--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The tragedy of this life is not failure…" description: "\"The tragedy of this life is not failure, but low aim.\" — Benjamin E. Mays" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/benjamin-e-mays-20877_aim_the-tragedy-of-this-life-is-not-failure_2878470.png" --- # The tragedy of this life is not failure, but low aim. ![“The tragedy of this life is not failure, but low aim.” quote by Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/benjamin-e-mays-20877_aim_the-tragedy-of-this-life-is-not-failure_2878470.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/benjamin-e-mays-20877_aim_the-tragedy-of-this-life-is-not-failure_2878470.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/benjamin-e-mays-20877_aim_the-tragedy-of-this-life-is-not-failure_2878470.png) > “The tragedy of this life is not failure, but low aim.” [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s tragedy lies not in failing but in setting goals too low, limiting potential. **In simple terms:** Low goals cause tragedy, not failure. Key Takeaway Aim high to avoid regret. Themes ambition potential failure goal‑setting Mood inspirational serious Type motivational educational When to use this quote - career planning - education - personal development Key Concepts self‑actualization psychology of achievement leadership development Questions to Reflect On - What goals challenge you most? - How will you raise your aspirations? A Different Perspective High expectations can cause stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-low-2688648/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-failure/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Tragedy Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy-life/) ## Related quotes > [The tragedy of life is not found in failure but complacency. Not in you doing too much, but doing too little. Not in you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-tragedy-of-life-is-not-found-in-failure-but-complacency-not-in/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a calamity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-tragedy-of-life-doesn-t-lie-in-not-reaching-your-goal-the-tragedy/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [Not failure, but low aim is sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/not-failure-but-low-aim-is-sin/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [Man's worst tragedy in life is his failure to reach his greatest potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-palubinskas/man-s-worst-tragedy-in-life-is-his-failure-to-reach-his-greatest/) [Ed Palubinskas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-palubinskas/) > [Not failure, but low aim, is crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/not-failure-but-low-aim-is-crime/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/don-t-fear-failure-not-failure-but-low-aim-is-the-crime-in-great/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Not failure, but low aim is a crime!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-failure-but-low-aim-is-a-crime/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency; not in our doing too much, but rather in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-tragedy-of-life-is-often-not-in-our-failure-but-rather-in-our/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [“It is born in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching the goal. The tragedy of life lies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/it-is-born-in-mind-that-the-tragedy-of-life-does-not-lie-in-not/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-tragedy-of-life-doesn-t-lie-in-not-2/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [This life in us; however low it flickers or fiercely burns, is still a divine flame which no man dare presume to put out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/this-life-in-us-however-low-it-flickers-or-fiercely-burns-is-still-a/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [When a man comes to die, no matter what his talents and influences and genius, if he dies unloved his life must be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/when-a-man-comes-to-die-no-matter-what-his-talents-and-influences-and/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [There is but one failure in life and that is the failure to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/there-is-but-one-failure-in-life-and-that-is-the-failure-to-try/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [“HAS YOUR LIFE BEEN A FAILURE? LET’S MAKE YOUR DEATH A SUCCESS!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-teul/has-your-life-been-a-failure-let-s-make-your-death-a-success/) [Jean Teulé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-teul/) > [My life has been nothing but a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/my-life-has-been-nothing-but-a-failure/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) ## More by Benjamin E. Mays > [He who starts behind in the great race of life must forever remain behind or run faster than the man in front.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/he-who-starts-behind-in-the-great-race-of-life-must-forever-remain/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a calamity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-tragedy-of-life-doesn-t-lie-in-not-reaching-your-goal-the-tragedy/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency; not in our doing too much, but rather in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-tragedy-of-life-is-often-not-in-our-failure-but-rather-in-our/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [Man is what his dreams are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/man-is-what-his-dreams-are/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [Failure isn't in not reaching your goal but in having no goal to reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/failure-isn-t-in-not-reaching-your-goal-but-in-having-no-goal-to-reach/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [Not failure, but low aim is sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/not-failure-but-low-aim-is-sin/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [If what is communicated is false, it can hardly be called communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/if-what-is-communicated-is-false-it-can-hardly-be-called-communication/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [ \[H\]owever hard the road, however difficult today, tomorrow things will be better. Tomorrow may not be better, but we must believe that it will… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/h-owever-hard-the-road-however-difficult-today-tomorrow-things-will/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [Whatever you do, do it so well that people looking on will feel that the task was reserved especially for you by God Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/whatever-you-do-do-it-so-well-that-people-looking-on-will-feel-that/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [“It is born in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching the goal. The tragedy of life lies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/it-is-born-in-mind-that-the-tragedy-of-life-does-not-lie-in-not/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [A child must learn early to believe that she is somebody worthwhile, and that she can do many praiseworthy things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/a-child-must-learn-early-to-believe-that-she-is-somebody-worthwhile/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [The tragedy of life is not found in failure but complacency. Not in you doing too much, but doing too little. Not in you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-tragedy-of-life-is-not-found-in-failure-but-complacency-not-in/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [It isn't a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/it-isn-t-a-disgrace-not-to-reach-the-stars-but-it-is-a-disgrace-to/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [The creation of the spiritual was no accident. It was a creation born of necessity, so that the slave might more adequately adjust himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-creation-of-the-spiritual-was-no-accident-it-was-a-creation-born/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [. . . the circumference of life cannot be rightly drawn until the center is set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-circumference-of-life-cannot-be-rightly-drawn-until-the-center-is/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) [Explore all 30 Benjamin E. Mays quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The tragedy of this life is not failure, but low aim.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin E. 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