--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You fail all the time, but you aren't a…" description: "\"You fail all the time, but you aren't a failure until you start blaming someone else.\" — Bum Phillips" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/bum-phillips-17483_blame_you-fail-all-the-time-but-you-aren-t-a-f_2127904.png" --- # You fail all the time, but you aren't a failure until you… ![“You fail all the time, but you aren't a failure until you start blaming someone else.” quote by Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/bum-phillips-17483_blame_you-fail-all-the-time-but-you-aren-t-a-f_2127904.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/bum-phillips-17483_blame_you-fail-all-the-time-but-you-aren-t-a-f_2127904.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/bum-phillips-17483_blame_you-fail-all-the-time-but-you-aren-t-a-f_2127904.png) > “You fail all the time, but you aren't a failure until you start blaming someone else.” [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) ## 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 normal, but you become a failure only when you blame others instead of learning. **In simple terms:** Blaming others turns setbacks into personal failure. Key Takeaway Accept responsibility and grow from mistakes. Themes failure responsibility growth Mood critical motivational Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - team sports - workplace - personal development Key Concepts self‑accountability mindset Questions to Reflect On - When have you blamed others? - How can you shift to self‑reflection? A Different Perspective Blame can be a defense mechanism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blaming others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blaming-others/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspiring football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring-football/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [You are not a failure until you start blaming others for your mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/you-are-not-a-failure-until-you-start-blaming-others-for-your-mistakes/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [It's not exactly fair to make a mistake yourself and then start blaming others for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/it-s-not-exactly-fair-to-make-a-mistake-yourself-and-then-start/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [You may make mistakes, but you are not a failure until you start blaming someone else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-may-make-mistakes-but-you-are-not-a-failure-until-you-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stop blaming people, circumstances, the devil or even God for things that go wrong, & start being the person God intended us to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/stop-blaming-people-circumstances-the-devil-or-even-god-for-things/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“JD/Dr Cox: The second you start blaming yourself for people's deaths, there's no coming back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-lawrence/jd-dr-cox-the-second-you-start-blaming-yourself-for-people-s-deaths/) [Bill Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-lawrence/) > [You are not defeated until you start blaming someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-not-defeated-until-you-start-blaming-someone-else/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And one day they tell you that love doesn't exist between you two. And you start blaming yourself even after knowing that you've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shalini/and-one-day-they-tell-you-that-love-doesn-t-exist-between-you-two-and/) [Shalini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shalini/) > [Before you start blaming people for your problems, Stop and think about who created them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/before-you-start-blaming-people-for-your-problems-stop-and-think/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [We rely too much on the people we share our lives with. We hold them responsible for things they are not even aware of.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-zambra/we-rely-too-much-on-the-people-we-share-our-lives-with-we-hold-them/) [Alejandro Zambra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-zambra/) > [If you remember your past too well you start blaming your present for it. Look what they did to me, that's what caused me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/if-you-remember-your-past-too-well-you-start-blaming-your-present-for/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [Your failures won't hurt you until you start blaming them on others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/your-failures-won-t-hurt-you-until-you-start-blaming-them-on-others/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Blaming others is nothing more than excusing yourself..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/blaming-others-is-nothing-more-than-excusing-yourself/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [If you listen to the political discourse in America today, you would think that all our problems have been caused by the Mexicans of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/if-you-listen-to-the-political-discourse-in-america-today-you-would/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) > [Stop blaming others, whatever happens to you is nobody's fault if you get hurt because of disappointment is not the end of your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/stop-blaming-others-whatever-happens-to-you-is-nobody-s-fault-if-you/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [“Stop Blaming Others For Your Own Actions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/stop-blaming-others-for-your-own-actions/) [Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/) ## More by Bum Phillips > [I'd rather have preparation than motivation. Everyone likes to play, but no one likes to practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/i-d-rather-have-preparation-than-motivation-everyone-likes-to-play/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [Dallas Cowboys may be America's team, but the Houston Oilers are Texas' team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/dallas-cowboys-may-be-america-s-team-but-the-houston-oilers-are-texas/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [Respect all. Fear none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/respect-all-fear-none/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [The film looks suspiciously like the game itself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/the-film-looks-suspiciously-like-the-game-itself/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [I know why we lost the Civil War. We must have had the same officials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/i-know-why-we-lost-the-civil-war-we-must-have-had-the-same-officials/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [An expert is an ordinary fella away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/an-expert-is-an-ordinary-fella-away-from-home/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [The