Achievement-based status only works when few attain the feat
Evidence
Status seeking is like weight loss: we’d love to be slimmer without having to eat right and go to the gym. Also, status through achievement is useful only for an accomplished few. If all achieve the same exceptional feat, it’s no longer exceptional. — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 302
Categorization
- APHORISMS: The scarcity logic — status by achievement self-defeats once universal — is a crisp recurrent lesson.
- XREF: connects to: Status criteria shift across eras while always rewarding rare talents — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 84; High status requires others believing one possesses rare, valuable talents — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 78; Scarce perks both motivate ranking pursuit and reveal one’s position — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 53 (+1 more)
Broader Connections
- High status requires others believing one possesses rare, valuable talents
#expands(0.90) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 78 - Status criteria shift across eras while always rewarding rare talents
#expands(0.85) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 84 - Status is a zero-sum ranking, so everyone cannot rise simultaneously
#corroborates(0.80) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 73 - Scarce perks both motivate ranking pursuit and reveal one’s position
#expands(0.75) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 53