Nothing succeeds like success


What's the meaning of the phrase 'Nothing succeeds like success'?

A proverb, expressing the idea that success breeds further success.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Nothing succeeds like success'?

This view was first put into print by Sir Arthur Helps, in Realmah, 1868:

“Nothing succeeds like success.” [Rien ne réussit comme le succès.]

We would be remiss in our duties if we didn’t include the corny old joke:

“Nothing succeeds like a parrot with no teeth.”

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.