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Success & Failure


Success & Failure

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Quotations

OvidGreatly he failed, but he had greatly dared.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

17 likes
Albert EinsteinIf A is success in life, then A = x + y + z. Work is x, play is y and z is keeping your mouth shut.

—  Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German-Jewish physicist

15 likes
NapoleonThe reason most people fail instead of succeed is they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

13 likes
George Bernard ShawSuccess does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

11 likes
Alfred TennysonIt's better to have tried and failed than to live life wondering what would've happened if I had tried.

—  Alfred Tennyson, 1809-1892, English poet

11 likes
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.Success is getting what you want. Happiness is liking what you get.

—  H. Jackson Brown, Jr., 1940-2021, American self-help writer

10 likes
Jim RohnFailure is not a single, cataclysmic event. You don’t fail overnight. Instead, failure is a few errors in judgment, repeated every day.

—  Jim Rohn, 1930-2009, American self-help speker

10 likes
MontesquieuI have always observed that to succeed in the world one should appear like a fool but be wise.

—  Montesquieu, 1689-1755, French thinker

10 likes
Winston ChurchillSuccess is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.

—  Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister, Nobel 1953

10 likes
Karl JungTo be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.

—  Karl Jung, 1875-1961, Swiss psychiatrist

9 likes
TalleyrandNothing succeeds so well as success.

—  Talleyrand, 1754-1838, French statesman & diplomat

8 likes
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.Judge your success by the degree that you're enjoying peace, health, and love.

—  H. Jackson Brown, Jr., 1940-2021, American self-help writer

8 likes
Ronald ReaganPolitics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.

—  Ronald Reagan, 1911-2004, American President [1981-1989]

8 likes
John KennedyThose who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.

—  John Kennedy, 1917-1963, American President [1961-1963]

8 likes
Isaac AsimovTo succeed, planning alone is insufficient. One must improvise as well.

—  Isaac Asimov, 1920-1992, American Sci-Fi writer

7 likes
Jerry SeinfeldThe advice I would give the younger me—or any young person—would be “Keep your head up in failure and your head down in success.”

—  Jerry Seinfeld, 1954-, American comedian

7 likes
Henry FordFailure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.

—  Henry Ford, 1863-1947, American industrialist, founder of FORD

6 likes
Winston ChurchillSuccess is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.

—  Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister, Nobel 1953

6 likes
Samuel BeckettEver tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

—  Samuel Beckett, 1906-1989, Irish writer, Nobel 1969

6 likes
Alexandre DumasNothing succeeds like success.

—  Alexandre Dumas, 1802-1870, French writer

6 likes
Frank SinatraThe best revenge is massive success.

—  Frank Sinatra, 1915-1998, American singer

6 likes
Dale CarnegieSuccess is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.

—  Dale Carnegie, 1888-1955, American self-help writer

6 likes
NapoleonIf I had succeeded, I would have been the greatest man known to history.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

6 likes
Jules RenardFailure is not the only punishment for laziness; there is also the success of others.

—  Jules Renard, 1864-1910, French writer

5 likes
Elbert HubbardThere is no failure except in no longer trying.

—  Elbert Hubbard, 1856-1915, American writer

5 likes
John WoodenFailing to prepare is preparing to fail.

—  John Wooden, 1910-2010, American basketball coach

5 likes
Niccolò MachiavelliNever was anything great achieved without danger.

—  Niccolò Machiavelli, 1469-1527, Italian political philosopher

5 likes
Robert Louis StevensonThat man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much.

—  Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850-1894, Scottish writer

5 likes
Robert Louis StevensonOur business in this world is not to succeed, but to continue to fail, in good spirits.

—  Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850-1894, Scottish writer

5 likes
Bill GatesSuccess is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.

—  Bill Gates, 1955-, American businessman

5 likes
Lao-TzuFailure is the foundation of success, and the means by which it is achieved. Success is the lurking-place of failure; but who can tell when the turning-point will come?

