---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To fail is a natural consequence of…"
description: "\"To fail is a natural consequence of trying, To succeed takes time and prolonged effort in the face of unfriendly odds. To think it will be any other wa..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/david-viscott-17389_consequence_to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-tryi_1510262.png"
---

#  To fail is a natural consequence of trying, To succeed…

![“To fail is a natural consequence of trying, To succeed takes time and prolonged effort in the face of unfriendly odds. To think it will be any other way, no matter what you do, is to invite yourself to be hurt and to limit your enthusiasm for trying again.” quote by David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/david-viscott-17389_consequence_to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-tryi_1510262.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/david-viscott-17389_consequence_to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-tryi_1510262.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/david-viscott-17389_consequence_to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-tryi_1510262.png)

> “To fail is a natural consequence of trying, To succeed takes time and prolonged effort in the face of unfriendly odds. To think it will be any other way, no matter what you do, is to invite yourself to be hurt and to limit your enthusiasm for trying again.”

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Failure is inevitable when trying; success demands time, effort, and resilience despite adverse conditions.

**In simple terms:** Failure happens; success needs effort and resilience.

Key Takeaway

Embrace failure as part of the learning process.

Themes

resilience effort failure success

Mood

determined hopeful

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- entrepreneurship
- sports
- academic pursuits

Key Concepts

growth mindset perseverance risk-taking

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you stay motivated after setbacks?
- What strategies help you persist despite odds?

A Different Perspective

Success may be delayed by external factors beyond personal control.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Consequence Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence-trying-5558635/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Enthusiasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiasm/) [Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail/) [Fail Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-natural-5558634/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Odds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odds/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-succeed-251187/) [Unfriendly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfriendly/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [“To fail is a natural consequence of trying, to succeed is a natural consequence of Cosmic Ordering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-trying-to-succeed-is-a-natural/)

[Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/)

> [“Do not let the fear of unknown deter you from trying. Keep trying until you succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/do-not-let-the-fear-of-unknown-deter-you-from-trying-keep-trying/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [“The definition of success differs from person to person; so if you are trying to succeed according to somebody else's definition, you may end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/the-definition-of-success-differs-from-person-to-person-so-if-you-are/)

[JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/)

> [Just keep trying, you will succeed in your goals eventuly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-steven/just-keep-trying-you-will-succeed-in-your-goals-eventuly/)

[Mike Steven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-steven/)

> [I would rather fail trying than succeed at doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/i-would-rather-fail-trying-than-succeed-at-doing-nothing/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [In order for a situation to come to an end, one must let it. Even in the midst of defeat one can pull out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-order-for-a-situation-to-come-to-an-end-one-must-let-it-even-in/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You don't want losing to spin you out from the goal you're trying to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/you-don-t-want-losing-to-spin-you-out-from-the-goal-you-re-trying-to/)

[Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/)

> [“If you don't try you won't succeed. If you do try and fail, try again and don't stop trying until you do succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-mccoy/if-you-don-t-try-you-won-t-succeed-if-you-do-try-and-fail-try-again/)

[Scotty McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-mccoy/)

> [“Success is not to be measured by the position someone has reached in life, but the obstacles he has overcome while trying to succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/success-is-not-to-be-measured-by-the-position-someone-has-reached-in/)

[Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/)

> [Confidence allows you to progress in something you're attempting to accomplish, whether it's playing basketball or baseball or whether it's trying to succeed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/confidence-allows-you-to-progress-in-something-you-re-attempting-to/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [“Success is not measured by the position one has reached in life, rather by the obstacles one overcomes while trying to succeed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/success-is-not-measured-by-the-position-one-has-reached-in-life/)

[Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/)

> [“If I don’t succeed, I will try again and never stop trying. When I succeed, I will again explore new opportunities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-i-don-t-succeed-i-will-try-again-and-never-stop-trying-when-i/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [“Success is not to be measured so much by the status one has attained in life but rather by the obstacles one has overcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/success-is-not-to-be-measured-so-much-by-the-status-one-has-attained/)

[Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/)

> [I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/i-have-learned-that-success-is-to-be-measured-not-so-much-by-the/)

[Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/)

> [The way you succeed at all this stuff is by stopping trying to succeed and just working very hard without thinking about it, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-way-you-succeed-at-all-this-stuff-is-by-stopping-trying-to/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

