Steven Wright's Essay 'The Early Bird May Get The Worm'

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Brendan Borsh Advanced Composition Hour 2 Mr. Blakeslee Fall 2024 How to Succeed: Analysis Essay Steven Wright, a famous stand-up comedian, actor, and writer, claims “The early bird may get the worm, but it is the second mouse that gets the cheese.” This quote seems simple and almost childish if just read once. When the quote is broken down and analyzed in depth, there are different meanings and life lessons within. This quote gives advice on how to succeed. The first part of the quote, “The early bird may get the worm,” references the popular proverb, “The early bird gets the worm.” This suggests that the bird that wakes up the earliest has a better chance of finding food as the other birds have not awakened yet to compete. The meaning of the quote has a much more …show more content…

Finally, the quote, “The early bird may get the worm, but it is the second mouse that gets the cheese,” also has a different meaning when looked at together. Just looking at the first part means that going first gives that person a better chance at success. The second part means that waiting and letting someone else go first, will also provide an individual with a better chance at success. So, which one is right? Overall, the quote says that the person who catches the opportunity first gets success, but sometimes it’s better to think and learn from other people’s mistakes before taking any action. By just looking at the first or second part of the quote, only one perspective is shown. Looking at the quote as a whole allows for someone to see both meanings, which can apply to different scenarios. Going first in something while being unprepared might not be the best option, but if someone is prepared, going first and showing confidence will lead to success. On the other hand, someone who waits when they are not prepared will learn from others, giving them a better chance at

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