"We are all failures at least, all the best of us are"

J. M. Barrie’s remark, “We are all failures at least, all the best of us are,” both disarms and dignifies the often-dreaded experience of failure. Instead of suggesting that failure is a mark of inferiority or a stumbling block reserved for the unskilled, Barrie assigns it to “the best of us,” flipping our usual perceptions. Here, failure is not merely something to be ashamed of; it is a necessary aspect of striving, attempting, and learning, the very acts that distinguish those who push boundaries or aim for greatness.

Embedded within Barrie’s observation is a profound humility. He acknowledges that to aim high is to risk falling short, that those who never fail are, perhaps, those who never reach beyond the safe and the certain. The willingness to fail, then, becomes a quiet sign of courage. It speaks to the persistent effort, resilience, and ambition that characterize people who attempt to do something remarkable, whether in art, science, relationships, or any other sphere of life.

Moreover, Barrie’s words suggest camaraderie among those who have tried and failed. Rather than positioning failure as an isolating experience, he communalizes it, inviting us to see our own missteps reflected in the journeys of others, especially the most accomplished. This can be reassuring; if even “the best of us” are familiar with failure, then falling short is a shared aspect of the human experience, not an indictment of personal worth.

Crucially, the idea returns agency and dignity to those who struggle. To be among “all the best of us” is not to be infallible, but to have the audacity to pursue one’s aims, and the honesty to recognize where we have not succeeded. It is, paradoxically, in failing that people display their greatness: through persistence, adaptability, and growth that arise when we have the courage to try, fail, and try again.