trouble with most coaches is that they start with the assumption that everybody is a turd. And that ain't right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/the-trouble-with-most-coaches-is-that-they-start-with-the-assumption/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [You don't know a ladder has splinters until you slide down it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/you-don-t-know-a-ladder-has-splinters-until-you-slide-down-it/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [Yep. And I noticed how slowly he went down each time, too. (When asked if he noticed how slowly Earl Campbell got up after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/yep-and-i-noticed-how-slowly-he-went-down-each-time-too-when-asked-if/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [Loyalty, up and down the line. That's one quality an organization must have to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/loyalty-up-and-down-the-line-that-s-one-quality-an-organization-must/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [I don't mind people thinking I'm stupid, but I don't want to give them any proof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/i-don-t-mind-people-thinking-i-m-stupid-but-i-don-t-want-to-give-them/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [I never scrimmage Oilers against Oilers...What for? Houston isn't on our schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/i-never-scrimmage-oilers-against-oilers-what-for-houston-isn-t-on-our/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [I don't need the news. If they have a war, I figure someone will tell me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/i-don-t-need-the-news-if-they-have-a-war-i-figure-someone-will-tell-me/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [I always thought I could coach. I just thought people were poor judges of good coaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/i-always-thought-i-could-coach-i-just-thought-people-were-poor-judges/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) > [Yeah, that test says he's dumb as a fence post, but when he hits he looks like Einstein to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/yeah-that-test-says-he-s-dumb-as-a-fence-post-but-when-he-hits-he/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) [Explore all 37 Bum Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) ## More Blame quotes > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Me mum used to always have the radio on - even now she has it on in every room. Me girlfriend sort of blames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/me-mum-used-to-always-have-the-radio-on-even-now-she-has-it-on-in/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-the-great/i-like-to-praise-and-reward-loudly-to-blame-quietly/) [Catherine the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-the-great/) > [Some of the things that I said I hated to say, but blame yourself mother fucker you made it this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedi-mind-tricks/some-of-the-things-that-i-said-i-hated-to-say-but-blame-yourself/) [Jedi Mind Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedi-mind-tricks/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In places where government priorities and market imperatives create a world so capricious that to help a neighbor is to risk your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/in-places-where-government-priorities-and-market-imperatives-create-a/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [“Stop Blaming Others For Your Own Actions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/stop-blaming-others-for-your-own-actions/) [Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't blame anyone .. I did this to myself .. It's my fault .. Everything is my FAULT ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nurnizz95/i-don-t-blame-anyone-i-did-this-to-myself-it-s-my-fault-everything-is/) Nurnizz95 > [“They would congratulate themselves every morning on keeping their integrity, and blame themselves each night for that missed opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/they-would-congratulate-themselves-every-morning-on-keeping-their/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I try to live my life where I end up at a point where I have no regrets. So I try to choose the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-aronofsky/i-try-to-live-my-life-where-i-end-up-at-a-point-where-i-have-no/) [Darren Aronofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-aronofsky/) > [How come you don't feel that magic in the air? I guess I knew you'll never be there. I guess I knew you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-come-you-don-t-feel-that-magic-in-the-air-i-guess-i-knew-you-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am down mentally. I can't understand how it happened and who is to blame? I don't know why the ground was rolled before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yeasin-khan/i-am-down-mentally-i-can-t-understand-how-it-happened-and-who-is-to/) Yeasin Khan > [A refusal to admit one's mistake & not accepting responsibility for that mistake by blaming everyone else, is d beginning of one's decline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-refusal-to-admit-one-s-mistake-not-accepting-responsibility-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listen, the guy was not created by coverage from MSNBC and CNN. If you want to blame us for making Donald Trump president because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-tur/listen-the-guy-was-not-created-by-coverage-from-msnbc-and-cnn-if-you/) [Katy Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-tur/) Browse all 3,779 Blame quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You fail all the time, but you aren't a failure until you start blaming someone else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bum Phillips" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/you-fail-all-the-time-but-you-aren-t-a-failure-until-you-start/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blame" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/you-fail-all-the-time-but-you-aren-t-a-failure-until-you-start/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/bum-phillips-17483_blame_you-fail-all-the-time-but-you-aren-t-a-f_2127904.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/bum-phillips-17483_blame_you-fail-all-the-time-but-you-aren-t-a-f_2127904.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/bum-phillips-17483_blame_you-fail-all-the-time-but-you-aren-t-a-f_2127904.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You fail all the time, but you aren't a failure until you start blaming someone else.” — Bum Phillips", "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": "Bum Phillips", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You fail all the time, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/you-fail-all-the-time-but-you-aren-t-a-failure-until-you-start/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/you-fail-all-the-time-but-you-aren-t-a-failure-until-you-start/#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 } } ] } ```