That's a powerfully cynical and insightful statement. It highlights a common disconnect between well-meaning parental advice and the harsh realities of life. Here's a breakdown of why it resonates: The Illusion of Control: The saying "your success lies in your hands" emphasizes personal agency and the idea that success is attainable through hard work and determination. It implies a significant degree of control over one's destiny. The Overlooked Constant: Failure: The counterpoint reveals a crucial omission. While effort certainly contributes to success, failure is often a more consistent and unavoidable experience. External factors, systemic inequalities, bad luck, and simple human error can all lead to setbacks, regardless of one's efforts. The Burden of Responsibility: The original statement can inadvertently place an undue burden of responsibility on individuals. When failure occurs, it can be internalized as a personal failing, leading to self-doubt and discouragement. The Need for Realistic Expectations: The revised statement offers a more realistic perspective. It acknowledges the prevalence of failure and suggests that individuals should be prepared to navigate setbacks and learn from them. It hints at resilience and the importance of developing coping mechanisms for dealing with inevitable disappointments. In essence, your statement critiques the often-simplistic narrative of individual success and highlights the crucial role of failure in the human experience. It's a reminder that striving for success is important, but so is accepting the inevitability of failure and building the resilience to keep going.