Famous quotes
Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,158,808 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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Success and failure
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“How the hell did they think this was going to be something else than EPIC FAIL for the prosecution? We’re winning so hard.”
Peter Sunde (born 1978) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: February 2009 Copyright Infringement Trial
“That is the saving grace of humor, if you fail no one is laughing at you.”
A. Whitney Brown (born 1952) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When there's a will to fail, obstacles can be found.”
John McCarthy (computer scientist) first seen 1983 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: John McCarthy (1983), quoted in The Sayings of John McCarthy, at www-formal.stanford.edu, March 1, 2007. Also quoted in Keith Cary Curtis (1996) After the Software Wars. p. 167
“You're right, you're always right, yes, yes, of course. Love will survive. They couldn't kill it with purple hair-do's, they can't kill it with a plague. Boys will fall in love with each other's earlobes if all else should fail. Because it never really was about sex, was it? It was about love.”
Robert Patrick (playwright) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Just because we fall and slip up at times, doesn't mean it should define who we are. We fail. We're humans. It's how we heal wounds that count.”
Keshia Chante (born 1988) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Official Website (2009)
“The first obligation of Simplicity is that of using the simplest means to secure the fullest effect. But although the mind instinctlvely rejects all needless complexity, we shall greatly err if we fail to recognise the fact, that what the mind recoils from is not the complexity, but the needlessness.”
George Henry Lewes (1817–1878) said by 1878 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In a little while it will be all over. We may fail. But the rights for which we contend will not die. A day of reckoning will come to our enemies and of jubilee to my people. The hated yoke of English domination and arrogance will be broken in this land, and the long-suffering victims of their injustice will, with God's blessing, re-enter into the peaceful enjoyment of their possessions.”
Louis Riel (1844–1885) first seen 1885 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter from Batoche, N.W. T. to The Irish World (6 May 1885), also published as " An Appeal for Justice" in The Gibbet of Regina : The Truth about Riel, Sir John A. Macdonald and His Cabinet Before Public Opinion, by On…
“Give a man a horse he can ride, Give a man a boat he can sail; And his rank and wealth, his strength and health, On sea nor shore shall fail.”
James Thomson (poet, born 1834) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I've learned many great leasson from my father. Not the least of which was that you can fail at what you dont want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”
Jim Carrey (born 1962) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Do what is beyond your strength even should you fail sometimes.”
Charles Stewart Parnell (1846–1891) said by 1891 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Give us a man, young or old, high or low, on whom we know we can thoroughly depend — who will stand firm when others fail — the friend faithful and true, the adviser honest and fearless, the adversary just and chivalrous; in such an one there is a fragment of the Rock of Ages — a sign that there has been a prophet amongst us.”
Arthur Penrhyn Stanley (1815–1881) said by 1881 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In the long run, the euro as a fiat currency may very well fail like the U.S. dollar. (2006, before Greece)”
Peter Schiff (born 1963) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Despite the disorder observed in Nature, one finds enough traces of the wisdom and power of its Author that one cannot fail to recognize Him.”
Pierre Louis Maupertuis (1698–1759) said by 1759 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What debaters in ivory towers often fail to realize is that when it comes to achieving well-defined goals, both theism and atheism can work.”
Varadaraja V. Raman (born 1932) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“True wisdom knows it must comprise some nonsense as a compromise, lest fools should fail to find it wise.”
Piet Hein (1905–1996) said by 1996 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Subtlest thought shall fail, and learning falter, Churches change, forms perish, systems go, But our human needs, they will not alter, Christ no after age shall e'er outgrow.”
John Campbell Shairp (1819–1885) said by 1885 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Someone out there is waiting for you for a lifetime. You cannot afford to fail them; failing them is failing God. Remember, God is speaking to you through them, saying: 'They are fatherless, so that you can be their father.' 'They are lonely, so that you can be their companion.' 'They are in want, so that you can be their benefactor.'”
