--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I told graduates to not be afraid to…" description: "\"I told graduates to not be afraid to fail, and I still believe that. But today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/conan-o-brien-540_believe_i-told-graduates-to-not-be-afraid-to-fai_2618324.jpg" --- # I told graduates to not be afraid to fail, and I still… ![“I told graduates to not be afraid to fail, and I still believe that. But today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.” quote by Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/conan-o-brien-540_believe_i-told-graduates-to-not-be-afraid-to-fai_2618324.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/conan-o-brien-540_believe_i-told-graduates-to-not-be-afraid-to-fai_2618324.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/conan-o-brien-540_believe_i-told-graduates-to-not-be-afraid-to-fai_2618324.jpg) > “I told graduates to not be afraid to fail, and I still believe that. But today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.” [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Failure and disappointment are inevitable; they provide clarity that leads to conviction and originality. **In simple terms:** Disappointment can clarify purpose and spark originality. Key Takeaway Accept disappointment to find clarity. Themes failure disappointment clarity conviction originality Mood motivational encouraging hopeful Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - career counseling - entrepreneurial ventures - creative projects Key Concepts personal growth resilience creative insight Questions to Reflect On - What lessons have you learned from disappointment? - How can clarity be turned into action? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on disappointment may cause pessimism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-fail/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Clarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clarity/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Disappointment Gain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment-gain-2089068/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-disappointment-2089066/) [Gains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gains/) [Graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduates/) [Graduates Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduates-afraid-2089067/) [I still believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-still-believe/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Originality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originality/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Told Graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-graduates-2089069/) ## Related quotes > [The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-beauty-is-that-through-disappointment-you-can-gain-clarity-and/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“One factor that makes human being reluctant to have hope is the fear of disappointment. Do not be afraid of disappointment! The more you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/one-factor-that-makes-human-being-reluctant-to-have-hope-is-the-fear/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [The fear of failure & the fear of disappointment can really hurt ones personality and ruin his or her life in general. We should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/the-fear-of-failure-the-fear-of-disappointment-can-really-hurt-ones/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [To a certain extent, I think I've tried to train myself to not dive too deep into things or get my hopes too way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiernan-shipka/to-a-certain-extent-i-think-i-ve-tried-to-train-myself-to-not-dive/) [Kiernan Shipka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiernan-shipka/) > [Let all your moments of self-doubt, fear or disappointment fuel your drive to be great. Because it will be in those moments of fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/let-all-your-moments-of-self-doubt-fear-or-disappointment-fuel-your-2/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [“It’s the pure excitement of the find combined with the golden possibilities of what-may-be; one of bated breath, thundering heart,damp palms, and trembling limbs;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/it-s-the-pure-excitement-of-the-find-combined-with-the-golden/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [Let all your moments of self-doubt, fear, or disappointment fuel your drive to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/let-all-your-moments-of-self-doubt-fear-or-disappointment-fuel-your/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [The outcome of fear is disappointment and shyness is frustration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/the-outcome-of-fear-is-disappointment-and-shyness-is-frustration/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [People who are afraid to fail can never experience the joys of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie/people-who-are-afraid-to-fail-can-never-experience-the-joys-of-success/) [Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie/) > [I'm not afraid to fail...I'm scared to death of dying and having the Lord say to me, 'Angelica, this is what you might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-angelica/i-m-not-afraid-to-fail-i-m-scared-to-death-of-dying-and-having-the/) [Mother Angelica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-angelica/) > [“Don’t be afraid to fail. The greatest failure of all is not to act when action is needed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/don-t-be-afraid-to-fail-the-greatest-failure-of-all-is-not-to-act/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The one who intimidates me is myself. I'm scared to fail. That is the thing that makes me the most afraid, to fail. