--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If at first you don't succeed, Call an…" description: "\"If at first you don't succeed, Call an airstrike.\" — Banksy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/banksy-3076_failure_if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-ai_170539.jpg" --- # If at first you don't succeed, Call an airstrike. ![“If at first you don't succeed, Call an airstrike.” quote by Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/banksy-3076_failure_if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-ai_170539.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/banksy-3076_failure_if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-ai_170539.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/banksy-3076_failure_if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-ai_170539.jpg) > “If at first you don't succeed, Call an airstrike.” [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When initial attempts fail, consider drastic, unconventional solutions rather than giving up. **In simple terms:** If you fail, try a bold, unexpected approach. Key Takeaway Think creatively and act decisively after setbacks. Themes failure creativity boldness strategy resilience Mood ironic provocative critical Type humorous inspirational When to use this quote - business pivots - artistic projects - personal challenges - conflict resolution Key Concepts problem solving risk taking unconventional tactics Questions to Reflect On - When is a radical response justified? - What are safer alternatives to an “airstrike” approach? A Different Perspective Extreme measures can cause collateral damage or ethical issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“If at first you don't succeed, you are running about average.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-alderson/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-you-are-running-about-average/) M.H. Alderson > [“If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-baden-powell-or-thomas-h-palmer-or-wc-fields/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-try-and-try-again/) Lord Baden-Powell or Thomas H. Palmer or WC Fields > [If at first you don't succeed, have a cup of tea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-scott/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-have-a-cup-of-tea/) [Peter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-scott/) > [Don't give up if you don't succeed immediately.Eventually you will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pelumi-bello/don-t-give-up-if-you-don-t-succeed-immediately-eventually-you-will/) [Pelumi Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pelumi-bello/) > [“Words to live by: If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-glasser/words-to-live-by-if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-skydiving-is-not-for/) [Robin Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-glasser/) > [If at first you don't succeed - give it up. It isn't worth the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-give-it-up-it-isn-t-worth-the-pain/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [If at first you don't succeed, give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-give-up/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [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 and try, if you don't get succeed, then cheat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lungten-wangchuk/try-and-try-if-you-don-t-get-succeed-then-cheat/) Lungten Wangchuk > [If at first you don't succeed... so much for skydiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-so-much-for-skydiving/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [If at first you don't succeed, that's one data point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-that-s-one-data-point/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) > [If at first you don't succeed, you're obviously not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-you-re-obviously-not-me/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [If at first you don't succeed, you can always become an ultramarathoner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-fordyce/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-you-can-always-become-an-ultramarathoner/) Bruce Fordyce > [“If at first you don't succeed, getting outa bed is a great first step to trying again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-a-brown/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-getting-outa-bed-is-a-great-first-step/) Danny A. Brown > [When you try your best but you don't succeed. You get what you want but not what you need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-try-your-best-but-you-don-t-succeed-you-get-what-you-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Banksy > [A wall is a very big weapon. It's one of the nastiest things you can hit someone with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/a-wall-is-a-very-big-weapon-it-s-one-of-the-nastiest-things-you-can/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Some people criticize me for using sources that are a bit low brow (this quote is from 'Gladiator') but you know what? 'I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/some-people-criticize-me-for-using-sources-that-are-a-bit-low-brow/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [There's nothing more dangerous than someone who wants to make the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/there-s-nothing-more-dangerous-than-someone-who-wants-to-make-the/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [The grumpier you are, the more assholes you meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-grumpier-you-are-the-more-assholes-you-meet/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Today's art has been cancelled due to police activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/today-s-art-has-been-cancelled-due-to-police-activity/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Graffiti ultimately wins out over proper art because it becomes part of your city, it' s a tool; "I'll meet you in that pub,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/graffiti-ultimately-wins-out-over-proper-art-because-it-becomes-part/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [The bad artists imitate, the great artists steal,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-bad-artists-imitate-the-great-artists-steal/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Graffiti's always been a temporary art form. You make your mark and then they scrub it off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/graffiti-s-always-been-a-temporary-art-form-you-make-your-mark-and/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [I just wanna make the world a better-looking place. If you don't like it, you can paint over it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/i-just-wanna-make-the-world-a-better-looking-place-if-you-don-t-like/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [When he time comes to leave, just walk away quietly and don't make any fuss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/when-he-time-comes-to-leave-just-walk-away-quietly-and-don-t-make-any/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Painting something that defies the law of the land is good. Painting something that defies the law of the land and the law of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/painting-something-that-defies-the-law-of-the-land-is-good-painting/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [“Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a fucking sharp knife to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/think-outside-the-box-collapse-the-box-and-take-a-fucking-sharp-knife/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/we-can-t-do-anything-to-change-the-world-until-capitalism-crumbles-in/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [If you want to say something and have people listen then you have to wear a mask. If you want to be honest then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-you-want-to-say-something-and-have-people-listen-then-you-have-to/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that's only if it's done properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsible-and-childish-but-that-s/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) [Explore all 140 Banksy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) ## More Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If at first you don't succeed, Call an airstrike.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Banksy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-airstrike/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-airstrike/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/banksy-3076_failure_if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-ai_170539.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/banksy-3076_failure_if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-ai_170539.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/banksy-3076_failure_if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-ai_170539.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If at first you don't succeed, Call an airstrike.” — Banksy", "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": "Banksy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If at first you don't succeed,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-airstrike/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-airstrike/#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 } } ] } ```