--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every man is in some sort a failure to…" description: "\"Every man is in some sort a failure to himself. No one ever reaches the heights to which he aspires.\" — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_aspire_every-man-is-in-some-sort-a-failure-to-h_2275838.jpg" --- # Every man is in some sort a failure to himself. No one… ![“Every man is in some sort a failure to himself. No one ever reaches the heights to which he aspires.” quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_aspire_every-man-is-in-some-sort-a-failure-to-h_2275838.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_aspire_every-man-is-in-some-sort-a-failure-to-h_2275838.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_aspire_every-man-is-in-some-sort-a-failure-to-h_2275838.jpg) > “Every man is in some sort a failure to himself. No one ever reaches the heights to which he aspires.” [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often fall short of their own aspirations, leading to personal disappointment. **In simple terms:** Everyone fails to meet their highest goals. Key Takeaway Accept limits and adjust expectations. Themes failure aspiration self‑evaluation humility Mood thoughtful somber Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career ambition - personal goal setting - self‑criticism Key Concepts existential psychological Questions to Reflect On - What standards do you set for yourself? - How can you measure progress without harsh self‑judgment? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can be unrealistic and harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Heights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heights/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the greatest teachers of our time. He reaches from the heights of insight down to the deepest places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-thurman/thich-nhat-hanh-is-one-of-the-greatest-teachers-of-our-time-he/) [Robert Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-thurman/) > [When the sage climbs the heights of Yoga, he follows the path of work; but when he reaches the heights of Yoga, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagavad-gita/when-the-sage-climbs-the-heights-of-yoga-he-follows-the-path-of-work/) [Bhagavad Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagavad-gita/) > [If you are under the impression you have already perfected yourself, you will never rise to the heights you are no doubt capable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/if-you-are-under-the-impression-you-have-already-perfected-yourself/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [My heaviness comes from the heights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/my-heaviness-comes-from-the-heights/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [I love heights. I love speed. Im on the verge of being a pyromaniac. Maybe my phobia is boredom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-wasson/i-love-heights-i-love-speed-im-on-the-verge-of-being-a-pyromaniac/) [Erin Wasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-wasson/) > [Sometimes it felt like her life was a series of falls from ever-greater heights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sometimes-it-felt-like-her-life-was-a-series-of-falls-from-ever/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [The other day, I was walking my dog around my building . . . on the ledge. Some people are afraid of heights. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/the-other-day-i-was-walking-my-dog-around-my-building-on-the-ledge/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > ['Summer Heights High' is one of my favourite shows of all time. I'm obsessed. I re-watch it all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-heatherton/summer-heights-high-is-one-of-my-favourite-shows-of-all-time-i-m/) [Erin Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-heatherton/) > [I'm glad nobody has asked me to adapt 'Wuthering Heights' because I think I would make a mess of it. Everybody makes a mess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davies/i-m-glad-nobody-has-asked-me-to-adapt-wuthering-heights-because-i/) [Andrew Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davies/) > [I have a fear of heights and I'm claustrophobic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-nayyar/i-have-a-fear-of-heights-and-i-m-claustrophobic/) [Kunal Nayyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-nayyar/) > [I'm terrible at heights. I hate it. I'm glad I'm only 5'7".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-m-terrible-at-heights-i-hate-it-i-m-glad-i-m-only-5-7/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [If suffer we must, let's suffer on the heights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/if-suffer-we-must-let-s-suffer-on-the-heights/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [I'm still pretty terrified of heights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-bell/i-m-still-pretty-terrified-of-heights/) [Jamie Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-bell/) > [I'm terrified of heights, but I think there's something really beautiful about birds and soaring, having a bird's-eye view of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-booth/i-m-terrified-of-heights-but-i-think-there-s-something-really/) [Lindy Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-booth/) > [“The heights by which great men reach are not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept went toiling upwards through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-heights-by-which-great-men-reach-are-not-attained-by-sudden/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) ## More by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow > [The spring came suddenly, bursting upon the world as a child bursts into a room, with a laugh and a shout and hands full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-spring-came-suddenly-bursting-upon-the-world-as-a-child-bursts/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [In old age our bodies are worn-out instruments, on which the soul tries in vain to play the melodies of youth. But because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/in-old-age-our-bodies-are-worn-out-instruments-on-which-the-soul/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“ Endymion The rising moon has hid the stars; Her level rays, like golden bars, Lie on the landscape green, With shadows brown between.