He thinks nice guys finish last in this competitive office.
nice guys finish last
idiomPeople who are decent, friendly, and agreeable tend to be unsuccessful because they are outmaneuvered or overwhelmed by others who are not so decent, friendly, or agreeable.
Origin
first recorded 20th c.First appears in the US c. 1946, and condensed from a comment by the baseball manager Leo Durocher. The original quote was The nice guys are all over there, in seventh place. (1946 July 6), about the 1946 New York Giants — seventh place was next-to-last place in the National League. This was shortly afterwards rendered as ‘Nice Guys’ Wind Up in Last Place, Scoffs Lippy, hence giving the present form.
After losing the promotion to a dishonest coworker, he sadly concluded that nice guys finish last.
Despite his unwavering integrity and kindness, he often lamented that nice guys finish last in a world that rewards ruthless ambition.
- 01
breathe one's last
To die.
- 02
cobbler, keep to your last
One should not criticise matters outside one's field of expertise; one should mind one's business.
- 03
dead last
Finishing in last place in a competition or ranking, often by a considerable margin to the next to last place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.
- 04
draw one's last breath
To die.
- 05
every last
every; without exception (used for emphasis).
- 06
fall at the last hurdle
To fail near the end of an activity, a project, etc.
- 07
finish with
To put aside, break all relations with, or reject finally.
- 08
first and last
A person's combined given name and surname.