"Success if relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things."
what does this quote mean?

Success is relative: It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. ... you will be struck by the fact that almost every one of them encountered inordinate difficulties sufficient to ... To each individual the world will take on a different connotation of meaning-the important lies in the desire to search for an answer.

explanation:

the silver bells of the sleds are merry and keep time in the winter nights while the sky twinkles happily. the golden bells of weddings are delightful in their peaceful happiness, foretelling a rapturous future. meanwhile, the brazen alarm bells scream frightfully in the night, with a discordant and desperate sound. in their clamor, these bells convey terror, horror, and anger. finally, the iron bells are solemn and melancholy, while those in the church steeple are like ghouls who feel happiness. the king of the ghouls, who rings the bells, cheerfully keeps time with the moaning and groaning bells.