Success is a great deodorant.

Hear the sharp and witty words of Elizabeth Taylor, who declared: “Success is a great deodorant.” In this brief phrase lies wisdom wrapped in humor, for she unveils a truth about the nature of human perception. Success has the power to mask flaws, mistakes, and failures, much as a deodorant masks unpleasant odors. The world, quick to judge and often unforgiving, becomes strangely forgiving when triumph is present. What was once criticized or ridiculed is forgotten, hidden beneath the fragrance of victory.

The ancients too knew this truth, though they spoke in different metaphors. Plutarch tells of great generals whose early blunders were overlooked because of later victories. A leader who falters but then leads his army to glory has his errors washed away by triumph, just as success covers the stench of failure. In this way, Taylor’s words remind us that humanity is often shallow in its remembrance, favoring the victorious and forgetting the imperfect paths by which they arrived.

Consider the tale of Winston Churchill. Before the Second World War, he was viewed by many as a failed politician, a relic of old wars and outdated ideas. His missteps and controversial decisions were spoken of more loudly than his achievements. Yet when the fire of war engulfed Europe, his leadership brought forth victory and survival for Britain. His success became his deodorant, and the failures of his past faded from memory beneath the fragrance of triumph. Such is the power of achievement to transform reputation.

Elizabeth Taylor herself spoke from experience. Her life was marked by scandals, failed marriages, and public criticism. Yet her success as an actress, her beauty, her commanding presence on screen, and her later humanitarian efforts overshadowed the controversies. Where others might have been judged harshly, she was remembered for her talent and her victories. The same public that gossiped also adored her, because her success masked the imperfections they might otherwise have condemned.

Yet there is a subtle warning in her words. For if success is a deodorant, it does not erase the odor beneath—it only covers it. The flaws remain, even if unseen by the public eye. A man or woman may rise to fame and have their sins overlooked, but time has a way of peeling back the mask. History, more honest than the crowd, often remembers both the victories and the hidden faults. Thus, Taylor’s saying is both truth and caution: yes, success can cover flaws, but it cannot purify the soul.

The lesson is plain: do not rely solely on success to redeem you in the eyes of others. Let it inspire you, but also labor to be true in character and deed, so that when the fragrance of achievement fades, integrity remains. Remember that the world may overlook your flaws when you win, but your own heart will not forget them. Strive, therefore, not only for victories that dazzle, but for virtues that endure.

Practical wisdom follows: pursue success, but do not let it be your only shield. Work to build honesty, kindness, and resilience alongside achievement. Reflect upon your mistakes, even when the crowd no longer notices them, and learn from them. Celebrate your victories, but do not hide behind them. For true greatness is not the masking of faults, but the transformation of them.

So let the words of Elizabeth Taylor endure: “Success is a great deodorant.” Children of tomorrow, understand the paradox they reveal. Success may hide your blemishes in the eyes of others, but do not let it deceive you into believing they are gone. Let your victories be fragrant, yes—but let your soul also be clean, so that even when the applause fades, your life will still carry the fragrance of truth.