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Nice Guys Finish Last ... "
Lance Edward Armstrong

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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

10 Examples of "Nice Guys Finish Last" in Sentences
Here are some instances where this idiom seamlessly fits into sentences:

What do they say about polite folks in a marathon? Nice guys finish last - just a lame joke, of course!
After he got gooned, he started ranting about how 'nice guys finish last,' blaming his kind nature for his misfortune.
Nice guys finish last; perhaps that's why he's always overlooked for promotions despite his hard work.
In the world of professional sports, it often seems like nice guys finish last.
I've always thought 'nice guys finish last' was just words to live by, but now I realize it isn't always the case.
He learned the hard way that nice guys finish last when he lost his job to a more assertive colleague.
Good on you for proving that 'nice guys finish last' is not a universal truth.
The world of politics is ruthless and often makes a case for nice guys finishing last.
Kidding aside, believing too much in 'nice guys finish last' can make us cynical.
In the competitive world of real estate, nice guys often finish last, as assertiveness is key.
Examples of "Nice Guys Finish Last" in Pop Culture
This phrase has seen representation in a multitude of pop culture mediums, spanning from movies to music and literature.

Some notable examples include:

The 1997 song "Nice Guys Finish Last" by the punk rock band Green Day comments on the concept in its lyrics.
A quote from the 2008 book "Winners Never Cheat" reads, "Leo Durocher was quite wrong when he said, 'Nice guys finish last.' Not only can nice people finish first, they finish better."
The book "No More Mr. Nice Guy" by Dr. Robert Glover discusses this idea in the context of modern masculinity.
Other/Different Ways to Say "Nice Guys Finish Last"
Several other phrases can communicate a similar sentiment in English.

These alternative phrases include:

Kindness doesn't always pay
Good deeds go unrewarded
Passivity leads to loss
Compassion can be a disadvantage
Politeness isn't always profitable
You can use these alternatives depending on the context and the intended message.

10 Frequently Asked Questions About "Nice Guys Finish Last"
What does "nice guys finish last" mean?
"Nice guys finish last" suggests that people who are polite and considerate often do not achieve their desired results as quickly or as often as more aggressive or assertive individuals.

How can I use "nice guys finish last" in a sentence?
The idiom "nice guys finish last" can be used to describe a situation where a kind-hearted person does not achieve their desired outcome, such as, "Despite his hard work and dedication, he was passed over for the promotion; nice guys finish last."

Where does the idiom "nice guys finish last" come from?
The phrase "nice guys finish last" is often attributed to Leo Durocher, a famous American baseball player, and manager, referring to the less aggressive behavior of a rival team.

Is "nice guys finish last" applicable only in competitive situations?
While it often refers to competitive scenarios, the idiom can be used in any context where a person's kindness or non-assertiveness may be seen as a disadvantage, including interpersonal relationships.

Can "nice guys finish last" be used in a positive context?
It's usually used to convey a negative or cautionary message, but it can be used positively to criticize overly competitive environments or to promote the value of kindness over winning at all costs.

Are there any popular cultural references using the idiom "nice guys finish last"?
Yes, the idiom has been used in various songs, movies, and literature, such as Green Day's song "Nice Guys Finish Last".

Does the phrase "nice guys finish last" imply that being kind is not advantageous?
Not necessarily. While the phrase suggests that kindness may be a disadvantage in certain competitive or aggressive situations, it doesn't imply that kindness itself is bad. It often serves as a critique of situations where assertiveness is overvalued.

Can the idiom "nice guys finish last" be used to refer to women?
Yes, despite the word "guys," the idiom can be applied to anyone, regardless of gender, who may face setbacks due to their kind or non-assertive behavior.

How can "nice guys finish last" be interpreted in different contexts?
The idiom can have different implications based on context. In a social situation, it might suggest that a kind person is overlooked in favor of more assertive individuals. In a professional context, it might refer to a person's struggle to advance due to their polite and non-confrontational manner.

Is the idiom "nice guys finish last" still relevant today?
Yes, the phrase "nice guys finish last" is still relevant and widely used today to describe scenarios where kindness or politeness seems to disadvantage an individual in achieving their goals.

Final Thoughts About "Nice Guys Finish Last"
The idiom "nice guys finish last" mirrors the perception that considerate, polite individuals may face challenges in competitive environments. It indicates a societal tension between kindness and assertiveness, suggesting that the latter is often more rewarded.

Key aspects of the phrase:

Depicts a perceived disadvantage of kindness in competitive situations
Indicates a societal emphasis on assertiveness and competitiveness
It can have both a cautionary and critical tone
Remember that this idiom is a reflection of societal attitudes and not a rule. Kindness and assertiveness are not mutually exclusive, and successful outcomes often depend on a balance of both.

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Lance Edward Armstrong (n; Gunderson; born September 18, 1972) is an American former professional road racing cyclist. He achieved international fame for winning the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005, but was stripped of his titles after an investigation into doping allegations, called the Lance Armstrong doping case, found that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs over his career. As a result, Armstrong is currently banned for life from all sanctioned bicycling events.

At age 16, Armstrong began competing as a triathlete and was a national sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990. In 1992, he began his career as a professional cyclist with the Motorola team. Armstrong had success between 1993 and 1996 with the World Championship in 1993, the Cl;sica de San Sebasti;n in 1995, Tour DuPont in 1995 and 1996, and a handful of stage victories in Europe, including stage 8 of the 1993 Tour de France and stage 18 of the 1995 Tour de France. In 1996, he was diagnosed with a potentially fatal metastatic testicular cancer. After recovering, Armstrong founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation (now the Livestrong Foundation) to assist other cancer survivors.

Returning to cycling in 1998, Armstrong was a member of the US Postal/Discovery team between 1998 and 2005 when he won his seven Tour de France titles. Armstrong retired from racing at the end of the 2005 Tour de France, but returned to competitive cycling with the Astana team in January 2009, finishing third in the 2009 Tour de France later that year. Between 2010 and 2011, he raced with Team Radio Shack, and retired for a second time in 2011.

Armstrong became the subject of doping allegations after winning the 1999 Tour de France. For years, he denied involvement in doping. In 2012, a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) investigation concluded that Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs over the course of his career and named him as the ringleader of "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen". While maintaining his innocence, Armstrong chose not to contest the charges, citing the potential toll on his family. He received a lifetime ban from all sports that follow the World Anti-Doping Code, ending Armstrong's competitive cycling career.[9] The International Cycling Union (UCI) upheld USADA's decision and decided that his stripped wins would not be allocated to other riders.[N 1] In January 2013, Armstrong publicly admitted his involvement in doping. In April 2018, Armstrong settled a civil lawsuit with the United States Department of Justice and agreed to pay US$5 million to the U.S. government after whistleblower proceedings were commenced by Floyd Landis, a former team member.