If someone could have been great at something, but failed because

>>8498523
Pride and greatness are subjective emotional designations. Its entirely contingent on opinion regardless, not objective fact

> Could he still reasonably feel proud of himself that he "could have"?

Yes of course he could, "would he" is the determining question

>>8498523
I read an article about a law school graduate who couldn't find work. He was satisfied though because he could still think of himself as a lawyer, even though he had never actually practiced law. His friends and family also treated him like he was actually a lawyer even though he was unemployed.

I think >>8498534 is right that Ali could think of himself that way but I would agree with Thoreau that you must make yourself into a character. While Ali and the law school grad might think they have achieved something I think their pride is unreasonable, a crippled Ali is not a boxer and an unemployed law school grad is not a lawyer.

>>8498523
just die with some dignity

>>8498552

Could they find any pride, though? Not nearly to the same level as being a lawyer/champion boxer, but some level of satisfaction. I brought up Ali because I wonder about destined-to-be-great athletes and the difficulty they have with career ending injuries that happened before they could really become somebody. I feel like they should be able to have some pride in themselves, but where's the line between that and a whiney douche who keeps saying "yeah I COULD'VE been great, if only this thing didn't happen. I'm basically the same as [insert famous person]." Obviously a failed boxer of great talent can't say he's on the same level of prestige as Ali, so what can he say, exactly?

>>8498639
No. You either achieve success or you don't. You can gain sympathy from failing to meet your potential due to external influences but you can't draw pride from potential success.