—  Lao-Tzu, 6th cent. BC, Chinese philosopher

4 likes
Bill CosbyI don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.

—  Bill Cosby, 1937-, American comedian

4 likes
ConfuciusIn all things success depends on previous preparation, and without such previous preparation there is sure to be failure.

—  Confucius, 551-479 BC, Chinese teacher & philosopher

4 likes
Frank TygerThe ladder of success doesn't care who climbs it.

—  Frank Tyger, 1929-2011, American cartoonist

4 likes
Theodore RooseveltIt is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.

—  Theodore Roosevelt, 1858-1919, American President [1901-1909]

4 likes
Texas GuinanSuccess has killed more men than bullets.

—  Texas Guinan, 1884-1933, American actress

4 likes
Henry FordTo do more for the world than the world does for you – that is success.

—  Henry Ford, 1863-1947, American industrialist, founder of FORD

4 likes
Gore VidalIt is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.

—  Gore Vidal, 1925-2012, American writer

3 likes
Thomas EdisonI have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

—  Thomas Edison, 1847-1934, American inventor

3 likes
Oscar LevantIt's not what you are, it's what you don't become that hurts.

—  Oscar Levant, 1906-1972, American pianist

3 likes
Bill CosbyIn order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.

—  Bill Cosby, 1937-, American comedian

3 likes
Wilson MiznerThe gent who wakes up and finds himself a success hasn't been asleep.

—  Wilson Mizner, 1876-1913, American playwright

3 likes
Georges ClemenceauA man's life is interesting primarily when he has failed — I well know. For it's a sign that he tried to surpass himself.

—  Georges Clemenceau, 1841-1929, French Prime Minister

3 likes
Aristotle OnassisTo be successful you have to act big, think big, and talk big.

—  Aristotle Onassis, 1900-1975, Greek tycoon

3 likes
John KeatsFailure is in a sense the highway to success, as each discovery of what is false leads us to seek earnestly after what is true.

—  John Keats, 1795-1821, English poet

3 likes
Thomas EdisonI owe my success to the fact that I never had a clock in my workroom. Seventy-five of us worked twenty hours every day and slept only four hours — and thrived on it.

—  Thomas Edison, 1847-1934, American inventor

3 likes
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.As you climb the ladder of success, be sure it's leaning against the right building.

—  H. Jackson Brown, Jr., 1940-2021, American self-help writer

3 likes
Frank TygerSuccess won't just come to you. It has to be met at least half way.

—  Frank Tyger, 1929-2011, American cartoonist

3 likes
George BurnsI honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate

—  George Burns, 1896-1996, American comedian

3 likes
Karl KrausMost people only do what they are asked to do; success comes to those who do a little more.

—  Karl Kraus, 1874-1936, Austrian writer

3 likes
Vince LombardiTo achieve success, whatever the job we have, we must pay a price.

—  Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, American football coach

3 likes
John WoodenSuccess is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.

—  John Wooden, 1910-2010, American basketball coach

3 likes
Maurice ChapelanIn failure, all men end up being alike. Success is the revealer of natures, and what it reveals is not always nice.

—  Maurice Chapelan, 1906-1992, French author of maxims & journalist

3 likes
Napoleon HillTo succeed in life, succeed at being yourself.

—  Napoleon Hill, 1883-1970, American self-help writer

3 likes
George Bernard ShawWhen I was young, I observed that nine out of ten things I did were failures. So I did ten times more work.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

3 likes
Zig ZiglarFailure doesn't mean you are a failure... it just means you haven't succeeded yet. Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street.

—  Zig Ziglar, 1926-2012, American self-help writer

3 likes
Zig ZiglarFailure is often the line of least persistence.

—  Zig Ziglar, 1926-2012, American self-help writer

2 likes
Pierre de CoubertinSuccess comprises in itself the seeds of its own decline and sport is not spared by this law.

—  Pierre de Coubertin, 1863-1937, French, father of the Olympic Games

2 likes
Michel de MontaignePhysicians have this advantage: the sun lights their success and the earth covers their failures.

