---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way you would have failed,\" she…"
description: "\"The only way you would have failed,\" she said, \"is if you had.\" — Cassandra Clare"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/cassandra-clare-9_failure_the-only-way-you-would-have-failed-she-s_1066450.jpg"
---

#  The only way you would have failed," she said, "is if you…

![“The only way you would have failed,&quot; she said, &quot;is if you had.” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/cassandra-clare-9_failure_the-only-way-you-would-have-failed-she-s_1066450.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/cassandra-clare-9_failure_the-only-way-you-would-have-failed-she-s_1066450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/cassandra-clare-9_failure_the-only-way-you-would-have-failed-she-s_1066450.jpg)

> “The only way you would have failed," she said, "is if you had.”

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote suggests that failure only occurs when one gives up or stops trying.

**In simple terms:** Failure happens when you quit.

Key Takeaway

Never give up.

Themes

perseverance determination resilience

Mood

determined optimistic

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- sports
- career
- personal goals
- creative projects

Key Concepts

mindset effort self‑belief

Questions to Reflect On

- What keeps you motivated when faced with setbacks?
- How do you define failure?

A Different Perspective

Success also depends on preparation and opportunity, not just persistence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Failed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failed/) [Failed Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failed-said-534997/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way Failed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-failed-2278975/)

## Related quotes

> [I've always played it my way. I failed media training, for example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-ve-always-played-it-my-way-i-failed-media-training-for-example/)

[Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/)

> [“I have not failed,” said Thomas Edison. “I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-moore/i-have-not-failed-said-thomas-edison-i-ve-just-found-ten-thousand/)

[Margaret Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-moore/)

> [I feel like I failed," I said. "Don't beat yourself up," Jim said. "She might not have turned out like you planned, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-feel-like-i-failed-i-said-don-t-beat-yourself-up-jim-said-she-might/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I failed, I failed, and that is about all that can be said about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-failed-i-failed-and-that-is-about-all-that-can-be-said-about-it/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [“What was his name?” She pushed her lips together, shoving away the memory of how he’d looked the last time she’d seen him, broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-was-his-name-she-pushed-her-lips-together-shoving-away-the/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [“As much as she wished she had brought a gun with her, she knew it wouldn't have helped as she could hardly have just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-duns/as-much-as-she-wished-she-had-brought-a-gun-with-her-she-knew-it/)

[Jeremy Duns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-duns/)

> [“I've failed you," he said. "You just stopped the boy." "That's not what I meant." "I know what you meant, Oliver. You count too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-ve-failed-you-he-said-you-just-stopped-the-boy-that-s-not-what-i/)

[Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/)

> [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/)

> [“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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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 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/)

> [ 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/)

> [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

## More by Cassandra Clare

> [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Lex malla, lex nulla,” said Julian with a regretful wave of his hand. It was the Blackthorn family motto: A bad law is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lex-malla-lex-nulla-said-julian-with-a-regretful-wave-of-his-hand-it/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [I'm memorable, its true." -Magnus, pg.229-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-memorable-its-true-magnus-pg-229/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Unless there was a reason for me to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unless-there-was-a-reason-for-me-to-stay/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Love didn't make you weak, it made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-didn-t-make-you-weak-it-made-you-stronger/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

[Explore all 4,049 Cassandra Clare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failed/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The only way you would have failed,\" she said, \"is if you had.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Cassandra Clare"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/the-only-way-you-would-have-failed-she-said-is-if-you-had/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Failed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/the-only-way-you-would-have-failed-she-said-is-if-you-had/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/cassandra-clare-9_failure_the-only-way-you-would-have-failed-she-s_1066450.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/cassandra-clare-9_failure_the-only-way-you-would-have-failed-she-s_1066450.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/cassandra-clare-9_failure_the-only-way-you-would-have-failed-she-s_1066450.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The only way you would have failed,\" she said, \"is if you had.” — Cassandra Clare",
                "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": "Cassandra Clare",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The only way you would have...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/the-only-way-you-would-have-failed-she-said-is-if-you-had/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/the-only-way-you-would-have-failed-she-said-is-if-you-had/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
