--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success is counted sweetest By those who…" description: "\"“Success is counted sweetest By those who ne'er succeed. To comprehend a nectar Require sorest need. Not one of all the purple host Who took the flag t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/emily-dickinson-310_success_success-is-counted-sweetest-by-those-who_1548936.jpg" --- # Success is counted sweetest By those who ne'er succeed. To… ![“Success is counted sweetest By those who ne'er succeed. To comprehend a nectar Require sorest need. Not one of all the purple host Who took the flag to-day Can tell the definition, So clear, of victory, As he, defeated, dying, On whose forbidden ear The distant strains of triumph Break, agonized…” quote by Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/emily-dickinson-310_success_success-is-counted-sweetest-by-those-who_1548936.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/emily-dickinson-310_success_success-is-counted-sweetest-by-those-who_1548936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/emily-dickinson-310_success_success-is-counted-sweetest-by-those-who_1548936.jpg) > ““Success is counted sweetest By those who ne'er succeed. To comprehend a nectar Require sorest need. Not one of all the purple host Who took the flag to-day Can tell the definition, So clear, of victory, As he, defeated, dying, On whose forbidden ear The distant strains of triumph Break, agonized and clear.”” [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The value of success is most deeply felt by those who have never achieved it, because they understand its longing and pain. **In simple terms:** Those who never win appreciate success most. Key Takeaway Recognize empathy for the unsuccessful. Themes empathy success longing Mood reflective melancholic Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - Motivation - sports competition - personal setbacks - career aspirations Key Concepts Human desire comparative experience Questions to Reflect On - How does failure shape your view of success? - Can you appreciate others' triumphs without envy? A Different Perspective Success may be hollow without shared experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) ## Related quotes > [Success is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed. To comprehend a nectar - Requires sorest need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/success-is-counted-sweetest-by-those-who-ne-er-succeed-to-comprehend-2/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Success is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/success-is-counted-sweetest-by-those-who-ne-er-succeed/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Success is counted sweetest by those who never succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/success-is-counted-sweetest-by-those-who-never-succeed/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Success is counted sweetest by those ne'er succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/success-is-counted-sweetest-by-those-ne-er-succeed/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Not one of all the purple host Who took the flag to-day Can tell the definition So clear of victory, As he, defeated, dying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/not-one-of-all-the-purple-host-who-took-the-flag-to-day-can-tell-the/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Youth is counted sweetest by those who are no longer young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/youth-is-counted-sweetest-by-those-who-are-no-longer-young/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“The victories may be small, but one small victory to a defeated mind is a big victory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/the-victories-may-be-small-but-one-small-victory-to-a-defeated-mind/) [Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/) > [Do not be afraid of defeat. You are never so near victory as when you are defeated in a good cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/do-not-be-afraid-of-defeat-you-are-never-so-near-victory-as-when-you/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Success is not counted by how many crowns you have... but by how many successors you have helped to succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/success-is-not-counted-by-how-many-crowns-you-have-but-by-how-many/) [Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/) > [It is defeat that turns bone to flint; it is defeat that turns gristle to muscle; it is defeat that makes men invincible. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-defeat-that-turns-bone-to-flint-it-is-defeat-that-turns-gristle/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Do not be afraid of defeat. You are never so near to victory as when defeated in a good cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/do-not-be-afraid-of-defeat-you-are-never-so-near-to-victory-as-when/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [A true champion is not only formed in victory. To be defeated makes you learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renan-barao/a-true-champion-is-not-only-formed-in-victory-to-be-defeated-makes/) Renan Barao > [Remember, a person who wins success may have been counted out many times before. He wins because he refuses to give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmons-wilson/remember-a-person-who-wins-success-may-have-been-counted-out-many/) [Kemmons Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmons-wilson/) > [“Peace has cost you your strength,” Bane declared. “Victory has defeated you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-cox/peace-has-cost-you-your-strength-bane-declared-victory-has-defeated/) [Greg Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-cox/) > [“Success is not counted by how high you have climbed but by how many people you brought with you.”  - Wil Rose”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rodriguez-jr/success-is-not-counted-by-how-high-you-have-climbed-but-by-how-many/) [Robert Rodriguez Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rodriguez-jr/) ## More by Emily Dickinson > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I could not prove the Years had feet-/Yet confident they run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-could-not-prove-the-years-had-feet-yet-confident-they-run/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [How softly summer shuts, without the creaking of a door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/how-softly-summer-shuts-without-the-creaking-of-a-door/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Could you tell me how to grow--or is it unconveyed--like Melody--or Witchcraft?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/could-you-tell-me-how-to-grow-or-is-it-unconveyed-like-melody-or/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Inebriate of Air — am I — And Debauchee of Dew — Reeling — thro endless summer days — From Inns of Molten Blue —”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/inebriate-of-air-am-i-and-debauchee-of-dew-reeling-thro-endless/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/luck-is-not-chance-it-s-toil-fortune-s-expensive-smile-is-earned/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [The abdication of Belief Makes the Behavior small- Better an ignis fatuus Than no illume at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-abdication-of-belief-makes-the-behavior-small-better-an-ignis/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Longing is like a seed that wrestles in the ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/longing-is-like-a-seed-that-wrestles-in-the-ground/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“He ate and drank the precious words, His spirit grew robust; He knew no more that he was poor, Nor that his frame was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/he-ate-and-drank-the-precious-words-his-spirit-grew-robust-he-knew-no/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I SEE thee better in the dark, I do not need a light. The love of thee a prism be Excelling violet. 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Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wc-fields/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-try-again-then-quit-no-use-being-a/) [WC Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wc-fields/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [My willingness to fail gives me the ability to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/my-willingness-to-fail-gives-me-the-ability-to-succeed/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [The best shows succeed because they tap into a national conversation,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/the-best-shows-succeed-because-they-tap-into-a-national-conversation/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [A loving family provides the foundation children need to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bunning/a-loving-family-provides-the-foundation-children-need-to-succeed/) [Jim Bunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bunning/) > [“It is not the actual, physical exertion that counts towards one’s progress, not the nature of the task but by the spirit of faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-the-actual-physical-exertion-that-counts-towards-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. 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