—  Michel de Montaigne, 1533-1592, French thinker

2 likes
Joseph RouxIt is a very rare thing for a man of talent to succeed by his talent.

—  Joseph Roux, 1834-1905, French clergyman & poet

2 likes
NapoleonSuccess is the most convincing talker in the world.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

2 likes
Ambrose BierceSuccess, n. The one unpardonable sin against one's fellows.

—  Ambrose Bierce, 1842–1914, American writer

2 likes
Ambrose BierceTo the eye of failure success is an accident.

—  Ambrose Bierce, 1842–1914, American writer

2 likes
Thomas EdisonMany of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

—  Thomas Edison, 1847-1934, American inventor

2 likes
Frank TygerTo be successful, you've got to be willing to fail.

—  Frank Tyger, 1929-2011, American cartoonist

2 likes
Frank TygerSuccess is often just an idea away.

—  Frank Tyger, 1929-2011, American cartoonist

2 likes
Peter DruckerSuccess always obsoletes the very behavior that achieved it.

—  Peter Drucker, 1909–2005, Austrian management guru

2 likes
Elbert HubbardA little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.

—  Elbert Hubbard, 1856-1915, American writer

2 likes
Bob DylanA man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.

—  Bob Dylan, 1941-, American singer [Nobel 2016]

2 likes
Zig ZiglarThere is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs.

—  Zig Ziglar, 1926-2012, American self-help writer

2 likes
Zig ZiglarMake failure your teacher, not your undertaker.

—  Zig Ziglar, 1926-2012, American self-help writer

2 likes
Vince LombardiDictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.

—  Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, American football coach

2 likes
Bo BennettSuccess is not in what you have, but who you are.

—  Bo Bennett, 1972-, American self-help guru

2 likes
Chuck YeagerThe secret of my success is that I always managed to live to fly another day.

—  Chuck Yeager, 1923-2020, American pioneer pilot

2 likes
Italo CalvinoFutures not achieved are only branches of the past: dead branches.

—  Italo Calvino, 1923-1985, Italian writer

2 likes
Bob RossThere’s nothing in the world that breeds success like success.

—  Bob Ross, 1942-1995, American painter & TV personality

Nicolas Gomez DavilaIf someone aims too high, most people will not understand when he succeeds.

—  Nicolas Gomez Davila, 1913-1994, Colombian writer

Kin HubbardThere's no secret about success. Did you ever know a successful man who didn't tell you about it?

—  Kin Hubbard, 1868-1930, American cartoonist

Gustave FlaubertNothing is more humiliating than to see idiots succeed in enterprises we have failed in.

—  Gustave Flaubert, 1821-1880, French writer

Bertolt BrechtWhy be a man when you can be a success?

—  Bertolt Brecht, 1898-1956, German writer

Rudyard KiplingWe have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.

—  Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936, English writer, Nobel 1907

Graham GreeneSuccess is more dangerous than failure, the ripples break over a wider coastline.

—  Graham Greene, 1904-1991, British writer

Coco ChanelSuccess is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable.

—  Coco Chanel, 1883-1971, French fashion designer

Earl WarrenI always turn to the sports section first. The sports section records people's accomplishments; the front page nothing but man's failures.

—  Earl Warren, 1891-1974, American Chief Justice

André MalrauxOften the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one has better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one’s ideas, to take a calculated risk –and to act.

—  André Malraux, 1901-1976, French writer & statesman

Terry PratchettIt is well known that a vital ingredient of success is not knowing that what you’re attempting can’t be done.

—  Terry Pratchett, 1948-2015, British writer

Marcel AchardThe secret to success is only known to those who have not succeeded.

—  Marcel Achard, 1899-1974, French playwright

Sri AurobindoCare not for time and success. Act out thy part, whether it be to fail or to prosper.

—  Sri Aurobindo, 1872-1950, Indian nationalist, yogi & philosopher

Henri JeansonA great career today is measured by the number of failures.

