--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear of failure has always been my best…" description: "\"Fear of failure has always been my best motivator.\" — Douglas Wood" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/douglas-wood-20594_always_fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best_1308406.jpg" --- # Fear of failure has always been my best motivator. ![“Fear of failure has always been my best motivator.” quote by Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/douglas-wood-20594_always_fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best_1308406.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/douglas-wood-20594_always_fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best_1308406.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/douglas-wood-20594_always_fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best_1308406.jpg) > “Fear of failure has always been my best motivator.” [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear of failure can be a powerful motivator, driving effort and achievement. **In simple terms:** Fear can push you to succeed. Key Takeaway Channel fear into action. Themes motivation failure growth Mood inspirational reflective Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - career goals - personal projects - learning new skills - overcoming obstacles Key Concepts psychology self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance fear and confidence? - What goals have you achieved from fear? A Different Perspective Too much fear can cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear of failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-failure/) ## Related quotes > [The only failure one man should fear, is the failure to do his best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/the-only-failure-one-man-should-fear-is-the-failure-to-do-his-best/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) > [Though you should not fear failure, you should do your very best to avoid it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/though-you-should-not-fear-failure-you-should-do-your-very-best-to/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [The antidote for fear of failure is not success but small doses of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-antidote-for-fear-of-failure-is-not-success-but-small-doses-of/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Studies by Medical Corps psychiatrists of combat fatigue cases... found that fear of killing, rather than fear of being killed, was the most common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-lyman-atwood-marshall/studies-by-medical-corps-psychiatrists-of-combat-fatigue-cases-found/) [Samuel Lyman Atwood Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-lyman-atwood-marshall/) > [Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-of-failure-must-never-be-a-reason-not-to-try-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/the-only-real-stumbling-block-is-fear-of-failure-in-cooking-you-ve/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [“I must have no fear of failure. It was my fear of failure that first kept me from attempting the Master Work. Now, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-must-have-no-fear-of-failure-it-was-my-fear-of-failure-that-first/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I went to a motivational training course once, a course of self-discovery, and I found out after a week that my fear - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-steward/i-went-to-a-motivational-training-course-once-a-course-of-self/) [Emanuel Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-steward/) > [And my fear of failure has been lifelong and deep. If you are what you do- and I think my parents may have accidentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-my-fear-of-failure-has-been-lifelong-and-deep-if-you-are-what-you/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I'm not scared of anything in particular, but I am motivated by a fear of failure as opposed to a need to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/i-m-not-scared-of-anything-in-particular-but-i-am-motivated-by-a-fear/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [Fear of failure, what is that? It would never occur to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-david/fear-of-failure-what-is-that-it-would-never-occur-to-me/) [Laurie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-david/) > [The fear of failure. Failure definitely drives me more than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/the-fear-of-failure-failure-definitely-drives-me-more-than-anything/) [Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/) > [Never be tired of a dream, if not fulfilled. Fear of failure should not deter you from your path of self belief. Your belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/never-be-tired-of-a-dream-if-not-fulfilled-fear-of-failure-should-not/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [The fear of not being good enough, the fear of disappointing other people and the fear of failure can really hurt one's personality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/the-fear-of-not-being-good-enough-the-fear-of-disappointing-other/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) ## More by Douglas Wood > [Working in Hollywood can be tumultuous, with incredible highs and lows and you need to be grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/working-in-hollywood-can-be-tumultuous-with-incredible-highs-and-lows/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I know a lot of people in the business recommend the many Story Structure seminars being offered here, but I point to them as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/i-know-a-lot-of-people-in-the-business-recommend-the-many-story/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [That said, I should also add that I learned a great deal from being allowed in these privileged circles and am grateful for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/that-said-i-should-also-add-that-i-learned-a-great-deal-from-being/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [Robert Altman's 'Nashville' is my all-time favorite film because it covers all the bases - it's original, moving, and has something to say, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/robert-altman-s-nashville-is-my-all-time-favorite-film-because-it/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [Animation scripts tend to be much more descriptive and are lighter on dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/animation-scripts-tend-to-be-much-more-descriptive-and-are-lighter-on/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I'm more concerned with getting them to find and strengthen their original voice as writers rather than imposing my own subjective tastes, judgements or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/i-m-more-concerned-with-getting-them-to-find-and-strengthen-their/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I was born in Chicago and grew up in the suburb of Evanston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/i-was-born-in-chicago-and-grew-up-in-the-suburb-of-evanston/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [Dick Van Dyke was my first idol. He's an amazing physical comedian, like a classic clown, but also very smart and not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/dick-van-dyke-was-my-first-idol-he-s-an-amazing-physical-comedian/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [The best way for a beginner to write for animation is to closely watch animated films, then read the screenplays for them afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/the-best-way-for-a-beginner-to-write-for-animation-is-to-closely/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I am a big fan of the TV series 'Taxi' which combined comedy and pathos better than any other show I've seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/i-am-a-big-fan-of-the-tv-series-taxi-which-combined-comedy-and-pathos/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [All of the material for 'The Fine Line' was created via improvisation with my partner, but not in front of an audience. We'd continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/all-of-the-material-for-the-fine-line-was-created-via-improvisation/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [The major studios don't differ very much from one another as they all operate under essentially the same principles and pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/the-major-studios-don-t-differ-very-much-from-one-another-as-they-all/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [“Most prayers are not really questions...and if we listen very closely, a prayer is often its own answer. ...We pray because we are here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/most-prayers-are-not-really-questions-and-if-we-listen-very-closely-a/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [“There's a willow tree that stands by my river She holds me in her arms when I am cold. And we listen to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/there-s-a-willow-tree-that-stands-by-my-river-she-holds-me-in-her/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I was only in one play at Steppenwolf, in the early days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/i-was-only-in-one-play-at-steppenwolf-in-the-early-days/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) [Explore all 30 Douglas Wood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fear of failure has always been my best motivator.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Wood" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best-motivator/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best-motivator/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/douglas-wood-20594_always_fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best_1308406.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/douglas-wood-20594_always_fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best_1308406.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/douglas-wood-20594_always_fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best_1308406.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fear of failure has always been my best motivator.” — Douglas Wood", "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": "Douglas Wood", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fear of failure has always been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best-motivator/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/fear-of-failure-has-always-been-my-best-motivator/#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 } } ] } ```