T. B. Joshua (1963–2021) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On the importance of charity - "SCATTERED! Eleven Children, One Wife, No Home" Nigerian Voice (October 9 2009)
“If we fail to see that there are powers that cause people to be bowed down in bondage, we are going to fight the wrong battle.”
T. B. Joshua (1963–2021) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On the xenophobic attacks in South Africa - "How I Predicted Xenophobic Attacks In South Africa - TB Joshua" Vanguard Nigeria (April 17 2015)
“I would warn against holsters with devices for quick-draw. Devices always fail when you need them most.”
William Powell (author) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“By and large, the answer to the question "How do large institutions survive?" is "They don't!" The vast majority of large modern-day institutions — some of them extremely vital to the functioning of our complex civilization — simply fail to exist in the first place.”
Eliezer Yudkowsky (born 1979) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Helpless Individuals (March 2009)
“Whenever ideas fail, men invent words.”
Martin H. Fischer (1879–1962) said by 1962 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Stuntmen and stuntwomen are paid to fall. They fall, get beat up, and get blown up...gracefully. We need to learn to fail gracefully.”
Craig Groeschel (born 1967) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Get out of the boat. Face your fears. Fail. Learn. Adjust. Try again. And watch God do more than you can imagine.”
Craig Groeschel (born 1967) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There is nothing sacred about the existing system. All economic and political institutions are contrivances that should serve the interests of the people. When they fail to do so, they should be replaced by something more responsive, more just, and more democratic. Marx said this, and so did Jefferson. It is a revolutionary doctrine, and very much an American one.”
Michael Parenti (1933–2026) said by 2026 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To say that schools fail to produce an informed, critically minded, democratic citizenry is to overlook the fact that schools were never intended for that purpose.”
Michael Parenti (1933–2026) said by 2026 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Libertarians fail to realize that the price system is, and ought to be, a method of coercion. Nature is not so bountiful as to give each of us all the goods he desires. We have, by the nature of things, to be coerced out of such an expectation. That is why we have policemen and courts. That is why we charge prices which are high enough relative to limited money, to limit consumption.”
Paul Samuelson (1915–2009) first seen 1963 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Modern Economic Realities and Individualism", The Texas Quarterly (1963)
“What is truly discouraging — or reassuring? — is the considerable evidence that the universe of those who seek to be "timers," and vary the fractional shares of their portfolios committed to common stocks in the hope of enlarging average long-term total return, in fact fail to achieve on the average any plus gain in comparison with simply buying and holding a fixed fraction of common stocks.”
Paul Samuelson (1915–2009) first seen 1987 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Paradise Lost & Refound: The Harvard ABC Barometers", The Journal of Portfolio Management, 13(3), 4-9, 1987
“Civilizations rise and fall, but all technical civilizations know the greatest secrets now. They know which social mechanisms normally work, and which ones quickly fail. They know the means to postpone disaster and evade the most foolish catastrophes. They know that even so, each civilization must inevitably fall.”
Vernor Vinge (1944–2024) said by 2024 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Out of the mud and slime of lies, your holy red, white and black Swastika has been flung back into the skies in Virginia, United States of America, and we pledge you our lives, Adolf Hitler, that we shall not flag or fail until we have utterly destroyed the forces of Marxism and darkness.”
George Lincoln Rockwell (1918–1967) said by 1967 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Every time he makes plans for his future, he seems to fail. Every time he reaches forward, the world leans against him, pressing him down.”
Paolo Bacigalupi (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Non-violence is backed by the theory of soul-force in which suffering is courted in the hope of ultimately winning over the opponent. But what happens when such an attempt fail to achieve the object? It is here that soul-force has to be combined with physical force so as not to remain at the mercy of tyrannical and ruthless enemy.”
Bhagat Singh (1907–1931) said by 1931 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in The Sikh Review, Vol. 55 (2007), p. 173
“We must learn to give ourselves permission to blunder, to fail, and to make fools of ourselves every day for the rest of our lives. We do so in any case.”
