--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Failure and success are not accidents…" description: "\"Failure and success are not accidents, but the strictest justice.\" — Alexander Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/alexander-smith-4402_accidents_failure-and-success-are-not-accidents-bu_2236243.png" --- # Failure and success are not accidents, but the strictest… ![“Failure and success are not accidents, but the strictest justice.” quote by Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/alexander-smith-4402_accidents_failure-and-success-are-not-accidents-bu_2236243.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/alexander-smith-4402_accidents_failure-and-success-are-not-accidents-bu_2236243.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/alexander-smith-4402_accidents_failure-and-success-are-not-accidents-bu_2236243.png) > “Failure and success are not accidents, but the strictest justice.” [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success and failure are outcomes of justice, reflecting the consequences of one's actions and choices. **In simple terms:** Success/failure are just results of justice. Key Takeaway Act with integrity to shape outcomes. Themes justice responsibility consequence Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - business decisions - personal goals - legal judgments Key Concepts ethics cause and effect Questions to Reflect On - Do you accept responsibility for outcomes? - How do you define justice in your life? A Different Perspective Not all outcomes are purely just; external factors intervene. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Accidents Strictest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents-strictest-5050992/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure And Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-and-success-2/) [Failure Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-success/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Strictest Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strictest-justice-938101/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-accidents-938105/) [Success and failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-and-failure/) ## Related quotes > [It is the sternest philosophy, but on the whole the truest, that, in the wide arena of the world, failure and success are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/it-is-the-sternest-philosophy-but-on-the-whole-the-truest-that-in-the/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [No true work since the world began was ever wasted; no true life since the world began has ever failed. Oh, understand those two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-farrar/no-true-work-since-the-world-began-was-ever-wasted-no-true-life-since/) [Frederic Farrar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-farrar/) > [I've experienced tons of failure. I've been making music for 30 years, and I'd say failure and success have happened in equal measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-ve-experienced-tons-of-failure-i-ve-been-making-music-for-30-years/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [When on the brink of complete discouragement, success is discerning that...the line between failure and success is so fine that often a single extra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/when-on-the-brink-of-complete-discouragement-success-is-discerning/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The will to persevere is often the difference between failure and success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/the-will-to-persevere-is-often-the-difference-between-failure-and/) [David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/) > [It is so important for me to try, and having tried I look back on failure and success as if it were all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-t-hall/it-is-so-important-for-me-to-try-and-having-tried-i-look-back-on/) [Tom T. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-t-hall/) > [The line between failure and success is so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-line-between-failure-and-success-is-so-fine-that-we-are-often-on-2/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [It has been said that genius is only the power of making continuous effort. The line between failure and success is so fine that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-smith/it-has-been-said-that-genius-is-only-the-power-of-making-continuous/) [Kate Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-smith/) > [The two hardest things to handle in life are failure and success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-two-hardest-things-to-handle-in-life-are-failure-and-success/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think the two most difficult things to deal with in life are failure and success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee-roth/i-think-the-two-most-difficult-things-to-deal-with-in-life-are/) [David Lee Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee-roth/) > [Failure and success are part of the same seed. If you don't embrace your failure, you never really know what success is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/failure-and-success-are-part-of-the-same-seed-if-you-don-t-embrace/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [“The line between failure and success is so fine. . . that we are often on the line and do not know it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-line-between-failure-and-success-is-so-fine-that-we-are-often-on/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“The difference between failure and success is availability! EL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evinda-lepins/the-difference-between-failure-and-success-is-availability-el/) [Evinda Lepins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evinda-lepins/) > [“The difference between failure and success is doing a thing merely right and doing a thing exactly right”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-simmons/the-difference-between-failure-and-success-is-doing-a-thing-merely/) [Edward Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-simmons/) > [The mere difference between failure and success is doing thing nearly right .. or doing it exactly right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zzanie/the-mere-difference-between-failure-and-success-is-doing-thing-nearly/) [Zzanie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zzanie/) ## More by Alexander Smith > [Pleasure has no logic; it never treads in its own footsteps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/pleasure-has-no-logic-it-never-treads-in-its-own-footsteps/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [The great man is the man who does a thing for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/the-great-man-is-the-man-who-does-a-thing-for-the-first-time/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Eternity doth wear upon her face the veil of time. They only see the veil, and thus they know not what they stand so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/eternity-doth-wear-upon-her-face-the-veil-of-time-they-only-see-the/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [There is a certain even-handed justice in Time; and for what he takes away he gives us something in return. He robs us of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/there-is-a-certain-even-handed-justice-in-time-and-for-what-he-takes/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Thoughts must come naturally, like wild-flowers; they cannot be forced in a hot-bed, even although aided by the leaf-mould of your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/thoughts-must-come-naturally-like-wild-flowers-they-cannot-be-forced/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [In the entire circle of the year there are no days so delightful as those of a fine October, when the trees are bare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/in-the-entire-circle-of-the-year-there-are-no-days-so-delightful-as/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [The globe has been circumnavigated, but no man ever yet has; you may survey a kingdom and note the result in maps, but all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/the-globe-has-been-circumnavigated-but-no-man-ever-yet-has-you-may/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [In winter, when the dismal rain Comes down in slanting lines, And Wind, that grand old harper, smote His thunder-harp of pines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/in-winter-when-the-dismal-rain-comes-down-in-slanting-lines-and-wind/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [And in any case, to the old man, when the world becomes trite, the triteness arises not so much from a cessation as from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/and-in-any-case-to-the-old-man-when-the-world-becomes-trite-the/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Most brilliant star upon the crest of Time Is England. England!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/most-brilliant-star-upon-the-crest-of-time-is-england-england/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [In my garden, care stops at the gate and gazes at me wistfully through the bars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/in-my-garden-care-stops-at-the-gate-and-gazes-at-me-wistfully-through/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [The spot of ground on which a man has stood is forever interesting to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/the-spot-of-ground-on-which-a-man-has-stood-is-forever-interesting-to/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [To sit for one's portrait is like being present at one's own creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/to-sit-for-one-s-portrait-is-like-being-present-at-one-s-own-creation/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [There is nothing good in this world which time does not improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/there-is-nothing-good-in-this-world-which-time-does-not-improve/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/love-is-but-the-discovery-of-ourselves-in-others-and-the-delight-in/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) [Explore all 111 Alexander Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) ## More Accidents quotes > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/) [Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) [Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Failure and success are not accidents, but the strictest justice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/failure-and-success-are-not-accidents-but-the-strictest-justice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accidents" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/failure-and-success-are-not-accidents-but-the-strictest-justice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/alexander-smith-4402_accidents_failure-and-success-are-not-accidents-bu_2236243.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/alexander-smith-4402_accidents_failure-and-success-are-not-accidents-bu_2236243.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/alexander-smith-4402_accidents_failure-and-success-are-not-accidents-bu_2236243.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Failure and success are not accidents, but the strictest justice.” — Alexander Smith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Failure and success are not accidents,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/failure-and-success-are-not-accidents-but-the-strictest-justice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/failure-and-success-are-not-accidents-but-the-strictest-justice/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```