of the mind.

Practically, let each of you cultivate the discipline of renewal. When you achieve a goal, pause to give thanks—but then set a new goal, higher, greater, nobler. Reflect upon your victories not as excuses to rest, but as fuel to carry you further. Surround yourself with those who challenge you, not flatter you. Seek growth, not comfort. For in striving onward, you keep your spirit alive, sharp, and unbroken.

So remember the words of Brad Parscale: “Sometimes success can bring complacency.” Let them be a warning etched upon your heart. For success, though sweet, is fleeting, but the hunger for growth, the fire of purpose, and the courage to rise again—these are eternal. Carry them with you, and you shall never be ensnared by the velvet chains of complacency. Instead, you will march ever onward, a flame unquenched, a soul unbowed, leaving behind not the silence of rest, but the echo of greatness.