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ngannou/the-one-who-intimidates-me-is-myself-i-m-scared-to-fail-that-is-the/) [Francis Ngannou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ngannou/) > [You can't be afraid to fail. It's the only way you succeed - you're not gonna succeed all the time, and I know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/you-can-t-be-afraid-to-fail-it-s-the-only-way-you-succeed-you-re-not/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [The bottom line is, you can't be afraid to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-colangelo/the-bottom-line-is-you-can-t-be-afraid-to-fail/) [Jerry Colangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-colangelo/) > [Don't be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-afraid-to-fail-be-afraid-not-to-try/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Conan O'Brien > [A federal court has ruled that the U.S. Postal Service must reduce its stamp prices. The change in stamp prices is expected to affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-federal-court-has-ruled-that-the-u-s-postal-service-must-reduce-its/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [NBC is making a movie about Martha Stewart that will cover the recent stock scandal. They are thinking of calling it 'The Road To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nbc-is-making-a-movie-about-martha-stewart-that-will-cover-the-recent/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [People should say 'no comment' more often. No comment! I love no comment. Let's have more no comment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/people-should-say-no-comment-more-often-no-comment-i-love-no-comment/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [A new study reveals that one-third of babies in the U.S. have used a smartphone. Yeah, and one-third of babies in China have MADE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-new-study-reveals-that-one-third-of-babies-in-the-u-s-have-used-a/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Martha Stewart showed up at Manhattan FBI Headquarters to have her finger prints taken and pose for a mug shot. Then Martha explained how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/martha-stewart-showed-up-at-manhattan-fbi-headquarters-to-have-her/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [LEGO has announced that they are shutting down their U.S. factory and moving it to Canada. LEGO employees say it's their fault because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/lego-has-announced-that-they-are-shutting-down-their-u-s-factory-and/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [A new survey reveals that women would rather give up sex than give up the remote control for the TV. Men, on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-new-survey-reveals-that-women-would-rather-give-up-sex-than-give-up/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Yesterday the DEA raided several NFL teams suspected of giving prescription painkillers to their players. In its defense, the New York Jets' doctor said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/yesterday-the-dea-raided-several-nfl-teams-suspected-of-giving/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [President Obama gave a speech about healthcare tonight, and yesterday he gave a pep talk to students. He told them that in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-gave-a-speech-about-healthcare-tonight-and-yesterday/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [The first thing men notice about a woman is her eyes. Then, when her eyes aren't looking, they notice her breasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-first-thing-men-notice-about-a-woman-is-her-eyes-then-when-her/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“Disappointment leads to clarity, which leads to conviction and true originality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/disappointment-leads-to-clarity-which-leads-to-conviction-and-true/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [John Travolta said he sometimes lets his friends take control of his airplane even though they don't know what they're doing. Then Travolta said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/john-travolta-said-he-sometimes-lets-his-friends-take-control-of-his/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [President Obama filled in as the coach of his daughter Sasha's basketball team. Sasha evidently listened to her Dad, because all she did was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-filled-in-as-the-coach-of-his-daughter-sasha-s/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [President Obama and Vladimir Putin are both in China attending the same economic summit. Obama saw Putin and said, 'After those midterms, it's nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-and-vladimir-putin-are-both-in-china-attending-the/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) [Explore all 489 Conan O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I told graduates to not be afraid to fail, and I still believe that. But today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Conan O'Brien" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/i-told-graduates-to-not-be-afraid-to-fail-and-i-still-believe-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/i-told-graduates-to-not-be-afraid-to-fail-and-i-still-believe-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/conan-o-brien-540_believe_i-told-graduates-to-not-be-afraid-to-fai_2618324.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/conan-o-brien-540_believe_i-told-graduates-to-not-be-afraid-to-fai_2618324.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/conan-o-brien-540_believe_i-told-graduates-to-not-be-afraid-to-fai_2618324.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I told graduates to not be afraid to fail, and I still believe that. But today I tell you that whether you…” — Conan O'Brien", "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": "Conan O'Brien", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I told graduates to not be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/i-told-graduates-to-not-be-afraid-to-fail-and-i-still-believe-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/i-told-graduates-to-not-be-afraid-to-fail-and-i-still-believe-that/#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 } } ] } ```