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Success and failure

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“Anybody who thinks there's nothing wrong with this world needs to have his head examined. Just when things are going all right, without fail someone or something will come along and spoil everything. Somebody should write that down as a fundamental law of the Universe. The principle of perpetual disappointment. If there is a God who created this world, he should scrap it and try again.”
Athol Fugard (1932–2025) said by 2025 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When people ask me 'How do you feel that you have failed?' and I would respond back to them that I won, I formed, and I got blocked. I didn't fail.”
Pita Limjaroenrat (born 1980) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This, unfortunately, is where most of our films usually fail; that is, in insufficient research about the context of the story and the lazy assumption sometimes that a device used successfully in one film will naturally work in another, regardless of the setting.”
Femi Osofisan (born 1946) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We fail to trust that we knew ourselves to be possible from the beginning.”
Binyavanga Wainaina (1971–2019) said by 2019 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Most company mergers fail, so let's not be absolutely naive about the benefits of scale.”
Rory Sutherland (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is true that the functioning of economic democracy demands disinterestedness, just as that of political democracy supposes the virtue of character. The work of renewal will fail if in all categories, in all centres, there do not arise selfless men, ready to toil and sacrifice for the common good.”
Alcide De Gasperi (1881–1954) said by 1954 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Mario Draghi, Parliamentary session n°. 494 of the Italian Chamber of Deputies (April 26, 2021)
“It essentially functions as a post-mortem committee, as we are still examining audited reports from as far back as 2009. We work closely with the Auditor-General’s Office and aim to detect irregularities early. However, a major challenge is that ministries often fail to submit their financial reports promptly, delaying the auditing process.”
Paurina Mpariwa (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I can only pledge to [the people] that I will do my very best. Where I fail and fault, I will look to them for guidance,”
Duma Boko (born 1969) first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Botswana's politician who did the unthinkable, BBC news by Danai Nesta Kupemba,(1 November 2024) retrieved 2 November 2024
“Being an MP is the greatest honour of my life and being appointed the first female chief whip of the DA in parliament is a tremendous honour. I stand on the shoulders of giants and I dare not fail them”
Natasha Mazzone (born 1979) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We need to ensure that we play our role to ensure that the [Public Protector’s] remedial action is implemented because there are legal consequences if we fail to play oversight”.”
Anthea Ramolobeng (born 1985) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I will not comment on your accent. Similes founder, metaphors fail.”
Parke Godwin (1929–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This is what I mean. So you are called upon to be poised. Confident. Resolue. Believe me when I say, this is easier said than done. You sweat from your back all the way down your spine. Your legs feel like they will fail you at times yet you must still deliver your pitch.”
Vera Kamtukule (born 1981) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If one thinks of nonviolence as a way of life, then it works to the extent that one lives nonviolently and infuses everyday conduct with a nonviolent spirit...whether we act nonviolently, considerately, and respectfully of others in all that we do is within our control. Nonviolence in that sense cannot fail to work if we resolve to see that it works.”
Robert L. Holmes (born 1935) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Robert L. Holmes, The Ethics of Nonviolence: Essays by Robert L. Holmes, Editor: Predrag Cicovaki, (2013) p. xx
“This is not an amphitheater; it's a theater. Your question comes a bit too late, as a concrete theater has recently been completed in a completely unsuitable location, which detracts from the integrity and aesthetics of the site. I fail to see the purpose of holding this festival in Timgad, as it has no connection to the historical significance of Thamugadi.”
Nacéra Benseddik (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You are probably right, but if we try and fail, we can at least tell our daughters we tried but could not change the conditions, now it is your turn to try. But if we do nothing and just watch the rights that our mothers and grandmothers fought to secure for us wash away at the whims of fundamentalist and corrupt politicians, what do we have to tell them?”
Marieme Helie Lucas (born 1939) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I want to say to all the students – believe in yourself, work extremely hard, never take no for an answer, keep pounding on those doors and be prepared that you will fail at some thimngs and that is actually ok because you learn but never ever give up. I believe if you keep going and follow the lessons you’ve learned at this University the sky is our limit.”
Uzo Iwobi (born 1969) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Compassion gives us the freedom to redefine ourselves as well as the all-important freedom to fail, which contains within it the freedom to take the risks that allow us to be truly creative.”