## More by David Viscott

> [No one is so old as to think he cannot live one more year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/no-one-is-so-old-as-to-think-he-cannot-live-one-more-year/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [Once a person says, "This is who I really am, what I am all about, what I was really meant to do," it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/once-a-person-says-this-is-who-i-really-am-what-i-am-all-about-what-i/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/you-must-begin-to-think-of-yourself-as-becoming-the-person-you-want/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [In other relationships, it may be permissible to overpower people, but not between people who are living together. That relationship is supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/in-other-relationships-it-may-be-permissible-to-overpower-people-but/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [It is important for children to understand that some of the disappointment their parents feel for them is often really the parents' disappointment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/it-is-important-for-children-to-understand-that-some-of-the/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [You don't have to try, you just have to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/you-don-t-have-to-try-you-just-have-to-be/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [Lists have always implied social order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/lists-have-always-implied-social-order/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [In the end, the only people who fail are those who do not try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/in-the-end-the-only-people-who-fail-are-those-who-do-not-try/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [Although everyone fights, few people know how to have a good argument, an argument that clears the air and makes it less likely a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/although-everyone-fights-few-people-know-how-to-have-a-good-argument/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [Unfortunately, some parents simply don't love their children. Probably they don't even love themselves. That may be the heart of their problem. Having parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/unfortunately-some-parents-simply-don-t-love-their-children-probably/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [From time to time, everyone distorts. We all tend to believe what supports our side of the question and doubt what weakens it. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/from-time-to-time-everyone-distorts-we-all-tend-to-believe-what/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [You are the only one who has to live your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/you-are-the-only-one-who-has-to-live-your-life/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [If we are the sum of everything that happens to us, to limit a person's experience is to limit their growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/if-we-are-the-sum-of-everything-that-happens-to-us-to-limit-a-person/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The work of life is to develop it. The meaning of life is to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-discover-your-gift-the-work-of-life-is-to/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [Sorrow ages you prematurely. When you're in emotional debt, you're pessimistic about the future and, even in your green years, long to return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/sorrow-ages-you-prematurely-when-you-re-in-emotional-debt-you-re/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

[Explore all 37 David Viscott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

## More Consequence quotes

> [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/)

> [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/)

[Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/)

> [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [It's easy to make mistakes. It's living with the consequences of them that's the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-s-easy-to-make-mistakes-it-s-living-with-the-consequences-of-them/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [Actions have consequences... first rule of life. And the second rule is this - you are the only one responsible for your own actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/actions-have-consequences-first-rule-of-life-and-the-second-rule-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/)

[Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/)

> [There is no silver bullet. There are always options and the options have consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/there-is-no-silver-bullet-there-are-always-options-and-the-options/)

[Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/)

> [“Each day I learn that every single action we take has its own consequence – for either good or bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginny-dye/each-day-i-learn-that-every-single-action-we-take-has-its-own/)

[Ginny Dye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginny-dye/)

> [Washington bureaucrats have classified the very air we exhale as a pollutant and have gone unchallenged in this incredible assertion. The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Any kind of restrictions put on free speech would have worse consequences than bullying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-starlight/any-kind-of-restrictions-put-on-free-speech-would-have-worse/)

[Lady Starlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-starlight/)

> [So, I'm not the only one who believes that there is such a thing as "the law of gravity," and if it's a law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/so-i-m-not-the-only-one-who-believes-that-there-is-such-a-thing-as/)

[Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/)

> [The average American expends more time becoming informed about choosing a car than choosing a candidate. But, then, the consequences of the former choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-average-american-expends-more-time-becoming-informed-about/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

[Browse all 3,099 Consequence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "To fail is a natural consequence of trying, To succeed takes time and prolonged effort in the face of unfriendly odds. To think it will be any other way, no matter what you do, is to invite yourself to be hurt and to limit your enthusiasm for trying again.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Viscott"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-trying-to-succeed-takes-time-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Consequence"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-trying-to-succeed-takes-time-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/david-viscott-17389_consequence_to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-tryi_1510262.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/david-viscott-17389_consequence_to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-tryi_1510262.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/david-viscott-17389_consequence_to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-tryi_1510262.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To fail is a natural consequence of trying, To succeed takes time and prolonged effort in the face of…” — David Viscott",
                "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 Viscott",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "To fail is a natural consequence...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-trying-to-succeed-takes-time-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/to-fail-is-a-natural-consequence-of-trying-to-succeed-takes-time-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
