“I wonder if life is ever lived well by anybody, if there is any one thing that might be called a success—except survival.”

Simplified Meaning:

Living a good life can be really hard and messy, and maybe no one truly lives it perfectly. It’s tough to know if there’s any clear way to see someone as truly successful, other than just making it through each day. Think about people throughout history who are considered great, like famous leaders or artists—they all faced struggles and imperfections. For example, Abraham Lincoln led the country through tough times and is remembered as a great leader, but he had personal struggles and made mistakes too. This quote suggests that instead of aiming for a perfect life or trying to be hugely successful, just surviving and getting through each day might be the real achievement. We can apply this by not being too hard on ourselves and recognizing that doing our best to get through life is already an accomplishment.