"It is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failures. Precept, study, advice, and example could never have taught them so well as failure has done"
- Samuel Smiles
About this Quote
This quote by Samuel Smiles recommends that failure is a more reliable teacher than success. He indicates that success alone is insufficient to ensure success in the future. Rather, it is through failure that people discover the most. Failure teaches us valuable lessons that can not be discovered through precept, study, guidance, or example. It teaches us how to be resilient and how to conquer challenges. It also teaches us how to be humble and how to accept our errors. Failure can be a tough experience, however it can likewise be a terrific teacher. It can assist us to progress variations of ourselves and to reach our goals. Ultimately, failure can be an effective tool for success.
"One has children in the expectation of dying before them. In fact, you want to make damn sure you die before them, just as you plant a tree or build a house knowing, hoping that it will outlive you. That's how the human species has done as well as it has"