Susan David (born 1970) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“They impose on you duties which neither God nor His Messenger imposed on you. They make you cook, wash clothes and do other things which they desire while they fail to teach you that which Allah and His apostle have prescribed for you. Neither God nor His apostle charges you with such duties”
Nana Asmaʼu (1793–1864) said by 1864 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Work with wisdom and prudence, pray fervently for our country, for His peace and strength, and that He may grant us wisdom in dialogue and joy in a hope that does not fail.”
Eduardo Eliseo Martín (born 1953) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Prayer and fasting to end fighting between government and farmers: “We will pray so as to remove the obstacles on the path to dialogue.” (18 June 2008) Fides News Agency
“The full happiness of the Church, which comes from Christ, does not fail even in the face of our betrayals.”
Angelo Bagnasco (born 1943) first seen 2010 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: in Assemblea C.E.I., card. Bagnasco: serve una generazione di adulti che sappia vivere, non vivacchiare, Toscana Oggi.it (May 24, 2010)
“Maybe you'll fail most of the time, but until you've dared to try and have brought off an impossible shot from the or from the , or have salvaged a hole by laying a monster of a shot stiff against the pin, you will have missed golf's greatest playing thrill.”
Arnold Palmer (1929–2016) said by 2016 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We must calculate not on the weather, nor on fortune, but upon God and ourselves. He may fail us in the gratification of our wishes, but never in the encounter with our exigencies.”
William Gilmore Simms (1806–1870) said by 1870 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Treason is an easy word to speak. A traitor is one who fights and loses. Washington was a traitor to George III. Treason won, and Washington is immortal. Treason is a word that victors hurl at those who fail.”
Thomas Dixon Jr. (1864–1946) first seen 1905 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Clansman (1905), bk. 1, ch. 4
“You can benefit from the best training programme in the world, but without a certain degree of motivation and discipline, one can quite easily fail.”
Elana Meyer (born 1984) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“On the positive side, our country is extremely rich in diversity, heritage, culture and history, and abundant in picturesque scenery. But my favourite thing about South Africa is our people and their steadfast spirit in the face of adversity. We also never fail to make humour the centre of any situation, good or bad and I love that!”
Lalela Mswane (born 1997) first seen 2021 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: MISS SOUTH AFRICA 2021
“It's the part of naiveté I have left because I don't have the right to fail. A case like this is, above all, a succession of failures and disillusionments.”
Jacqueline Moudeina (born 1957) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Women are not being supported enough.That is why their lives are filled with doubt and fear to fail.if you believe that you cannot do something,then you will not be able to”
Winnie Ntshaba (born 1975) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The racism we experienced really burned a flame in my heart that created a passion to help my community. Because of that scholarship, I felt this burden – I was one of the few people who looked like me to get this opportunity, so I owed my community to do well, and it wasn’t acceptable to fail.”
Polly Baca (born 1941) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I encourage young people to take risks and to follow their hearts, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something you want to do. Just go ahead and try it; if you fail, it’s okay, just keep going forward. So take those risks and follow your heart – and work hard while you’re doing it.”
Polly Baca (born 1941) first seen 2025 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Polly Baca’s State of Inspiration Retrieved 11 April 2025
“I quickly understood that I could fail at both what I love and don’t love. By extrapolating lessons learned in my 100m hurdles, I learned to pinpoint the hurdles outside of my sport. When challenged to seek alignment, I could express unlimited performance, enthusiasm, passion and joy. Thus, I see many of my failures as an expression of resilience, trained consciously or subconsciously.”
Reïna-Flor Okori (born 1980) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Golf gives no margin: either you win or you fail. You cannot hedge; you cannot bluff; you cannot give a stop-order; you cannot jilt. One chance is given you, and you hit or miss. There is nothing more rigid in life. And it is just this ultra and extreme rigidity that makes golf so intensely interesting.”
Arnold Haultain (1857–1941) said by 1941 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Space capabilities provide reconnaissance, surveillance, communications, weather and navigation. They greatly augment our warning and intelligence capabilities. If we fail to deter war, space systems will improve our ability to deliver weapons, and to assess damage.”
