In discussing the road to success, the question of "whether the failure of others is my stepping stone" involves multiple dimensions such as ethics, psychology, and social relations. The following are some hierarchical thoughts for your reference： ### 1. **Competition and the limitations of zero-sum thinking** -**Short-term perspective**: In a highly competitive environment (such as sports competitions, commercial bidding), the failure of others may directly create opportunities for you. But this kind of "zero-sum thinking" (one person must win and one person must lose) can easily oversimplify the path to success. -**Long-term cost**: If the failure of others is regarded as a stepping stone to normalization, it may lead to excessive competition, difficulties in cooperation, and even a slippery slope of moral bottom line. True and lasting success is often based on collaboration and win-win. ### 2. **The nature of success and failure** -**The value of failure**: The failure of others can be your "warning sign" (avoid repeated mistakes), "learning case" (analyze the cause and improve the strategy), rather than a simple stepping stone. For example, scientists optimize the research direction from the failure of peer experiments. -**One's own growth**: Success depends more on one's own ability improvement, resource accumulation and opportunity grasp. Paying too much attention to the failures of others may distract energy and neglect self-building. ### 3. **Ethical and empathy considerations** -**The boundaries of human nature**: The toolization of the pain of others (even competitors) may corrode self-values and affect interpersonal trust and social reputation in the long run. -**Possibility of win-win situation**: There are "competitive and cooperative relationships" in many fields (such as joint research and development of enterprises). Respecting opponents and maintaining principles in competition often win more opportunities for cooperation. ### 4. **Balance of mental health** -**Comparison trap**: Measuring one's own success by the failure of others is easy to fall into anxiety or false sense of superiority. A healthy mindset is to focus on the trajectory of self-growth rather than comparing with others. -**Empathy ability**: Maintaining basic empathy for the failures of others can avoid excessive utilitarian thinking and maintain mental health and social relations. ### 5. **A smarter perspective: from "stepping stone" to "ladder"** -**Systematic thinking**: Success depends on the ecosystem (team, industry, social support). If the failure of others leads to a shrinking industry or a crisis of trust, it may eventually harm everyone. -**Surpassing competition**: True breakthroughs often come from innovation rather than crushing opponents. For example, Apple subverts Nokia by creating new demand, rather than waiting for opponents to make mistakes. ### Summary suggestion： The failure of others can become an indirect resource for you to reflect and learn, but it should not be regarded as a necessary condition for success or a tool for active use. Focusing on self-improvement, value creation, and healthy competition can not only maintain the ethical bottom line, but also achieve more sustainable success. As Calvino metaphorically said in "The Invisible City": "Hell is not a certain place in the future, but something that already exists and is built for others. "The true height of success is often reflected in how you treat those who fail to walk with you.