Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.
A boy can learn a lot from a dog: obedience, loyalty, and the importance of turning around three times before lying down.
Some editors are failed writers, but so are most writers.
You're dealing with the demon of external validation. You can't beat external validation. You want to know why? Because it feels sooo good.
History is more or less bunk.
Therefore search and see if there is not some place where you may invest your humanity.
My pessimism extends to the point of even suspecting the sincerity of the pessimists.