--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The man who has done his level best... is…" description: "\"The man who has done his level best... is a success, even though the world may write him down a failure.\" — B. C. Forbes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/b-c-forbes-2124_done_the-man-who-has-done-his-level-best-is-a_1943368.jpg" --- # The man who has done his level best... is a success, even… ![“The man who has done his level best... is a success, even though the world may write him down a failure.” quote by B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/b-c-forbes-2124_done_the-man-who-has-done-his-level-best-is-a_1943368.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/b-c-forbes-2124_done_the-man-who-has-done-his-level-best-is-a_1943368.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/b-c-forbes-2124_done_the-man-who-has-done-his-level-best-is-a_1943368.jpg) > “The man who has done his level best... is a success, even though the world may write him down a failure.” [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is defined by personal effort and integrity, not by external labels or failures. **In simple terms:** Success comes from doing your best, not others' opinions. Key Takeaway Focus on personal effort. Themes effort integrity perception Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career challenges - academic pursuits - creative projects - entrepreneurship Key Concepts self‑worth achievement resilience Questions to Reflect On - What does success mean to you personally? - How do you handle being labeled a failure? A Different Perspective External judgments can still impact opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-success/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Man Level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-level-3109983/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-world-453396/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“The strength of a man is not in the level of sophistication of what he bears but in the will to use it when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-alibbi/the-strength-of-a-man-is-not-in-the-level-of-sophistication-of-what/) [Andrew Alibbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-alibbi/) > [Only passions can raise a man above the level of the animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/only-passions-can-raise-a-man-above-the-level-of-the-animal/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [I'm not used to saying no to this man on any level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-mackris/i-m-not-used-to-saying-no-to-this-man-on-any-level/) [Andrea Mackris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-mackris/) > [Being a success in the world, having total control of one's life, is about being able to take or leave things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-coren/being-a-success-in-the-world-having-total-control-of-one-s-life-is/) [Giles Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-coren/) > [As a kid from Compton, you can get all the success in the world and still question your worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/as-a-kid-from-compton-you-can-get-all-the-success-in-the-world-and/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [It's so easy for all the success in the world to suddenly end, and I'm quite aware of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/it-s-so-easy-for-all-the-success-in-the-world-to-suddenly-end-and-i-m/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [The world doesn’t owe you anything. You have to work for everything you get and you have to appreciate every bit of success the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-world-doesn-t-owe-you-anything-you-have-to-work-for-everything/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [You can have all the riches and success in the world, but if you don't have your health, you have nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adler/you-can-have-all-the-riches-and-success-in-the-world-but-if-you-don-t/) [Steven Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adler/) > [“Most of the people who attempt to draw back the success of the world are those who don’t care about anything. They live life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/most-of-the-people-who-attempt-to-draw-back-the-success-of-the-world/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [And when all is said and done, there is no greater success in the world than just being happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-smith/and-when-all-is-said-and-done-there-is-no-greater-success-in-the/) [Kate Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-smith/) > [“One woman's definition of success may not be another's. Is success, as the world defines it, an accomplishment in a society this sick?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/one-woman-s-definition-of-success-may-not-be-another-s-is-success-as/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [People will wish you all the success in the world and then they feel jealous and hate you when you get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/people-will-wish-you-all-the-success-in-the-world-and-then-they-feel/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You can have all the riches and success in the world, but if you dont have your health, you have nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adler/you-can-have-all-the-riches-and-success-in-the-world-but-if-you-dont/) [Steven Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adler/) > [“There is no success in this world without first conquering the battle within your mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-ely/there-is-no-success-in-this-world-without-first-conquering-the-battle/) [Preston Ely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-ely/) > [Do the very best that you can, in the things you do best, and you will know in thy soul, that you are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/do-the-very-best-that-you-can-in-the-things-you-do-best-and-you-will/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) ## More by B. C. Forbes > [Our future and our fate lie in our wills more than in our hands, for our hands are but the instruments of our wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/our-future-and-our-fate-lie-in-our-wills-more-than-in-our-hands-for/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [What one thing does the world need most today-apart, that is, from the all-inclusive thing we call righteousness? Aren't you inclined to agree that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/what-one-thing-does-the-world-need-most-today-apart-that-is-from-the/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Are soft-hearted people handicapped in business? You have heard a businessman say of someone else, He's all right, but he's too soft-hearted… To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/are-soft-hearted-people-handicapped-in-business-you-have-heard-a/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Search and you will find that at the base and birth of every great business organization was an enthusiast, man consumed with earnestness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/search-and-you-will-find-that-at-the-base-and-birth-of-every-great/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [A big business man was telling Henry Ford about a coach driver of super-expertness with his whip. The driver was telling how he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/a-big-business-man-was-telling-henry-ford-about-a-coach-driver-of/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Better to be occasionally cheated than perpetually suspicious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/better-to-be-occasionally-cheated-than-perpetually-suspicious/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Honesty pays dividends both in dollars and in peace of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/honesty-pays-dividends-both-in-dollars-and-in-peace-of-mind/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Timing is everything. Tell me how a young man spends his evenings and I will tell you how far he is likely to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/timing-is-everything-tell-me-how-a-young-man-spends-his-evenings-and/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [To succeed, we must have the will to succeed, we must have stamina, determination, backbone, perseverance, self-reliance, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/to-succeed-we-must-have-the-will-to-succeed-we-must-have-stamina/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [There are two brands of discontent: the brand that merely fosters greed and snarling and back-biting, and the brand that inspires greater and greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/there-are-two-brands-of-discontent-the-brand-that-merely-fosters/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Which class is happiest, the rich, the middle class or the poor? A very successful executive of a large organization touches upon this vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/which-class-is-happiest-the-rich-the-middle-class-or-the-poor-a-very/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Are your desires purely selfish? Do your tastes run to a grand home, automobiles, fine clothes, an abundance of amusements, and so forth? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/are-your-desires-purely-selfish-do-your-tastes-run-to-a-grand-home/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [When you delve deep enough, you find that practically every great fortune and great enterprise in America have sprung from the courageous enterprise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/when-you-delve-deep-enough-you-find-that-practically-every-great/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [It can be set down as a broad, general principle that we cannot indulge in idleness and abundance during both the first and second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/it-can-be-set-down-as-a-broad-general-principle-that-we-cannot/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [The Christmas spirit brings home to us-or should bring home to us-the profound Biblical truth that it is more blessed to give than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/the-christmas-spirit-brings-home-to-us-or-should-bring-home-to-us-the/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) [Explore all 184 B. C. Forbes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) ## More Best success quotes > [We become what we think about most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-vandenberg/we-become-what-we-think-about-most/) [John H. Vandenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-vandenberg/) > [If you're going to be thinking anyway, think big!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-you-re-going-to-be-thinking-anyway-think-big/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I'm either going to go completely mental, completely bankrupt, or have the best success of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-m-either-going-to-go-completely-mental-completely-bankrupt-or-have/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [The best part of success is that it got me past the basic survival level of existence so that I was comfortable. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/the-best-part-of-success-is-that-it-got-me-past-the-basic-survival/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [“Do the best you can, with what you can, while you can, and success in inevitable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/do-the-best-you-can-with-what-you-can-while-you-can-and-success-in/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [The best success, for me, is not one trophy. It's not harmony. It's when players improve and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unai-emery/the-best-success-for-me-is-not-one-trophy-it-s-not-harmony-it-s-when/) [Unai Emery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unai-emery/) > [Thou didst thy best, that is success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/thou-didst-thy-best-that-is-success/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to doDon't wish it were easier, wish you were better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/successful-people-do-what-unsuccessful-people-are-not-willing-to/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [To have known the best, and to have known it for the best, is success in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-william-mackay/to-have-known-the-best-and-to-have-known-it-for-the-best-is-success/) [John William Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-william-mackay/) > [Each generation has to stand up for democracy. It can't take anything for granted and may have to fight fundamental battles anew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/each-generation-has-to-stand-up-for-democracy-it-can-t-take-anything/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [If at first you don't succeed, try hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-hard-work/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Try not to become a man of success, but a man of value. Look around at how people want to get more out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/try-not-to-become-a-man-of-success-but-a-man-of-value-look-around-at/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [If you cannot explain it simply, you do not understand it enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-you-cannot-explain-it-simply-you-do-not-understand-it-enough/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [If at first you don't succeed, try management.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-management/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [If you have a good name, if you are right more often than you are wrong, if your children respect you, if your grandchildren…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-landers/if-you-have-a-good-name-if-you-are-right-more-often-than-you-are/) [Ann Landers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-landers/) [Browse all 48 Best success quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-success/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The man who has done his level best... is a success, even though the world may write him down a failure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "B. 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