--- 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. It's not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/conan-o-brien-540_accepting_it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceive_528649.jpg" --- # 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. It's not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound re-invention.” quote by Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/conan-o-brien-540_accepting_it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceive_528649.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/conan-o-brien-540_accepting_it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceive_528649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/conan-o-brien-540_accepting_it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceive_528649.jpg) > “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 your misfortune and handle it right your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound re-invention.” [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 perceived failures shape our identity; by owning them, we can turn setbacks into powerful reinvention. **In simple terms:** Failure defines us, but can also inspire growth. Key Takeaway Own your flaws and transform them. Themes self‑identity failure reinvention growth resilience Mood inspirational reflective Type self‑help motivational When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal crises - creative projects - public speaking Key Concepts psychology of self‑concept catalyst theory Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe a past failure as a strength? - What steps help turn perceived flaws into growth? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on failure may hinder confidence if not balanced with strengths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-misfortune-1807015/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Catalyst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catalyst/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Perceived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-perceived-360608/) [Handle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handle/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) [Perceived Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceived-failure-289748/) [Perceived Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceived-ideal-360610/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) ## Related quotes > [It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceived-ideal-that-ultimately-2/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“If you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst to profound reinvention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/if-you-accept-your-misfortune-and-handle-it-right-your-perceived/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“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/) > [What ever the course of our lives, we should recieve them as the highest gift from the hand of God, in which equally reposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/what-ever-the-course-of-our-lives-we-should-recieve-them-as-the/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [In every perceived failure or setback is the seed of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/in-every-perceived-failure-or-setback-is-the-seed-of-success/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [A man convinced of his own merit will accept misfortune as an honor, for thus can he persuade others, as well as himself, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-man-convinced-of-his-own-merit-will-accept-misfortune-as-an-honor/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [After all, the ordinary hero hiding in each of us is often the most powerful catalyst for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-taylor/after-all-the-ordinary-hero-hiding-in-each-of-us-is-often-the-most/) [Tate Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-taylor/) > [Making other people happy is what brings me happiness. I have a blessed life, and I have always shared my life's gifts with others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/making-other-people-happy-is-what-brings-me-happiness-i-have-a/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I am a fan of all genres. My big thing is to serve the purpose of the script and what the director wants. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/i-am-a-fan-of-all-genres-my-big-thing-is-to-serve-the-purpose-of-the/) [Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/) > [I am and always will be a catalyst for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-and-always-will-be-a-catalyst-for-change/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [You can only avoid responsibility for so long. The catalyst ended up being the law coming down and finally saying, 'You guys suspended judgement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosario-dawson/you-can-only-avoid-responsibility-for-so-long-the-catalyst-ended-up/) [Rosario Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosario-dawson/) > [You can't save the world...save YOUR heart. Be a catalyst & create a life where you are powerful. Rebel. Be happy & allow others happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-save-the-world-save-your-heart-be-a-catalyst-create-a-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In any story, the villain is the catalyst. The hero's not a person who will bend the rules or show the cracks in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/in-any-story-the-villain-is-the-catalyst-the-hero-s-not-a-person-who/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [Religious teachings and teachers have conditioned us to think of faith as a magic catalyst that makes God work for us. In no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/religious-teachings-and-teachers-have-conditioned-us-to-think-of/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) > [Divorce becomes a holy moment when you choose to use it as a catalyst for having an extraordinary life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/divorce-becomes-a-holy-moment-when-you-choose-to-use-it-as-a-catalyst/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) ## 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 Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 your misfortune and handle it right your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound re-invention.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Conan O'Brien" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceived-ideal-that-ultimately/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceived-ideal-that-ultimately/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/conan-o-brien-540_accepting_it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceive_528649.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/conan-o-brien-540_accepting_it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceive_528649.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/conan-o-brien-540_accepting_it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceive_528649.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It's not…” — 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": "It is our failure to become...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceived-ideal-that-ultimately/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/it-is-our-failure-to-become-our-perceived-ideal-that-ultimately/#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 } } ] } ```