Jump to content
Create New...

Past Cadillac response to Packard


hyperv6

Recommended Posts

The following was published by Cadillac in a print advertisement circa 1915 in response to a Packard advertisement crticial of Cadillac. I believe it still applies.

The Penalty of Leadership

"In every field of human endeavor, he that is first must perpetually live in the white light of publicity. Whether the leadership be vested in a man or in a manufactured product, emulation and envy are ever at work. In art, in literature, in music, in industry, the reward and the punishment are always the same. The reward is widespread recognition; the punishment, fierce denial and detraction. When a man’s work becomes a standard for the whole world, it also becomes a target for the shafts of the envious few. If his work be mediocre, he will be left severely alone - if he achieves a masterpiece, it will set a million tongues a-wagging. Jealousy does not protrude its forked tongue at the artist who produces a commonplace painting. Whatsoever you write, or paint, or play, or sing, or build, no one will strive to surpass or to slander you unless your work be stamped with the seal of genius. Long, long after a great work or a good work has been done, those who are disappointed or envious, continue to cry out that it cannot be done. Spiteful little voices in the domain of art were raised against our own Whistler, long after the big world had acclaimed him its greatest artistic genius. Multitudes flocked to Bayreuth to worship at the musical shrine of Wagner, while the little group of those whom he had dethroned and displaced argued angrily that he was no musician at all. The little world continued to protest that Fulton could never build a steamboat, while the big world flocked to the river banks to see his boat steam by. The leader is assailed because he is a leader, and the effort to equal him is merely added proof of that leadership. Failing to equal or to excel, the follower seeks to depreciate and to destroy - but only confirms once more the superiority of that which he strives to supplant. There is nothing new in this. It is as old as the world and as old as human passions - envy, fear, greed, ambition, and the desire to surpass. And it all avails nothing. If the leader truly leads, he remains - the leader. Master-poet, master-painter, master-workman, each in his turn is assailed, and each holds his laurels through the ages. "That which is good or great makes itself known, no matter how loud the clamor of denial. That which deserves to live - lives."

I see this still relevent today as it was in 1915. Cadillac need not be the highest volume or the fastest, they just need to be the best and be the leader in the market segmsnet. Cadillac needs to be the one other copy.

Edited by hyperv6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

And it all avails nothing. If the leader truly leads, he remains - the leader. Master-poet, master-painter, master-workman, each in his turn is assailed, and each holds his laurels through the ages. "That which is good or great makes itself known, no matter how loud the clamor of denial. That which deserves to live - lives."

I see this still relevent today as it was in 1915. Cadillac need not be the highest volume or the fastest, they just need to be the best and be the leader in the market segmsnet. Cadillac needs to be the one other copy.

I would mostly agree, but Cadillac is far from that now. BMW and Mercedes are the current brands that the article would apply too. I would say the last couple lines applies to the S-class. For 9 generations it has been the leader everyone is following. And Cadillac of course did live, while Packard did not. Let's hope Cadillac doesn't become Packard, although I think Lincoln is headed in that direction.

  • Agree 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

'Cadillac need not be the highest volume' is very true, yet we all read that here incessantly as if it meant all.

Too many at GM too think volume and not profit. Many times in the case of a fine luxury car less is more in the eyes of the consumer. The less they see of a particular popular model around the more their ego is fufilled. All the part of image.

I will have to try to find out what Packard said as it had to have been a whopper. Cadillac here showed how to tell Packard FU with class and style, I like that. :smilewide:

Edited by hyperv6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wasn't speaking of GM personnel, but members here (and other armchair critics).

I know but the sad part is there are some within GM thinking the same thing. The web people being wrong have no effect on stock prices but those within GM with the odd thinking could cost them in many ways.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search