This quote suggests that the cause of failure in men is not due to their lack of intelligence, but rather their lack of passion. It implies that passion, or a strong and barely controllable emotion, is a more significant driver of success than mere intelligence. It’s the force that fuels perseverance, dedication, and resilience in the face of obstacles, which are crucial components of achieving success.

The quote is a reminder that intelligence alone is not enough. Without passion, one might not have the motivation to apply their intelligence effectively, to strive for excellence, or to persevere in the face of challenges. Therefore, failure, as per this quote, is more about the absence of passion than the absence of intelligence.

In today’s world, this idea is particularly relevant. In a society that often places a high value on IQ, test scores, and other measures of cognitive ability, it’s easy to overlook the importance of passion. However, many successful entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, and leaders attribute their achievements not to their intelligence, but to their passion for their work.

In terms of personal development, this quote serves as a call to action to discover and pursue what truly excites and motivates us. It suggests that to avoid failure and to achieve success, we need to be “sufficiently impassioned.” This could involve finding a career that we love, pursuing a cause that we believe in, or dedicating ourselves to a hobby that brings us joy. In other words, we need to find our passion and let it drive our actions and decisions. This way, we can harness our intelligence in a way that leads to success, rather than failure.