"If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative"
About this Quote
The intent is pragmatic: normalize the bruises that come with pushing form, tone, or subject matter past the comfort zone. The subtext is sharper: if you never fail, you're probably optimizing for consensus - the safe laugh, the familiar camera move, the plot that test-screens well. Innovation, by definition, can't be fully predicted or quality-controlled, because you're operating without a proven map.
There's also an Allen-esque self-aware cynicism baked in. "Every now and again" is doing work: it's not romanticizing disaster or endorsing recklessness. It's a calibrated amount of failure, enough to signal exploration without collapsing into chaos. In a culture that rewards polished personal brands and algorithm-friendly repetition, the line lands as both permission slip and subtle accusation: comfort can look like competence, but it's often just fear with good lighting.
Quote Details
| Topic | Learning from Mistakes |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Allen, Woody. (2026, January 16). If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-youre-not-failing-every-now-and-again-its-a-87141/
Chicago Style
Allen, Woody. "If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-youre-not-failing-every-now-and-again-its-a-87141/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-youre-not-failing-every-now-and-again-its-a-87141/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.















