17 Funny Quotes Explaining Success and Failure
Or how to gain wisdom while having a laugh
We all have a dream, a purpose, a goal, a new resolution that we want to achieve; even several for some of us. But challenge incites conflict. Sometimes with others but most of all with ourselves. We are the main adversary against our own objectives.
1 — “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.” — Zig Ziglar
I find it useful to read some inspiring quotes. It allows me to overcome my struggles temporarily and to get back in track towards my goals.
Anybody can be Somebody
2— “A diamond is merely a lump of coal that did well under pressure.“ — Henry Kissinger
3 — “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” — Dalai Lama
I’m sure that successful people didn’t know when growing up, that they would end up where they’re at in their life today. They had doubts, they failed, and they thought about giving up; surely more than once. They also didn’t believe that one day, they would have success in their life and career — the same as any of us. But they persevered and kept on pushing.
Who knows? Maybe YOU are the next in line to success.
Keep on working, and you’ll find out.
Fear of failure
4 — “Optimist: someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s more like a cha-cha.” — Robert Brault
5 — “I didn’t fail the test. I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.” — Benjamin Franklin
6 — “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.“ — Truman Capote
Failure can be the main reason why we want to give up. It affects us in a way victory doesn’t. At every trial, we think that this is it, it’s going to work, but a big fiasco often follows it. And the more it happens, the more we want to quit.
But it doesn’t have to be this way every time. The more we try, the more we learn from our past mistakes. At every attempt at success, we need to look back and try to understand why it didn’t work. Only then, we can find new ways to go at it. The more knowledge we pile up from our defeats, the more chances we have at success.
Standing firm and true to oneself
7— “When life gives you lemons, squirt someone in the eye.” — Cathy Guisewite
8— “Listen, smile, agree, and then do whatever you were gonna do anyway.“ — Robert Downey Jr.
People can be a massive pain in the ass. I have stopped counting the number of times someone has tried to prevent me from doing what I had planned. Critics, comments, mockeries, and my personal favourite: warnings of inevitable failure.
When we have a project that means a lot to us, a goal that we want to reach, we usually know what we are getting into. We know it’s going to be hard; otherwise, it wouldn’t be a challenge, and we would have done it already. This is why we don’t need people continually reminding us of how difficult it’s going to be.
But most of all, it is none of their business. People tend to meddle with things that don’t concern them.
Sadly, we can’t always avoid them. I’m not particularly eager to spend my time and my energy defending myself against random people. I prefer to nod, smile and then go my own way. But when they persist daily, it is necessary to stand firm and stay true to yourself; nobody has the right to tell you what you can and cannot do about your life.
Who you hang out with defines your future
9 — “If you hang out with chickens, you’re going to cluck and if you hang out with eagles, you’re going to fly.” — Steve Maraboli
At my previous jobs, I was surrounded by close-minded and unambitious people. During the time I worked with them, I was the most unproductive I had ever been. I got lazy and didn’t reach any of the goals I had set for myself. They were dragging me down with them. People are not to be blamed for my failures, but their unintentional influence didn’t help. This is why smart people surround themselves with others that are as smart or even smarter than them.
When you have a group of individuals who work hard in their daily life, it creates some pressure that drives you into working as hard as them. They involuntarily pull you towards success along with them.
Honourable mentions
10— “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” — Thomas Eddison
11 — “Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.” — Charles Schulz
12 — “The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.”
— Will Rogers13 — “Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door.“ — Kyle Chandler
14 — “Even a stopped clock is right twice every day. After some years, it can boast of a long series of successes.” — Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach
15 — “Age is of no importance unless you’re a cheese.” — Billie Burke
16 — “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.“ — Yogi Berra
17 — “Watching a person who successfully loses fifty pounds and changes her life is more inspirational than listening to a fitness coach with a perfect body.“
— Martin Meadows
Thank you for your time
If you are looking for more content, Fleurine Tideman & Neeramitra Reddy explored what failure is and how useful it can be:
