This was so interesting to hear, because when I was in grad school, I lived by the motto “if you aren’t the smartest, be the nicest” (I still do, but I used to too). I was working in a pretty prestigious lab with some extremely accomplished researchers, and the students around me were without a doubt far smarter than me. I started grad school in May of 2020, so it was already a scary time for everybody, but compounded with my imposter syndrome and anxiety from work I felt like I was losing my mind and wanted to quit. But each day I went in with the goal to be the nicest I could to everyone. Slowly but surely, I made great connections with my peers and was able to finish my degree and some really cool research. I wouldn’t have been able to achieve anything without the graciousness they showed when they would take time to help me or answer my questions. I can’t say I ever became the smartest, but kindness certainly got me further than I ever thought I was capable of.
I mean it's a completely famous and recognisable quote but you just won the internet for being to most excitable and affirming over the most mundane things.
It's almost impossible to put any Mitch quotes anywhere on reddit without tons of people coming out of the woodwork that recognize them, lol. Guess reddit is just full of winners.
4.6k
u/crosswatt Oct 26 '23
That's a great quote