Bernard Schriever (1910–2005) first seen 1981 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech at the USAFA Military Space Doctrine Symposium" (1981)
“It is ironic that we often believe that empathy and complex emotions only really exist in humans but we then fail to empathise with the animals who suffer at our hands.”
Ed Winters (born 1994) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I care a lot about accessible prose. People often fail to see the subtlety in a sentence that has been honed, worked, and reworked, unless it's written by Ernest Hemingway and has a penis in it.”
Valerie Miner (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[The dignity of Peter the Apostle] does not fail in the person of an unworthy heir.”
Pope Leo I (390–461) said by 461 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Sermon 2, on the anniversary of his elevation, quoted by Pope Pius IX in Praedecessores Nostros, paragraph 3, encyclical letter issued on 24 March 1847
“If I can't do this, nothing else is worth living for. There would be nothing else left for me to do. If I fail at this, there's nothing else. I can't do anything else.”
Dan Burros (1937–1965) said by 1965 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Talking to a friend about joining the military, quoted in A. M. Rosenthal and Arthur Gelb, One More Victim, (1968), p. 39
“What next? What is ahead of us if we fail to act, communicate and discuss problems? What happens if we continue living in the illusion that all is well? The world today is a small, integral and, therefore, very vulnerable place. A purely local issue, wherever it happens to take place – be it in Syria, North Korea, or our European neighbourhood – can ignite a full-scale global conflict.”
Valdas Adamkus (born 1926) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am not afraid to fail.”
Richard Mofe-Damijo (born 1961) first seen 2021 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Discussing resilience, authenticity and personal growth. The Punch, 25 July 2021.
“Government agencies also need guidance from their lawyers because most of the time, the agencies do not know the legal implications of what they do or fail to do and they do not seek legal advice sometimes. Also, government agencies need to obey legal advice from their lawyers because it is a big challenge.”
Lawal Pedro wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Honestly, most of the states today are not viable because they fail to embrace the ease of doing business.”
Kayode Akinsola (born 1980) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In the hour of death, after this life’s whim, When the heart beats low, and the eyes grow dim, And pain has exhausted every limb— The lover of the Lord shall trust in Him. For even the purest delight may pall, And power must fail, and the pride must fall, And the love of the dearest friends grow small— But the glory of the Lord is all in all.”
R. D. Blackmore (1825–1900) first seen 1058 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Dominus Illuminatio Mea", sts. 1 and 4. Anonymous in Q's OBEV (1900) p. 1058, no. 883. Attributed in Notes and Queries, 11th s., vol. 10 (26 December 1914) p. 513
“Grief do I give you — grief and dreadful laughter. Sackcloth for banner, ashes in your wine. Go forth, go forth, nor ask me what comes after. The fifth stone shall not fail you, son of mine.”
Stella Benson (1892–1933) first seen 1918 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Titled "Five Smooth Stones". Twenty (1918), pp. 53–8
“The ego will never fail to strangle the love out of one's heart if we allow it to take center stage in our relationships. Transferring our trust to our hearts from our egos is a painful process in learning HOW to love. BUT… through it all… when we finally get to the place where we can give and receive love in its most pure state… ego free… it is only ever… beauty.”
Jada Pinkett Smith (born 1971) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Courage is a renewable resource. None of us is perfect. There are times when we fail to walk boldly into our destinies. But often, we get second chances, we must move forward with courage.”
Carla Walker-Miller wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Most startups fail. So that's the first thing you need to know. Even when you're a VC, it's almost 50%. So you got to write more than one check.”
Anne Glover (businesswoman) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“God alone is the master planner and His plans never fail”
Ademola Adeleke (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If you fail, you don’t die. Once you realise that, everything is possible.”
Marjorie Scardino (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I learnt then that you can fail and you don't die.”
Marjorie Scardino (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Unfortunately, tools that transfer risk can also increase systemic risk if major counterparties fail to manage their own risk exposures properly,”
Blythe Masters (born 1969) first seen 2014 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Pioneer Behind Credit Derivatives is Leaving JPMorgan,April 3 2014
“They are wrong to always justify their children. Are the kids doing badly at school? Poor things. Do they get a failing grade? It's the teachers' fault. Do they fail? Appeal to the TAR. We have created children who do not know frustration, who do not know that ‘no’ also exists.”
Paolo Crepet (born 1951) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source