“They who have conquered doubt and fear have conquered failure.”
Failure is not the opposite of success; it is part of it. These quotes reframe setbacks, mistakes, and flat-out disasters as the raw material of growth. Not empty optimism — real talk from people who fell down, got back up, and learned something useful on the way.
“I may be a successful football player, but I feel like such a failure.”
“They who have conquered doubt and fear have conquered failure.”
“The failure of the White House and Congress to seriously address the nation's fiscal situation is certain to broaden the belief among many voters that the U.S. political system is broken.”
“So while I will never minimize the costs involved in military action, I am convinced that a failure to act in Libya would have carried a far greater price for America.”
“I want to swim in both directions at once. Desire success, court failure.”
“As kids we're not taught how to deal with success we're taught how to deal with failure. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. If at first you succeed, then what?”
“Our failings sometimes bind us to one another as closely as could virtue itself.”
“Failure is not an option. Everyone has to succeed.”
“I failed first grade, which is my biggest problem. You always feel like a failure, like you're stupid.”
“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.”
“It would be great to be able to pass on to someone all of the successes, the failures, and the knowledge that one has had. To help someone, avoid all the fire, pain and anxiety would be wonderful.”
“There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.”
“Feminism is doomed to failure because it is based on an attempt to repeal and restructure human nature.”
“I hate failure and that divorce was a Number One failure in my eyes. It was the worst period of my life. Neither Desi nor I have been the same since, physically or mentally.”
“As might be supposed, my parents were quite poor, but we somehow never seemed to lack anything we needed, and I never saw a trace of discontent or a failure in cheerfulness over their lot in life, as indeed over anything.”
“The traditional religious right's failure to restore public-school prayer or pass an antiabortion constitutional amendment has likely helped fuel the spread of the more extreme dominionist school.”