Nice Guys Finish Last?

StClone

Well-Known Member
Dec 17, 2009
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Wisconsin

We find two people at the top of their games who are as much Iowa State as we could believe possible. They are both beloved and caring to people especially Iowa State and its loyal fans. How is it possible that we are so fortunate to be represented by two humble, mature, genuine humans who are absolute leaders and winners? If you did not know anything about them, and met for the first time and chatted, in those minutes you would quickly estimate them as nice, average guys.​


Tyrese and Brock are so different than what one would expect from athletic stars. I hope they never lose their charm and love of Iowa State.


Nice Guys Finish Last: Definition, Meaning and Origin​



Last Updated on
May 25, 2023
The idiom "nice guys finish last" suggests that people who are considerate, kind, and unassertive often get overlooked or don't achieve their desired results compared to more aggressive or less scrupulous individuals. This phrase can often be heard in contexts involving competition or pursuit, such as business or romantic relationships.
In short:
"Nice guys finish last" means that polite and considerate individuals often do not succeed due to their passive nature or the actions of more aggressive counterparts.

What Does "Nice Guys Finish Last" Mean?​

The idiom "nice guys finish last" implies that people who are respectful, considerate, and kind-hearted may not always achieve the success they deserve due to their good-natured attributes. This suggests that sometimes the world favors bold, assertive, or even manipulative individuals.
Key aspects of the idiom's meaning include:
  • Indicates that being kind, courteous, and respectful may not always yield the best outcomes
  • Commonly used in contexts of competition, such as careers, sports, or romance
  • Illustrates the potential disadvantage of excessive kindness or passivity

Where Does "Nice Guys Finish Last" Come From?​

The phrase "nice guys finish last" is often credited to Leo Durocher, a well-known American baseball player and manager. Durocher purportedly used this phrase to characterize the excessively courteous and less assertive conduct of a competing baseball team. Despite Durocher's assertion that he coined the phrase (he even titled his autobiography after it), some sources argue that the precise phrase he used was, "Nice guys don’t win pennants." The phrase has since gained popularity and broadened its scope beyond sports.

Historical Example​

"We don't subscribe to the one-time Durocher philosophy that nice guys finish last, but we have found on a number of occasions that nice newspaper guys frequently get beat on good stories."
- The Billboard Magazine, 1953
 
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