--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a life and death struggle, we cannot…" description: "\"In a life and death struggle, we cannot afford to leave our destinies in the hands of failures.\" — Clement Attlee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/clement-attlee-18762_adversity_in-a-life-and-death-struggle-we-cannot-a_2850639.jpg" --- # In a life and death struggle, we cannot afford to leave… ![“In a life and death struggle, we cannot afford to leave our destinies in the hands of failures.” quote by Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/clement-attlee-18762_adversity_in-a-life-and-death-struggle-we-cannot-a_2850639.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/clement-attlee-18762_adversity_in-a-life-and-death-struggle-we-cannot-a_2850639.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/clement-attlee-18762_adversity_in-a-life-and-death-struggle-we-cannot-a_2850639.jpg) > “In a life and death struggle, we cannot afford to leave our destinies in the hands of failures.” [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In critical moments, we must not let failures dictate destiny; proactive effort is essential. **In simple terms:** Don’t let failures control destiny. Key Takeaway Take decisive action in crises. Themes determination agency resilience Mood determined serious Type political inspirational When to use this quote - wartime decisions - career crises - social movements - personal setbacks Key Concepts political leadership personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you prevent failure from shaping your future? - What actions can you take now? A Different Perspective Failure can still teach valuable lessons. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failures/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life and death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-death/) [Our destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-destiny/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Competitiveness always rests on the assumption of a life-and-death struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/competitiveness-always-rests-on-the-assumption-of-a-life-and-death/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [You've got the oil companies fighting Pope Francis. Fighting the scientists of the world. Fighting the governor of California. They are engaged in literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/you-ve-got-the-oil-companies-fighting-pope-francis-fighting-the/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [Increasingly I felt as if I were entering a struggle that might even be more than life and death. It might be a struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitley-strieber/increasingly-i-felt-as-if-i-were-entering-a-struggle-that-might-even/) [Whitley Strieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitley-strieber/) > [To die with elation is a crappy way of dying... A warrior dies the hard way. His death must struggle to take him. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/to-die-with-elation-is-a-crappy-way-of-dying-a-warrior-dies-the-hard/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [The nation is in a death-struggle. It must either become one vast slaveocracy of petty tyrants, or wholly the land of the free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/the-nation-is-in-a-death-struggle-it-must-either-become-one-vast/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [Revolution, the substitution of one social system for another, has always been a struggle, a painful and a cruel struggle, a life and death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/revolution-the-substitution-of-one-social-system-for-another-has/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [“death struggle had been a grievous one. On”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/death-struggle-had-been-a-grievous-one-on/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“But the living must fear death, or they would not struggle to stay alive. from 'The Fallen Kings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-harrod-eagles/but-the-living-must-fear-death-or-they-would-not-struggle-to-stay-2/) [Cynthia Harrod-Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-harrod-eagles/) > [“But the living must fear death, or they would not struggle to stay alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-harrod-eagles/but-the-living-must-fear-death-or-they-would-not-struggle-to-stay/) [Cynthia Harrod-Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-harrod-eagles/) > [The Emperor died forsaken by all, on this horrible rock. (St. Helena) His death struggle was awful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-emperor-died-forsaken-by-all-on-this-horrible-rock-st-helena-his/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [When life is victorious, there is birth; when it is thwarted, there is death. A warrior is always engaged in a life-and-death struggle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/when-life-is-victorious-there-is-birth-when-it-is-thwarted-there-is/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [“At such times I felt instinctively that a life and death struggle was going on inside me in which I, the owner of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gopi-krishna/at-such-times-i-felt-instinctively-that-a-life-and-death-struggle-was/) [Gopi Krishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gopi-krishna/) > [If we cannot shape our destiny there as no such thing as witchcraft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-malraux/if-we-cannot-shape-our-destiny-there-as-no-such-thing-as-witchcraft/) [Andre Malraux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-malraux/) > [Life will drag us kicking and screaming to our destiny if we try to escape it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-villoldo/life-will-drag-us-kicking-and-screaming-to-our-destiny-if-we-try-to/) [Alberto Villoldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-villoldo/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) ## More by Clement Attlee > [The real test of one's belief in the doctrine of Habeas Corpus is not when one demands its application on behalf of one's friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/the-real-test-of-one-s-belief-in-the-doctrine-of-habeas-corpus-is-not/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [The House of Lords is like a glass of champagne that has stood for five days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/the-house-of-lords-is-like-a-glass-of-champagne-that-has-stood-for/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/i-must-remind-the-right-honourable-gentleman-that-a-monologue-is-not/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Not Churchill. Sixty-five, old for a Churchill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/not-churchill-sixty-five-old-for-a-churchill/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Can't publish. Don't rhyme, don't scan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/can-t-publish-don-t-rhyme-don-t-scan/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/man-s-material-discoveries-have-outpaced-his-moral-progress/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [It's nice to keep in touch - besides, it's the only place in London where you can park a car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/it-s-nice-to-keep-in-touch-besides-it-s-the-only-place-in-london/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [You will be judged by what you succeed at gentlemen, not by what you attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/you-will-be-judged-by-what-you-succeed-at-gentlemen-not-by-what-you/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [There is a denial of the value of the individual. Christianity affirms the value of each individual soul. Nazism denies it. The individual is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/there-is-a-denial-of-the-value-of-the-individual-christianity-affirms/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [The press lives on disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/the-press-lives-on-disaster/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [I am pleased to see from the laughter on the Ministerial benches that there is no implication on their part to take Sir Oswald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/i-am-pleased-to-see-from-the-laughter-on-the-ministerial-benches-that/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [If you begin to consider yourself solely responsible to a political party, you're half-way to a dictatorship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/if-you-begin-to-consider-yourself-solely-responsible-to-a-political/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [I am a diffident man. I find it hard to carry on a conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/i-am-a-diffident-man-i-find-it-hard-to-carry-on-a-conversation/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Winston Churchill - fifty per cent genius, fifty per cent bloody fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/winston-churchill-fifty-per-cent-genius-fifty-per-cent-bloody-fool/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Charity is a cold grey loveless thing. If a rich man wants to help the poor, he should pay his taxes gladly, not dole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/charity-is-a-cold-grey-loveless-thing-if-a-rich-man-wants-to-help-the/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) [Explore all 33 Clement Attlee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In a life and death struggle, we cannot afford to leave our destinies in the hands of failures.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clement Attlee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/in-a-life-and-death-struggle-we-cannot-afford-to-leave-our-destinies/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/in-a-life-and-death-struggle-we-cannot-afford-to-leave-our-destinies/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/clement-attlee-18762_adversity_in-a-life-and-death-struggle-we-cannot-a_2850639.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/clement-attlee-18762_adversity_in-a-life-and-death-struggle-we-cannot-a_2850639.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/clement-attlee-18762_adversity_in-a-life-and-death-struggle-we-cannot-a_2850639.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In a life and death struggle, we cannot afford to leave our destinies in the hands of failures.” — Clement Attlee", "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": "Clement Attlee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In a life and death struggle,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/in-a-life-and-death-struggle-we-cannot-afford-to-leave-our-destinies/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/in-a-life-and-death-struggle-we-cannot-afford-to-leave-our-destinies/#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 } } ] } ```