--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not trying is, of course, the ultimate…" description: "\"“Not trying is, of course, the ultimate failure, for it means you can never make progress toward your goals.”\" — David Niven" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/david-niven-11597_failure_not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-fai_126794.png" --- # Not trying is, of course, the ultimate failure, for it… ![“Not trying is, of course, the ultimate failure, for it means you can never make progress toward your goals.” quote by David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/david-niven-11597_failure_not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-fai_126794.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/david-niven-11597_failure_not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-fai_126794.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/david-niven-11597_failure_not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-fai_126794.png) > ““Not trying is, of course, the ultimate failure, for it means you can never make progress toward your goals.”” [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding effort guarantees stagnation; trying is essential for any progress toward goals. **In simple terms:** Not trying leads to failure. Key Takeaway Try to move forward. Themes effort failure progress goal‑setting Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - skill development - personal projects Key Concepts motivation resilience Practical Applications - set small tasks - track progress Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today? - How do you handle setbacks? A Different Perspective Some attempts may still fail despite trying. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-means-394978/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Make Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-progress/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Ultimate Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-failure-1464488/) ## Related quotes > [A failure remains a failure only if we refuse to learn from it. Any situation that teaches us greater humility, sobriety, wisdom about self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/a-failure-remains-a-failure-only-if-we-refuse-to-learn-from-it-any/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I believe that the heaviest blow ever dealt at liberty's head will be dealt by this nation in the ultimate failure of its example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-believe-that-the-heaviest-blow-ever-dealt-at-liberty-s-head-will-be/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“His was a lonely, unorthodox conviction that war was man's ultimate failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/his-was-a-lonely-unorthodox-conviction-that-war-was-man-s-ultimate/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [War is always a failure. It means we've failed in diplomacy and we've failed in talking to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/war-is-always-a-failure-it-means-we-ve-failed-in-diplomacy-and-we-ve/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [“...what I mean is that we simply may not have the same meaning as God for the word 'failure.' To me, failure means it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-smith/what-i-mean-is-that-we-simply-may-not-have-the-same-meaning-as-god/) [Angie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-smith/) > [If the whole process of learning from failure means discarding stuff that's not working, but in fact, our natural reaction is to keep going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-harford/if-the-whole-process-of-learning-from-failure-means-discarding-stuff/) [Tim Harford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-harford/) > [LIFE is not about having all that you want, it's about appreciating things that you have. FAILURE means you've tried, Getting HURT means you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-not-about-having-all-that-you-want-it-s-about-appreciating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ If I'm not playing well, I do get down on myself because I am a perfectionist. \[So I need\] someone who believes in me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/if-i-m-not-playing-well-i-do-get-down-on-myself-because-i-am-a/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [The inner experience of fallure is totally different than failure. Going to fallure means 100% commitment - you leave nothing in reserve, no mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/the-inner-experience-of-fallure-is-totally-different-than-failure/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [In one world, effort is a bad thing. It, like failure, means you're not smart or talented. If you were, you wouldn't need effort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/in-one-world-effort-is-a-bad-thing-it-like-failure-means-you-re-not/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“Failure means I dared try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/failure-means-i-dared-try/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [I had to succeed. Failure means I would have to be homeless again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-tahari/i-had-to-succeed-failure-means-i-would-have-to-be-homeless-again/) [Elie Tahari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-tahari/) > [Failure means nothing now, only that it taught me life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/failure-means-nothing-now-only-that-it-taught-me-life/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Failure means a stripping away of the inessential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/failure-means-a-stripping-away-of-the-inessential/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [“The Love you have for what you're doing is actually the most important thing. Love is the only thing that's going to pull you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-harris/the-love-you-have-for-what-you-re-doing-is-actually-the-most/) [Jonathan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-harris/) ## More by David Niven > [Tell me that I misunderstood a joke, but don't tell me that my choice of cravat is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/tell-me-that-i-misunderstood-a-joke-but-don-t-tell-me-that-my-choice/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [You can count on Errol Flynn, he'll always let you down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/you-can-count-on-errol-flynn-he-ll-always-let-you-down/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [True leadership strengthens the followers. It is a process of teaching, setting an example, and empowering others. If you seek to lead, your ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/true-leadership-strengthens-the-followers-it-is-a-process-of-teaching/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [Malta is a sod of a place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/malta-is-a-sod-of-a-place/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [Keep the circus going inside you, keep it going, don't take anything too seriously, it'll all work out in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/keep-the-circus-going-inside-you-keep-it-going-don-t-take-anything/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [“Max, for some people there are no victories, just alternate forms of losing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/max-for-some-people-there-are-no-victories-just-alternate-forms-of/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [“When we spend time worrying about things that could go wrong, we’re not spending time trying to improve. Which means that worrying about things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/when-we-spend-time-worrying-about-things-that-could-go-wrong-we-re/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [Dreams don't have an expiration date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/dreams-don-t-have-an-expiration-date/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [You are not just here to fill space or be a background character in someone else's movie. Consider this: nothing would be the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/you-are-not-just-here-to-fill-space-or-be-a-background-character-in/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [“The Past Is Not the Future”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/the-past-is-not-the-future/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [“People who lack confidence not only fear doing things they are not good at, they actually start to fear performing tasks in which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/people-who-lack-confidence-not-only-fear-doing-things-they-are-not/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [“Have a purpose. Without a purpose nothing matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/have-a-purpose-without-a-purpose-nothing-matters/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [“People who care do a better job in everything they do. Why do people care? What inspires them? The answer is almost anything you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/people-who-care-do-a-better-job-in-everything-they-do-why-do-people/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [“Don’t write yourself off. If you don’t believe in yourself, you won’t be able to function.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/don-t-write-yourself-off-if-you-don-t-believe-in-yourself-you-won-t/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [“You have not finished the best part of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/you-have-not-finished-the-best-part-of-your-life/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) [Explore all 59 David Niven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) ## More Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. 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. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (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. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Not trying is, of course, the ultimate failure, for it means you can never make progress toward your goals.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Niven" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-failure-for-it-means-you-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-failure-for-it-means-you-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/david-niven-11597_failure_not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-fai_126794.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/david-niven-11597_failure_not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-fai_126794.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/david-niven-11597_failure_not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-fai_126794.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not trying is, of course, the ultimate failure, for it means you can never make progress toward your goals.” — David Niven", "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": "David Niven", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Not trying is, of course, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-failure-for-it-means-you-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-failure-for-it-means-you-can/#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 } } ] } ```