--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No idea can succeed except at the expense…" description: "\"No idea can succeed except at the expense of sacrifice; no one ever escapes without enduring strain from the struggle of life.\" — Ernest Renan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/ernest-renan-11034_adversity_no-idea-can-succeed-except-at-the-expens_1091306.jpg" --- # No idea can succeed except at the expense of sacrifice; no… ![“No idea can succeed except at the expense of sacrifice; no one ever escapes without enduring strain from the struggle of life.” quote by Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/ernest-renan-11034_adversity_no-idea-can-succeed-except-at-the-expens_1091306.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/ernest-renan-11034_adversity_no-idea-can-succeed-except-at-the-expens_1091306.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/ernest-renan-11034_adversity_no-idea-can-succeed-except-at-the-expens_1091306.jpg) > “No idea can succeed except at the expense of sacrifice; no one ever escapes without enduring strain from the struggle of life.” [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success demands sacrifice; without hardship, achievement is impossible. **In simple terms:** Success needs sacrifice. Key Takeaway Embrace necessary hardships. Themes sacrifice effort achievement Mood reflective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - academic research - entrepreneurship Key Concepts trade‑offs resilience cost of success Questions to Reflect On - What are you willing to sacrifice? - How to balance strain and reward? A Different Perspective Sacrifice may lead to burnout if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-struggle/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [Every aspect of life is pre-programmed to rise to its highest creative possibility. 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It teaches us that although the world is full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-struggle-of-life-is-one-of-our-greatest-blessings-it-make-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/if-you-cannot-understand-that-there-is-something-in-man-which/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [If you want physical peace, stop the struggle of life. Don't push the body beyond its fatigue point. Rest the body enough. Exercise it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/if-you-want-physical-peace-stop-the-struggle-of-life-don-t-push-the/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [“The whole struggle of life is to some extent a struggle about how slowly or how quickly to do each thing. —STEN NADOLNY, AUTHOR…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-honor/the-whole-struggle-of-life-is-to-some-extent-a-struggle-about-how/) [Carl Honoré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-honor/) > [From youth to middle, and often to past middle, age, most men are apt to be too closely engaged in the struggle of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-proctor/from-youth-to-middle-and-often-to-past-middle-age-most-men-are-apt-to/) Richard A. Proctor > [You may dazzle the mind with a thousand brilliant discoveries of natural science; you may open new worlds of knowledge which were never dreamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-philippine-duchesne/you-may-dazzle-the-mind-with-a-thousand-brilliant-discoveries-of/) [Rose Philippine Duchesne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-philippine-duchesne/) ## More by Ernest Renan > [The prayer of the agnostic: "O God, if there is a God, save my soul if I have a soul."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/the-prayer-of-the-agnostic-o-god-if-there-is-a-god-save-my-soul-if-i/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [The epic disappeared along with the age of personal heroism; there can be no epic with artillery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/the-epic-disappeared-along-with-the-age-of-personal-heroism-there-can/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [Muslims are the first victims of Islam. To liberate a Muslim from his religion is the best service that one can render him!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/muslims-are-the-first-victims-of-islam-to-liberate-a-muslim-from-his/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [It is evident, indeed, that such a doctrine, taken by itself in a literal manner, had no future. The world, in continuing to exist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/it-is-evident-indeed-that-such-a-doctrine-taken-by-itself-in-a/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [A nation is a body of people who have done great things together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/a-nation-is-a-body-of-people-who-have-done-great-things-together/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [Man is not on this earth merely to be happy, or even to be simply honest. He is there to realize great things for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/man-is-not-on-this-earth-merely-to-be-happy-or-even-to-be-simply/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [To have common glories in the past, a common will in the present; to have done great things together; to wish to do greater;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/to-have-common-glories-in-the-past-a-common-will-in-the-present-to/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [“To have done great things together, to want to do more, such are the essential conditions to form a people. . . . Man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/to-have-done-great-things-together-to-want-to-do-more-such-are-the/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [As a rule, all heroism is due to a lack of reflection, and thus it is necessary to maintain a mass of imbeciles. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/as-a-rule-all-heroism-is-due-to-a-lack-of-reflection-and-thus-it-is/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [None of the miracles with which ancient histories are filled, occurred under scientific conditions. Observation never once contradicted, teaches us that miracles occur only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/none-of-the-miracles-with-which-ancient-histories-are-filled-occurred/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [I can die when I wish to: that is my elixir of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/i-can-die-when-i-wish-to-that-is-my-elixir-of-life/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [“Islam has been liberal when it has been weak and violent when it has been strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/islam-has-been-liberal-when-it-has-been-weak-and-violent-when-it-has/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [“What is human life? Is it not a maimed happiness—care and weariness, weariness and care, with the baseless expectation...of a brighter tomorrow?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/what-is-human-life-is-it-not-a-maimed-happiness-care-and-weariness/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [Man makes holy what he believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/man-makes-holy-what-he-believes/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [“Woe to him who becomes useless to human progress!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/woe-to-him-who-becomes-useless-to-human-progress/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) [Explore all 62 Ernest Renan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No idea can succeed except at the expense of sacrifice; no one ever escapes without enduring strain from the struggle of life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest Renan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/no-idea-can-succeed-except-at-the-expense-of-sacrifice-no-one-ever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/no-idea-can-succeed-except-at-the-expense-of-sacrifice-no-one-ever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/ernest-renan-11034_adversity_no-idea-can-succeed-except-at-the-expens_1091306.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/ernest-renan-11034_adversity_no-idea-can-succeed-except-at-the-expens_1091306.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/ernest-renan-11034_adversity_no-idea-can-succeed-except-at-the-expens_1091306.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No idea can succeed except at the expense of sacrifice; no one ever escapes without enduring strain from the…” — Ernest Renan", "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": "Ernest Renan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No idea can succeed except at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/no-idea-can-succeed-except-at-the-expense-of-sacrifice-no-one-ever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/no-idea-can-succeed-except-at-the-expense-of-sacrifice-no-one-ever/#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 } } ] } ```