He that is pushing his predecessors into the gulf of obscurity, cannot but sometimes suspect, that he must himself sink in like manner, and, as he stands upon the same precipice, be swept away with the same violence

Summary

This quote suggests that someone who works persistently to diminish the accomplishments or prominence of those who came before them may eventually face a similar fate. They may begin to fear that they too will be forgotten or disregarded, as they find themselves in a vulnerable position, potentially suffering the same fate as those they undermined. The quote highlights the precariousness of one's own position when they focus solely on pushing others down.

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