--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have learned that there is no failure…" description: "\"I have learned that there is no failure in running, or in life, as long as you keep moving. It's not about speed. And gold medals. It's about refusing ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/amby-burfoot-15444_compass_i-have-learned-that-there-is-no-failure_1631795.png" --- # I have learned that there is no failure in running, or in… ![“I have learned that there is no failure in running, or in life, as long as you keep moving. It's not about speed. And gold medals. It's about refusing to be stopped. you might find that one particular direction proves difficult, but there are many directions on a compass. Infinite, in fact. As…” quote by Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/amby-burfoot-15444_compass_i-have-learned-that-there-is-no-failure_1631795.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/amby-burfoot-15444_compass_i-have-learned-that-there-is-no-failure_1631795.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/amby-burfoot-15444_compass_i-have-learned-that-there-is-no-failure_1631795.png) > “I have learned that there is no failure in running, or in life, as long as you keep moving. It's not about speed. And gold medals. It's about refusing to be stopped. you might find that one particular direction proves difficult, but there are many directions on a compass. Infinite, in fact. As long as you keep searching, you'll find your winning way.” [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Failure is absent when you keep moving; persistence, not speed or accolades, leads to finding a successful path among many possibilities. **In simple terms:** Keep moving, and you’ll eventually succeed. Key Takeaway Persist regardless of obstacles. Themes perseverance mindset direction Mood motivational hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - marathon training - career changes - learning new hobbies - problem solving Key Concepts growth goal‑setting resilience Questions to Reflect On - What direction feels most promising now? - How can you balance persistence with smart choices? A Different Perspective It may downplay the need for strategic planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-medal/) [Inspirational running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-running/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medal/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [I have learned that there is no failure in running, or in life, as long as you keep moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/i-have-learned-that-there-is-no-failure-in-running-or-in-life-as-long/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [It's not about speed and gold medals. It's about refusing to be stopped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/it-s-not-about-speed-and-gold-medals-it-s-about-refusing-to-be-stopped/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [ I'm just so excited. We all are. We've been waiting for this \[the gold medal\] for years now and it's finally here. This meant… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/i-m-just-so-excited-we-all-are-we-ve-been-waiting-for-this-the-gold/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [I've achieved my dream of getting a Paralympic gold medal and I'm very lucky that I've been to three Games where I've come away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-ve-achieved-my-dream-of-getting-a-paralympic-gold-medal-and-i-m/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [In one sense we are a favorite because we won a gold medal in 2002.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/in-one-sense-we-are-a-favorite-because-we-won-a-gold-medal-in-2002/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [If you don't try to win you might as well hold the Olympics in somebody's back yard. The thrill of competing carries with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/if-you-don-t-try-to-win-you-might-as-well-hold-the-olympics-in/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [You always dream of going to the Olympics and winning gold. I've learned over the years that there are lots of gold medals, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerri-strug/you-always-dream-of-going-to-the-olympics-and-winning-gold-i-ve/) [Kerri Strug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerri-strug/) > [My advice is that going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal are great goals, but the real goal should be to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/my-advice-is-that-going-to-the-olympics-and-winning-a-gold-medal-are/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [I'm a wealthy man now. I've got a flat, a car, I have enough money to buy food. I skate to make the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-m-a-wealthy-man-now-i-ve-got-a-flat-a-car-i-have-enough-money-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [People fall down, winners get up, and gold medal winners just get up faster!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-st-john/people-fall-down-winners-get-up-and-gold-medal-winners-just-get-up/) [Bonnie St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-st-john/) > [When you see athletes like me win gold medals, you only see the finished product, you dont see the real effort that the likes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linford-christie/when-you-see-athletes-like-me-win-gold-medals-you-only-see-the/) [Linford Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linford-christie/) > [I don't know what the point of life is, but I'm certain that five gold medals is not it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikaela-shiffrin/i-don-t-know-what-the-point-of-life-is-but-i-m-certain-that-five-gold/) [Mikaela Shiffrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikaela-shiffrin/) > [Skiing is my favorite sport, because, that's the only sport that is actually better to watch the worst the person is at it. "That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/skiing-is-my-favorite-sport-because-that-s-the-only-sport-that-is/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [When Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bruce Jenner asked a roomful of Olympic hopefuls if they had a list of written goals, every one raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-olympic-decathlon-gold-medalist-bruce-jenner-asked-a-roomful-of/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [No matter what. Wherever your mind wanders, it seems to turn up at the same Field of Dreams. It's the vision you wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/no-matter-what-wherever-your-mind-wanders-it-seems-to-turn-up-at-the/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) ## More by Amby Burfoot > [I have learned that there is no failure in running, or in life, as long as you keep moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/i-have-learned-that-there-is-no-failure-in-running-or-in-life-as-long/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [Best wishes for a great marathon. Be sure to savor it. The first marathon is something special. Run long and healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/best-wishes-for-a-great-marathon-be-sure-to-savor-it-the-first/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [Don't compare yourself with anyone else. The world is full of runners, so you'll probably see one every time you circle the block or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/don-t-compare-yourself-with-anyone-else-the-world-is-full-of-runners/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [We have all learned everything we know physically—from walking to running a marathon—by trial and error, so there's no reason to become our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/we-have-all-learned-everything-we-know-physically-from-walking-to/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [It's what runners do. We keep on keeping on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/it-s-what-runners-do-we-keep-on-keeping-on/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [Set a goal and a program for yourself, and everything else will follow. Guaranteed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/set-a-goal-and-a-program-for-yourself-and-everything-else-will-follow/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [You don't need any skill to run…Every 3-year old knows how to run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/you-don-t-need-any-skill-to-run-every-3-year-old-knows-how-to-run/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [I like to say, and I truly believe, that every run brings new experiences. You just don't know what they might be until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/i-like-to-say-and-i-truly-believe-that-every-run-brings-new/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [The most powerful lesson you can learn in running? You're capable of much more than you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/the-most-powerful-lesson-you-can-learn-in-running-you-re-capable-of/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [I've always liked hills. I see a challenge, a goal, and I feel instantly galvanized to achieve that goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/i-ve-always-liked-hills-i-see-a-challenge-a-goal-and-i-feel-instantly/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [Running is ultimately a personal experience. It is a revival of the spirit, a private oasis for the thirsty mind. Yet, its healing power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/running-is-ultimately-a-personal-experience-it-is-a-revival-of-the/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [If you train your mind for running, everything else will be easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/if-you-train-your-mind-for-running-everything-else-will-be-easy/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [The true but rare runner's high is a zone that we enter when everything seems to click perfectly, when time stands still, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/the-true-but-rare-runner-s-high-is-a-zone-that-we-enter-when/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [This wasn’t just an attack against the Boston Marathon... It was an attack against the American public and our democratic use of the streets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/this-wasn-t-just-an-attack-against-the-boston-marathon-it-was-an/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [It's not about how fast you go. It's not about how far you go. It's a process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/it-s-not-about-how-fast-you-go-it-s-not-about-how-far-you-go-it-s-a/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) [Explore all 43 Amby Burfoot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) ## More Compass quotes > [It signified nothing that the raw, male magnetism that emanated from him probably made compasses malfunction in his presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaelen-foley/it-signified-nothing-that-the-raw-male-magnetism-that-emanated-from/) [Gaelen Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaelen-foley/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-henry/families-are-the-compass-that-guide-us-they-are-the-inspiration-to/) [Brad Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-henry/) > [In a compass, we got north, south, east and west, right? But in between that, you got things like north-east - now that, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-the-chicago-kid/in-a-compass-we-got-north-south-east-and-west-right-but-in-between/) [BJ the Chicago Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-the-chicago-kid/) > [The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-only-two-good-words-that-can-be-said-for-a-hurricane-are-that-it/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [put the car in "d" set the compass to "n" and get the "f"out of there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/put-the-car-in-d-set-the-compass-to-n-and-get-the-f-out-of-there/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [Anger is an emotion, not a compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/anger-is-an-emotion-not-a-compass/) [Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/) > [“Why a compass?” Ty asked. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Zane’s yet. Zane smiled and ran his thumb across the pendant. “Because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/why-a-compass-ty-asked-he-hadn-t-taken-his-eyes-off-zane-s-yet-zane/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [There is an ancient Indian saying: "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." If we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/there-is-an-ancient-indian-saying-we-do-not-inherit-the-earth-from/) [Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/) > [People who do not know the Bible well have been gulled into thinking it is a good guide to morality. This mistaken view may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-do-not-know-the-bible-well-have-been-gulled-into-thinking/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [I have an excellent internal compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-bonneville/i-have-an-excellent-internal-compass/) [Hugh Bonneville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-bonneville/) > [We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the word for it. Before we know that there are words. Out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-must-be-born-with-an-intuition-of-mortality-before-we-know-the/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [It is cruel for you to leave your daughter, so full of hopeand resolve, to suffer the humiliations of disfranchisement she already feels so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/it-is-cruel-for-you-to-leave-your-daughter-so-full-of-hopeand-resolve/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) [Browse all 569 Compass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have learned that there is no failure in running, or in life, as long as you keep moving. It's not about speed. And gold medals. It's about refusing to be stopped. you might find that one particular direction proves difficult, but there are many directions on a compass. Infinite, in fact. 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