--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A real failure does not need an excuse…" description: "\"A real failure does not need an excuse. It is an end in itself.\" — Gertrude Stein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/gertrude-stein-667_doe_a-real-failure-does-not-need-an-excuse-i_2318500.jpg" --- # A real failure does not need an excuse. It is an end in… ![“A real failure does not need an excuse. It is an end in itself.” quote by Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/gertrude-stein-667_doe_a-real-failure-does-not-need-an-excuse-i_2318500.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/gertrude-stein-667_doe_a-real-failure-does-not-need-an-excuse-i_2318500.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/gertrude-stein-667_doe_a-real-failure-does-not-need-an-excuse-i_2318500.jpg) > “A real failure does not need an excuse. It is an end in itself.” [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A failure that stands on its own needs no justification; it is complete in its own right. **In simple terms:** Failure can be self‑evident. Key Takeaway Accept failure without excuses. Themes failure accountability self‑awareness Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - business setbacks - personal setbacks - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What does this failure teach you? - Can you own it without rationalizing? A Different Perspective Failure may still require analysis to prevent recurrence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Excuse End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse-end-3697329/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-does-344862/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-failure-330749/) ## Related quotes > [Need an excuse to end a conversation? Try this: Fuck I have to go, my goldfish is drowning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/need-an-excuse-to-end-a-conversation-try-this-fuck-i-have-to-go-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The real failure is not the one who falls down, it's the one who refuses to get up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/the-real-failure-is-not-the-one-who-falls-down-it-s-the-one-who/) [Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/) > [“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 IS TO FAIL OTHERS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-only-real-failure-is-to-fail-others/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Real failure comes when we consider ourselves good enough at something to be able to repeat it rather than to develop it. "Success is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/real-failure-comes-when-we-consider-ourselves-good-enough-at/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [ It would be a real failure if agreeing that it \[abortion\] was not an electoral issue provided an alibi for taking it seriously as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/it-would-be-a-real-failure-if-agreeing-that-it-abortion-was-not-an/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [The only real failure is the failure to try, and the measure of success is how we cope with disappointment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-moggach/the-only-real-failure-is-the-failure-to-try-and-the-measure-of/) [Deborah Moggach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-moggach/) > [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/) > [Capitalism, after all, is no fun when real failure becomes a possibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/capitalism-after-all-is-no-fun-when-real-failure-becomes-a-possibility/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [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/) > [There is only one real failure in life that is possible, and that is, not to be true to the best one knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-william-farrar/there-is-only-one-real-failure-in-life-that-is-possible-and-that-is/) [Frederic William Farrar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-william-farrar/) > [Real success and accomplishment, at whatever it is you are passionate about, requires real work. Real sacrifice. Real disappointment. Real failure. And it requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha-tyler/real-success-and-accomplishment-at-whatever-it-is-you-are-passionate/) [Aisha Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha-tyler/) > [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/) > [I do believe that it's when you stop and give up that real failure takes place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-screwvala/i-do-believe-that-it-s-when-you-stop-and-give-up-that-real-failure/) [Ronnie Screwvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-screwvala/) > [You try, you fail, you try, you fail but the real failure is when you stop trying...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-try-you-fail-you-try-you-fail-but-the-real-failure-is-when-you/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) ## More by Gertrude Stein > [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“When is there some discharge when. There never is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/when-is-there-some-discharge-when-there-never-is/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [There is no such thing as repetition. Only insistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/there-is-no-such-thing-as-repetition-only-insistance/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I am I because my little dog knows me but, creatively speaking the little dog knowing that you are you and your recognising that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-am-i-because-my-little-dog-knows-me-but-creatively-speaking-the/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [How likely are definitions to be pleasurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/how-likely-are-definitions-to-be-pleasurable/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [ “What is the answer?" \[ I \[Alice B Toklas\] was silent \] In that case, what is the question?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/what-is-the-answer-i-alice-b-toklas-was-silent-in-that-case-what-is/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [More and more I like to take a train. I understand why the French prefer it to automobiling it is so much more sociable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/more-and-more-i-like-to-take-a-train-i-understand-why-the-french/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Adventure is making the distant approach nearer but romance is having what is where it is which is not where you are stay where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/adventure-is-making-the-distant-approach-nearer-but-romance-is-having/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Forensics is eloquence and reduction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/forensics-is-eloquence-and-reduction/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Eating and sleeping are not like loving and breathing. Washing is not like eating and sleeping. Believing is like breathing and loving. Religion can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/eating-and-sleeping-are-not-like-loving-and-breathing-washing-is-not/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I write for myself and strangers. The strangers, dear Readers, are an afterthought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-write-for-myself-and-strangers-the-strangers-dear-readers-are-an/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“A bag which was left and not only taken but turned away was not found. The place was shown to be very like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/a-bag-which-was-left-and-not-only-taken-but-turned-away-was-not-found/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I don't envisage collectivism. There is no such animal, it is always individualism, sometimes the rest vote and sometimes they do not, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-don-t-envisage-collectivism-there-is-no-such-animal-it-is-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) [Explore all 418 Gertrude Stein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) ## More Doe quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. 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Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Sometimes a sign or a quote is simply interesting by itself and does not require anything beyond being framed on a page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/sometimes-a-sign-or-a-quote-is-simply-interesting-by-itself-and-does/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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