--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is only one real failure in life…" description: "\"There is only one real failure in life that is possible, and that is, not to be true to the best one knows.\" — Frederic William Farrar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/frederic-william-farrar-94581_be-true_there-is-only-one-real-failure-in-life-t_622920.jpg" --- # There is only one real failure in life that is possible… ![“There is only one real failure in life that is possible, and that is, not to be true to the best one knows.” quote by Frederic William Farrar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/frederic-william-farrar-94581_be-true_there-is-only-one-real-failure-in-life-t_622920.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/frederic-william-farrar-94581_be-true_there-is-only-one-real-failure-in-life-t_622920.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/frederic-william-farrar-94581_be-true_there-is-only-one-real-failure-in-life-t_622920.jpg) > “There is only one real failure in life that is possible, and that is, not to be true to the best one knows.” [Frederic William Farrar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-william-farrar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living truthfully to one's deepest convictions is the only genuine failure when one denies them. **In simple terms:** Being false to oneself is the real failure. Key Takeaway Align actions with inner truth. Themes integrity self‑knowledge authenticity Mood reflective serious Type aphilosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - career choices - relationships - creative pursuits Key Concepts existentialism moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What belief are you compromising? - How does authenticity affect your happiness? A Different Perspective Some may argue external success outweighs inner truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-true/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-in-life/) [Failure Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-life/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-possible-437448/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible/) [Possible True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-true-376554/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-failure-330749/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) ## Related quotes > [There is only one failure in life possible, and that is not to be true to the best one knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-is-only-one-failure-in-life-possible-and-that-is-not-to-be-true/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“The only real failure in life is giving up. On looking back let it stand to our credit in life's balance sheet that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-real-failure-in-life-is-giving-up-on-looking-back-let-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only real failure in life is the failure to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-real-failure-in-life-is-the-failure-to-try/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only real failure in life is one not learned from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-j-d-angelo/the-only-real-failure-in-life-is-one-not-learned-from/) [Anthony J. D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-j-d-angelo/) > [The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-real-failure-in-life-is-not-to-be-true-to-the-best-one-knows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest failure in life is to stop trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-greatest-failure-in-life-is-to-stop-trying/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“With one failure in life, you shouldn't put your dreams on the back burner. 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Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-j-hill/) > [No man who has managed to keep out of an office can be called a failure in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-aldington/no-man-who-has-managed-to-keep-out-of-an-office-can-be-called-a/) [Richard Aldington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-aldington/) > [There is but one failure in life and that is the failure to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/there-is-but-one-failure-in-life-and-that-is-the-failure-to-try/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) ## More by Frederic William Farrar > [Whether the prayer of Seneca was granted we do not know; but, as we do not again hear of Marcus, it is probable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-william-farrar/whether-the-prayer-of-seneca-was-granted-we-do-not-know-but-as-we-do/) [Frederic William Farrar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-william-farrar/) [Explore all 2 Frederic William Farrar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-william-farrar/) ## More Be true quotes > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. 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