Failure Quotes

Winston Churchill

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) was a British statesman, army officer, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. He is renowned for his leadership during the war and his stirring speeches.

Thomas Edison

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Thomas Edison (1847-1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the electric light bulb.

Robert F. Kennedy

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”

Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Senator from New York. He was a prominent advocate for civil rights and social justice.

Henry Ford

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

Henry Ford (1863-1947) was an American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company. He developed the assembly line technique of mass production.

Confucius

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.”

Confucius (551-479 BC) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. His teachings emphasized morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, and sincerity.

John C. Maxwell

“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.”

John C. Maxwell (b. 1947) is an American author, speaker, and pastor who has written many books, primarily focusing on leadership.

Winston Churchill

“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”

Reiterating his unwavering belief in resilience, Churchill’s leadership during trying times remains inspirational.

Zig Ziglar

“It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce that counts.”

Zig Ziglar (1926-2012) was an American author, salesman, and motivational speaker known for his seminars and books on personal development.

Elbert Hubbard

“There is no failure except in no longer trying.”

Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) was an American writer, publisher, artist, and philosopher. He is known for his essay “A Message to Garcia.”

Michael Jordan

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”

Michael Jordan (b. 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player and businessman. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Truman Capote

“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.”

Truman Capote (1924-1984) was an American novelist, playwright, and actor, best known for his novella “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and the true crime novel “In Cold Blood.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1942-1945) was the 32nd President of the United States. He led the country through the Great Depression and World War II.

Albert Einstein

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century.

John D. Rockefeller

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”

John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) was an American oil industry business magnate and philanthropist. He is considered one of the wealthiest Americans of all time.

Albert Einstein

“Failure is success in progress.”

Reiterating his perspective on failure, Einstein’s contributions to science and philosophy remain unparalleled.

Japanese Proverb

“Fall seven times and stand up eight.”

This ancient proverb encapsulates the resilience embedded in Japanese culture, emphasizing perseverance.

Jack Canfield

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”

Jack Canfield (b. 1944) is an American author, motivational speaker, and corporate trainer. He is best known as the co-creator of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series.

Arianna Huffington

“Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s part of success.”

Arianna Huffington (b. 1950) is a Greek-American author, syndicated columnist, and businesswoman. She is the co-founder of The Huffington Post.

Wayne Gretzky

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

Wayne Gretzky (b. 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He is widely regarded as the greatest hockey player of all time.

Lance Armstrong

“Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.”

Lance Armstrong (b. 1971) is an American former professional road racing cyclist. He won the Tour de France seven consecutive times before being stripped of his titles due to doping offenses.