—  Henri Jeanson, 1900-1970, French critic & columnist

Henry KissingerEach success only buys an admission ticket to a more difficult problem.

—  Henry Kissinger, 1923-2023, American politician

Salvador DaliThe jealousy of other painters has always been the thermometer of my success.

—  Salvador Dali, 1904-1989, Spanish painter

James BarrieWe are all failures- at least the best of us are.

—  James Barrie, 1860-1937, English writer

Napoleon HillMost great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.

—  Napoleon Hill, 1883-1970, American self-help writer

Napoleon HillIt is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.

—  Napoleon Hill, 1883-1970, American self-help writer

Jules VerneAn energetic man will succeed where an indolent one would vegetate and inevitably perish.

—  Jules Verne, 1826-1905, French writer

Dale CarnegieYou never achieve success unless you like what you are doing.

—  Dale Carnegie, 1888-1955, American self-help writer

Dale CarnegieMost of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.

—  Dale Carnegie, 1888-1955, American self-help writer

Søren KierkegaardIt is better to try something and fail than to try nothing and succeed. The result may be the same, but you won't be. We always grow more through defeats than victories.

—  Søren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855, Danish philosopher

Joseph ConradArt is long and life is short, and success is very far off.

—  Joseph Conrad, 1857-1924, British-Polish writer

Thomas SowellFailure is part of the natural cycle of business. Companies are born, companies die, capitalism moves forward.

—  Thomas Sowell, 1930 -, American political thinker

Charles DickensI must be taken as I have been made. The success is not mine, the failure is not mine, but the two together make me.

—  Charles Dickens, 1812-1870, British writer

Personal Stories

Thomas EdisonI failed my way to success.

—  Thomas Edison, 1847-1934, American inventor

2 likes

Funny Quotes

AnonymousIf at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.

—  Anonymous

5 likes
AnonymousIf at first you don't succeed then skydiving definitely isn't for you.

—  Anonymous

5 likes
Jerry SeinfeldIf a book about failures doesn't sell, is it a success?

—  Jerry Seinfeld, 1954-, American comedian

3 likes
Woody AllenEighty percent of success is showing up.

—  Woody Allen, 1935-, American actor & film director

2 likes
Ashleigh BrilliantI've learned so much from my failures that I'm thinking of having some more.

—  Ashleigh Brilliant, 1933-, British cartoonist & epigrammatist

Stupid Quotes

George W. BushIf we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

—  George W. Bush, 1946-, American President

3 likes

Ancient Greek

PlutarchEven a good captain could be shipwrecked. And a great man can fail.

Και κυβερνήτης αγαθός ενίοτε ναυαγεί· και ανήρ σπουδαίος ατυχεί.

—  Plutarch, 47-120 AD, Ancient Greek historian

4 likes
EuripidesThose who succeed don’t know how to behave correctly.

Ευτυχούντες ουκ επίστανται φέρειν.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ The Suppliants

4 likes
AeschylusYou will not be tolerated if you are successful.

Ουκ αν φορητός είης, ει πράσσοις καλώς.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Prometheus Bound

3 likes
Thales of MiletusWhat is the most pleasant thing? To succeed.

Τι ήδιστον; το επιτυγχάνειν.

—  Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

3 likes
Ancient Greek proverbIt is acceptable to fail, it is not acceptable to be negligent.

Ατυχείν έξεστιν, αμελείν ουκ έξεστιν.

—  Ancient Greek proverb

3 likes
EuripidesThe credit we get for wisdom is measured by our success.

Προς τας τύχας γαρ τας φρένας κεκτήμεθα.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Hippolytus

2 likes

Proverbs

Chinese proverbFailure is the mother of success.

—  Chinese proverb

3 likes

Movie Quotes

Apollo 13 (1995)Failure is not an option.

—  from the film Apollo 13 (1995)

3 likes



Similar categories & topics of Quotations






Similar Topics

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Victory & Defeat

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Rise & Decline

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Ability

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