--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better to have tried and failed than to…" description: "\"Better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all. Whoever came up with that phrase I wanted his greasy head on a silver platt\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/anonymous-1_phrases_better-to-have-tried-and-failed-than-to_1635676.jpg" --- # Better to have tried and failed than to have never tried… ![“Better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all. Whoever came up with that phrase I wanted his greasy head on a silver platt” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/anonymous-1_phrases_better-to-have-tried-and-failed-than-to_1635676.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/anonymous-1_phrases_better-to-have-tried-and-failed-than-to_1635676.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/anonymous-1_phrases_better-to-have-tried-and-failed-than-to_1635676.jpg) > “Better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all. Whoever came up with that phrase I wanted his greasy head on a silver platt” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting and failing teaches more than never trying; the speaker wishes the originator faced ridicule. **In simple terms:** Trying and failing is better than never trying. Key Takeaway Embrace failure as learning. Themes risk failure learning effort humility Mood motivational humorous Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - education - personal development - sports Key Concepts psychology motivation self-help Questions to Reflect On - What fear holds you back from trying? - How can you turn failure into insight? A Different Perspective May discourage cautious planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silver/) ## Related quotes > [“Better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-paul-thomas/better-to-have-tried-and-failed-than-to-have-never-tried-at-all/) Sean-Paul Thomas > [It's better to have tried and failed… Than wondering one day… What if?!?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nickey-noeth/it-s-better-to-have-tried-and-failed-than-wondering-one-day-what-if/) [Nickey Noeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nickey-noeth/) > [ “I tried and failed. I tried again and again and succeeded. \[Epitaph from Gail Borden's gravestone.\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-borden/i-tried-and-failed-i-tried-again-and-again-and-succeeded-epitaph-from/) Gail Borden > [It's better to have tried and failed than to live life wondering what would've happened if I had tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/it-s-better-to-have-tried-and-failed-than-to-live-life-wondering-what/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [“Never, never, give in to fear. It is better to have tried and failed than never trying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/never-never-give-in-to-fear-it-is-better-to-have-tried-and-failed/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [When all else failed, she tried being reasonable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/when-all-else-failed-she-tried-being-reasonable/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Better a Has-been than a Never-was. But better a Never-was than a Never-tried-to-be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/better-a-has-been-than-a-never-was-but-better-a-never-was-than-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Ah, that 'if.' But it's of no use to despond. I can but do that, when I have tried everything and failed, and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/ah-that-if-but-it-s-of-no-use-to-despond-i-can-but-do-that-when-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid. In the past, whenever I had fallen short in almost any undertaking, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-gordon-webster/be-bold-and-mighty-forces-will-come-to-your-aid-in-the-past-whenever/) [Arthur Gordon Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-gordon-webster/) > [I followed my heart and figured that if I tried and failed, at least I'd know that I tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-branch/i-followed-my-heart-and-figured-that-if-i-tried-and-failed-at-least-i/) [Michelle Branch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-branch/) > [Many Haters Have Tried and Failed. Come Get Some!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/being-real/many-haters-have-tried-and-failed-come-get-some/) Being Real > [“She tried not to slip her arms beneath his trench coat, or spread her palms across his broad, muscular back, or inhale the delicious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-faegen/she-tried-not-to-slip-her-arms-beneath-his-trench-coat-or-spread-her/) [Trinity Faegen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-faegen/) > [“This is not the life I want or who I want to be but I don’t know anything else. I have tried to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/this-is-not-the-life-i-want-or-who-i-want-to-be-but-i-don-t-know/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [No one can say Christianity has failed. It has never been tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clayton-powell-jr/no-one-can-say-christianity-has-failed-it-has-never-been-tried/) [Adam Clayton Powell, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clayton-powell-jr/) > [“I failed with you. I tried to make you tough. You ended up kind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/i-failed-with-you-i-tried-to-make-you-tough-you-ended-up-kind/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Failed quotes > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The very first company I started failed with a great bang. The second one failed a little bit less, but still failed. The third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-levchin/the-very-first-company-i-started-failed-with-a-great-bang-the-second/) [Max Levchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-levchin/) > [I wanted to be a huge star and I have failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-otway/i-wanted-to-be-a-huge-star-and-i-have-failed/) [John Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-otway/) > [When the enemy is driven back, we have failed, and when he is cut off, encircled and dispersed, we have succeeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-suvorov/when-the-enemy-is-driven-back-we-have-failed-and-when-he-is-cut-off/) [Alexander Suvorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-suvorov/) > [“Humility is what you strive for when you've failed at everything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/humility-is-what-you-strive-for-when-you-ve-failed-at-everything-else/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [Paradox: how do we know what we have failed to see because we have no language to express it, thus we cannot know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/paradox-how-do-we-know-what-we-have-failed-to-see-because-we-have-no/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I almost failed out of high school. I nearly gave in to the deep anger and resentment harbored by everyone around me... Whatever talents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance-2/i-almost-failed-out-of-high-school-i-nearly-gave-in-to-the-deep-anger/) [J. D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance-2/) > [Actually, I failed drama in high school because of nerves. I wasn't able to memorize the words. I had complete stage fright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-marie/actually-i-failed-drama-in-high-school-because-of-nerves-i-wasn-t/) [Constance Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-marie/) > [“WASHINGTON—Citigroup Inc. failed to get Federal Reserve”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/washington-citigroup-inc-failed-to-get-federal-reserve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I tried to go to college; I just picked a trade, did a plumbing test - and failed. And then I thought, 'I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-campbell/i-tried-to-go-to-college-i-just-picked-a-trade-did-a-plumbing-test/) [Luke Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-campbell/) > [When I started out I was a failed actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/when-i-started-out-i-was-a-failed-actor/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“Somehow it had come to pass that this man was her whole world, and she had failed to take his measure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/somehow-it-had-come-to-pass-that-this-man-was-her-whole-world-and-she/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Before I was a champion, I failed, and I was afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/before-i-was-a-champion-i-failed-and-i-was-afraid/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [Alternative services would mean that there would be services available to compete with Google, Facebook, Amazon, Dropbox, Skype, etc., and they would be run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikko-hypponen/alternative-services-would-mean-that-there-would-be-services/) [Mikko Hypponen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikko-hypponen/) Browse all 907 Failed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all. 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