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/endymion-the-rising-moon-has-hid-the-stars-her-level-rays-like-golden/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [There's nothing fair nor beautiful, but takes Something from thee, that makes it beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/there-s-nothing-fair-nor-beautiful-but-takes-something-from-thee-that/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Fame comes only when deserved, and then is as inevitable as destiny, for it is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/fame-comes-only-when-deserved-and-then-is-as-inevitable-as-destiny/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Nature paints not; In oils, but frescoes the great dome of heaven; With sunsets, and the lovely forms of clouds; And flying vapors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/nature-paints-not-in-oils-but-frescoes-the-great-dome-of-heaven-with/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“  Thus dwelt together in love these simple Acadian farmers,—   Dwelt in the love of God and of man. Alike were they free from   Fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/thus-dwelt-together-in-love-these-simple-acadian-farmers-dwelt-in-the/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [The trees are white with dust, that o'er their sleep Wave their broad curtains in the south-wind's breath, While underneath such leafy tents they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-trees-are-white-with-dust-that-o-er-their-sleep-wave-their-broad/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Heights by great men reached and kept were not obtained by sudden flight but, while their companions slept, they were toiling upward in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/heights-by-great-men-reached-and-kept-were-not-obtained-by-sudden/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [All things come round to him who will but wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/all-things-come-round-to-him-who-will-but-wait/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Ah, how skillful grows the hand That obeyeth Love's command! It is the heart, and not the brain, That to the highest doth attain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/ah-how-skillful-grows-the-hand-that-obeyeth-love-s-command-it-is-the/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Thus departed Hiawatha, Hiawatha the Beloved, In the glory of the sunset, In the purple mists of evening, To the regions of the home-wind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/thus-departed-hiawatha-hiawatha-the-beloved-in-the-glory-of-the/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Books are sepulchres of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/books-are-sepulchres-of-thought/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Morality without religion is only a kind of dead reckoning - an endeavor to find our place on a cloudy sea by measuring the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/morality-without-religion-is-only-a-kind-of-dead-reckoning-an/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Buried was the bloody hatchet; Buried was the dreadful war-club; Buried were all warlike weapons, And the war-cry was forgotten. Then was peace among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/buried-was-the-bloody-hatchet-buried-was-the-dreadful-war-club-buried/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) [Explore all 755 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) ## More Aspire quotes > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [At the end of the day, everyone knows what it is to be loved and to aspire to love someone, to want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/at-the-end-of-the-day-everyone-knows-what-it-is-to-be-loved-and-to/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [We should all aspire in life to do a multitude of things well - to be a great father, to be a good husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-modine/we-should-all-aspire-in-life-to-do-a-multitude-of-things-well-to-be-a/) [Matthew Modine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-modine/) > [We try, we fail, we posture, we aspire, we pontificate - and then we age, shrink, die, and vanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-try-we-fail-we-posture-we-aspire-we-pontificate-and-then-we-age/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I aspire my country eventually has a league where all players play 50 games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-chhetri/i-aspire-my-country-eventually-has-a-league-where-all-players-play-50/) [Sunil Chhetri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-chhetri/) > [I'm exceptional in everything that I do and I aspire to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarosa-manigault-newman/i-m-exceptional-in-everything-that-i-do-and-i-aspire-to-do/) [Omarosa Manigault Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarosa-manigault-newman/) > [One of the reasons you study at great institutions or aspire to work in great corporations is that you hope to acquire the values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-bhogle/one-of-the-reasons-you-study-at-great-institutions-or-aspire-to-work/) [Harsha Bhogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-bhogle/) > [So if you aspire to be a good conversationali st, be an attentive listener. 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