--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is our failure to become our perceived…" description: "\"It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.\" — Conan O'Brien" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/conan-o-brien-540_failure_it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceive_1628050.png" --- # It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that… ![“It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.” quote by Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/conan-o-brien-540_failure_it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceive_1628050.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/conan-o-brien-540_failure_it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceive_1628050.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/conan-o-brien-540_failure_it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceive_1628050.png) > “It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.” [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. Our inability to become our ideal selves defines our uniqueness, making us distinct. **In simple terms:** Failure to meet ideals creates individuality. Key Takeaway Embrace your imperfect uniqueness. Themes identity imperfection uniqueness self‑acceptance Mood humorous insightful Type comedic philosophical When to use this quote - personal branding - creative expression - team dynamics - leadership Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your ideal self inspire you? - How can you turn perceived failure into strength? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can drive improvement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Perceived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-perceived-360608/) [Ideal Ultimately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-ultimately-360611/) [Perceived Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceived-ideal-360610/) [Ultimately Defines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimately-defines-360609/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) ## Related quotes > [“In O’Brien’s words, “It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/in-o-brien-s-words-it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceived-ideal/) [Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/) > [It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It's not easy, but if you accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceived-ideal-that-ultimately/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [What ultimately defines a relationship is another relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-bradshaw/what-ultimately-defines-a-relationship-is-another-relationship/) [Carrie Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-bradshaw/) > [You are no mistake. What makes you different is what makes you special, unique, original. 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Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. 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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. 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Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. 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(p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. 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