Sheldon B. Kopp (1929–1999) said by 1999 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Never shall I fail my comrades... I will shoulder more than my share of the task, whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some.”
Stanley A. McChrystal (born 1954) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“People fail to achieve goals not because of lack of abilities, but because of lack of determination. (any ability can be learned).”
Carlos Gershenson (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Lyrically I like to use themes that make the listener use his or her imagination, and to give a little of the lessons I've learned in my own life. The best subjects are always people, who never fail to amaze me by their unpredictability.”
Ronnie James Dio (1942–2010) first seen 2004 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speaking on his plans for the Dio album Master of the Moon, interview, Metal Masters, January 2004
“There's perfect harmony In the rising and the falling of the sea. And as we sail along, I never fail to be astounded by The things we'll do for promises And a song.”
Ronnie James Dio (1942–2010) first seen 1987 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: All the Fools Sailed Away" on Dream Evil (1987)
“Try not to change the world. You will fail. Try to love the world. Lo, the world is changed. Changed forever.”
Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“No religion is absolutely perfect. Yet not only do we fight for religion, but also are we often willing to sacrifice our lives for it. And what we hopelessly fail to do is to live it. A true religion is that which has no caste, no creed, no colour. It is but an all-uniting and all-pervading embrace.”
Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“People who avoid all criticism fail. It's destructive criticism we need to avoid, not criticism in all forms.”
Timothy Ferriss (born 1977) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If we fail to interest, whether because we are dull and heavy, or because our hearers are so, we teach in vain.”
John Lancaster Spalding (1840–1916) said by 1916 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If I could read your mind, love, What a tale your thoughts could tell. Just like a paperback novel, The kind the drugstores sell. Then you reached the part where the heartaches come, The hero would be me. But heroes often fail, And you won't read that book again Because the ending's just too hard to take!”
Gordon Lightfoot (1938–2023) said by 2023 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Revolutionaries, believe in the people and rely on them at all times and you shall always emerge victorious; if you are forsaken by them, you will always fail. Let this be your maxim in your life and struggle.”
Kim Il-sung (1912–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am convinced that sooner or later the Armenian-Turkish relations will be normalized since closed borders between States is a non-sense in the 21st century, and rulers can find themselves in an unenviable position if they fail to keep up with the global developments. Political authorities should lead the way and not lag behind.”
Tigran Sargsyan (born 1960) first seen 2010 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement by the Prime Minister delivered at the conference on the topic of Armenia-Turkey relations and cross-border regionalism (12 February 2010)
“I will not fail: God is always victorious.”
James MacDonald (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Here is the answer which I will give to President Roosevelt: Put your confidence in us. ... We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle, nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools and we will finish the job.”
Winston Churchill (1874–1965) first seen 1941 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: BBC radio broadcast, February 9, 1941. In The Churchill War Papers : 1941 (1993), ed. Gilbert, W.W. Norton, pp. 199–200
“Therefore only an utterly senseless person can fail to know that our characters are the result of our conduct.”
Aristotle (384–322 BC) said by 322 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Let the superior man never fail reverentially to order his own conduct, and let him be respectful to others and observant of propriety:—then all within the four seas, all men are brothers. What has the superior man to do with being distressed because he has no brothers?”
Confucius (551–479 BC) said by 479 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A man may speak very well in the House of Commons, and fail very completely in the House of Lords. There are two distinct styles requisite: I intend, in the course of my career, if I have time, to give a specimen of both.”
Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881) said by 1881 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For what avail the plough or sail, Or land or life, if freedom fail?”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) said by 1882 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When you talk with famous scholars, the best thing is to pretend that occasionally you do not quite understand them. If you understand too little, you will be despised; if you understand too much, you will be disliked; if you just fail occasionally to understand them you will suit each other very well.”
Lu Xun (1881–1936) said by 1936 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source