Originally from Herbert Bayard Swope (1882-1958); often attributed to Cosby, he actually cites this as a sound advice he once read elsewhere, in "Dr. Bill Cosby" in Ebony, Vol. 32, No. 8 (June 1977), p. 136
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I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
— Bill Cosby
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." in the context of "Originally from Herbert Bayard Swope (1882-1958); often attributed to Cosby, he actually cites this as a sound advice he once read elsewhere, in "Dr. Bill Cosby" in Ebony, Vol. 32, No. 8 (June 1977), p. 136" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Bill Cosby" (Misattributed)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. Ed.D (born 12 July 1937) is an American actor, comedian, television producer, and author. He first found success as a standup comic before moving into acting. In the action series I Spy (1965-68) he was one of the first black actors to have a leading role on a regular American series, and in the 1980s and '90s The Cosby Show (1984-1992) was a major hit for NBC, being the most popular American television program for five consecutive seasons.
About Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. Ed.D (born 12 July 1937) is an American actor, comedian, television producer, and author. He first found success as a standup comic before moving into acting. In the action series I Spy (1965-68) he was one of the first black actors to have a leading role on a regular American series, and in the 1980s and '90s The Cosby Show (1984-1992) was a major hit for NBC, being the most popular American television program for five consecutive seasons.
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