---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Failure in life does not matter; the…"
description: "\"Failure in life does not matter; the greatest misfortune is standing still.\" — Hazrat Inayat Khan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_doe_failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-grea_1985657.png"
---

#  Failure in life does not matter; the greatest misfortune…

![“Failure in life does not matter; the greatest misfortune is standing still.” quote by Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_doe_failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-grea_1985657.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_doe_failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-grea_1985657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_doe_failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-grea_1985657.png)

> “Failure in life does not matter; the greatest misfortune is standing still.”

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Stagnation is worse than failure; moving forward matters more than not failing.

**In simple terms:** Being still is the worst outcome.

Key Takeaway

Keep progressing, even if imperfect.

Themes

growth movement failure progress

Mood

encouraging reflective

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career development
- personal goals
- creative projects

Key Concepts

resilience mindfulness self‑improvement

Questions to Reflect On

- What small step can you take today?
- How does movement change your perspective?

A Different Perspective

Fear of failure can lead to paralysis.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [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/) [Greatest Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-misfortune-486903/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune/) [Misfortune Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune-standing-3413947/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Standing still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-still/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/)

## Related quotes

> [“Favor and disgrace make one fearful The greatest misfortune is the self”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-lin/favor-and-disgrace-make-one-fearful-the-greatest-misfortune-is-the/)

[Derek Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-lin/)

> [Heaven forbid! -- That would be the greatest misfortune of all! -- To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/heaven-forbid-that-would-be-the-greatest-misfortune-of-all-to-find-a/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [Whoever gives nothing, has nothing. The greatest misfortune is not to be unloved, but not to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/whoever-gives-nothing-has-nothing-the-greatest-misfortune-is-not-to/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [“Consciousness is man's greatest misfortune, still I know that man loves it and will not exchange it for any satisfactions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dostoyevsky/consciousness-is-man-s-greatest-misfortune-still-i-know-that-man/)

[Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dostoyevsky/)

> [Tis the greatest misfortune in nature for a woman to want a confidant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-farquhar/tis-the-greatest-misfortune-in-nature-for-a-woman-to-want-a-confidant/)

[George Farquhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-farquhar/)

> [Covetousness is the greatest misfortune. One who does not know what is enough will never have enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/covetousness-is-the-greatest-misfortune-one-who-does-not-know-what-is/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [In the place of failure in life, it does not exist unless an individual gives up on its future achievement therefore failure does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justice-ogali/in-the-place-of-failure-in-life-it-does-not-exist-unless-an/)

[Justice Ogali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justice-ogali/)

> [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/)

> [The greatest failure in life is the failure to participate in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-khoo/the-greatest-failure-in-life-is-the-failure-to-participate-in-life/)

[Adam Khoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-khoo/)

> [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/)

> [Some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously, that you might as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/some-failure-in-life-is-inevitable-it-is-impossible-to-live-without/)

[J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/)

> [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/)

> [If you want to know whether you are destined to be a success or a failure in life, you can easily find out. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-j-hill/if-you-want-to-know-whether-you-are-destined-to-be-a-success-or-a/)

[James J. 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 Hazrat Inayat Khan

> [“To a soul which is wide awake, the Judgment Day does not come after death. For that soul every day is a Judgment Day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/to-a-soul-which-is-wide-awake-the-judgment-day-does-not-come-after/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [The only way to live in the midst of inharmonious influences is to strengthen the will power and endure all things, yet keeping fineness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-only-way-to-live-in-the-midst-of-inharmonious-influences-is-to/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [The first lesson to learn is to resign oneself to the little difficulties in life, not to hit out at everything one comes up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-first-lesson-to-learn-is-to-resign-oneself-to-the-little/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [Among all the valuable things of this world, the word is the most precious. For in the word one can find a light which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/among-all-the-valuable-things-of-this-world-the-word-is-the-most/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [There should be balance in all our actions; to be either extreme or lukewarm is equally bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/there-should-be-balance-in-all-our-actions-to-be-either-extreme-or/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [It is a presumption on the part of man when he demands in words an explanation of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/it-is-a-presumption-on-the-part-of-man-when-he-demands-in-words-an/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [All that produces longing in the heart deprives it of its freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/all-that-produces-longing-in-the-heart-deprives-it-of-its-freedom/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [If someone strikes my heart, it does not break, but it bursts, and the flame coming out of it becomes a torch on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/if-someone-strikes-my-heart-it-does-not-break-but-it-bursts-and-the/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [I played the vina until my heart turned into the same instrument. Then I offered this instrument to the Divine Musician, the only muscian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/i-played-the-vina-until-my-heart-turned-into-the-same-instrument-then/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [Our virtues are made by love, and our sins are caused by the lack of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/our-virtues-are-made-by-love-and-our-sins-are-caused-by-the-lack-of-it/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [Life is a place where it is necessary to move gently. Whether it be in thought, speech, or action, the rhythm must be controlled;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/life-is-a-place-where-it-is-necessary-to-move-gently-whether-it-be-in/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [The voice is not only indicative of man's character, but it is the expression of his spirit. Other sounds can be louder than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-voice-is-not-only-indicative-of-man-s-character-but-it-is-the/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [People who have never had an ideal may hope to find one; they are in a better state than the people who allow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/people-who-have-never-had-an-ideal-may-hope-to-find-one-they-are-in-a/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [In a small affair or in a big affair, first consult yourself and find out if there is any conflict in your own being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/in-a-small-affair-or-in-a-big-affair-first-consult-yourself-and-find/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [The one Spirit of life is given different names, the sacred names. We more easily recognize the Spirit of life by the particular name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-one-spirit-of-life-is-given-different-names-the-sacred-names-we/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

[Explore all 219 Hazrat Inayat Khan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

## 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. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/)

[Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/)

> [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/)

[Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/)

> [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. 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. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [If Wall Street crashes, does Main Street follow? Not necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-wall-street-crashes-does-main-street-follow-not-necessarily/)

[Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/)

> [It does not seem to me to be sufficiently recognized everywhere among the officials that the existence or non-existence of our people and Empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-von-hindenburg/it-does-not-seem-to-me-to-be-sufficiently-recognized-everywhere-among/)

[Paul von Hindenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-von-hindenburg/)

[Browse all 25,574 Doe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Failure in life does not matter; the greatest misfortune is standing still.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Hazrat Inayat Khan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-greatest-misfortune-is-standing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Doe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-greatest-misfortune-is-standing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_doe_failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-grea_1985657.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_doe_failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-grea_1985657.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_doe_failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-grea_1985657.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Failure in life does not matter; the greatest misfortune is standing still.” — Hazrat Inayat Khan",
                "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": "Hazrat Inayat Khan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Failure in life does not matter;...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-greatest-misfortune-is-standing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/failure-in-life-does-not-matter-the-greatest-misfortune-is-standing/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
