--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot explain failure any more than…" description: "\"You cannot explain failure any more than you can argue with success.\" — J. Richard Clarke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/j-richard-clarke-37557_argue_you-cannot-explain-failure-any-more-than_1984793.png" --- # You cannot explain failure any more than you can argue… ![“You cannot explain failure any more than you can argue with success.” quote by J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/j-richard-clarke-37557_argue_you-cannot-explain-failure-any-more-than_1984793.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/j-richard-clarke-37557_argue_you-cannot-explain-failure-any-more-than_1984793.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/j-richard-clarke-37557_argue_you-cannot-explain-failure-any-more-than_1984793.png) > “You cannot explain failure any more than you can argue with success.” [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Failure and success are incomparable; you cannot rationalize one by the other because they arise from different contexts and criteria. **In simple terms:** Failure can’t be explained like success. Key Takeaway Accept differing standards for outcomes. Themes risk management strategic planning learning from outcomes Mood analytical reflective Type strategic philosophical When to use this quote - project assessment - policy review - personal goal setting - risk mitigation Key Concepts probability theory decision analysis outcome evaluation Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure success versus failure? - What metrics best capture nuanced outcomes? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex causal factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argue/) [Argue Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argue-success-3408707/) [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Explain Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain-failure-2106798/) [Explanation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explanation/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Argue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-argue-3408706/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing in the world so easy to explain as failure - it is, after all, what everybody does all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-so-easy-to-explain-as-failure-it-is/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [The fear of failure never goes away. In many ways, you could argue that success multiplies the opportunities for failure. It's just more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/the-fear-of-failure-never-goes-away-in-many-ways-you-could-argue-that/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“You can't argue with success." "Sure you can," Dahl said, "when it's based on stupidity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scalzi-john/you-can-t-argue-with-success-sure-you-can-dahl-said-when-it-s-based/) [Scalzi, John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scalzi-john/) > [Still, it is an error to argue in front of your data. You can find yourself insensibly twisting them round to suit your theories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/still-it-is-an-error-to-argue-in-front-of-your-data-you-can-find/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [A wise man told me don't argue with fools. Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/a-wise-man-told-me-don-t-argue-with-fools-cause-people-from-a/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [I tend not to argue about things that I don't believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/i-tend-not-to-argue-about-things-that-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Your friend will argue with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/your-friend-will-argue-with-you/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [I think you are wrong, Basil, but I won't argue with you. It is only the intellectually lost who ever argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-think-you-are-wrong-basil-but-i-won-t-argue-with-you-it-is-only-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Marriage is a reflection of your life in general: how you treat people, how you argue, how secure you are in your own thoughts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/marriage-is-a-reflection-of-your-life-in-general-how-you-treat-people/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [Im a soulless lawyer. Give me any opinion and I can argue it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/im-a-soulless-lawyer-give-me-any-opinion-and-i-can-argue-it/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [Sharing with just your friends doesn't protect your privacy. I know the people at Facebook will disagree and argue that users can control what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-parr/sharing-with-just-your-friends-doesn-t-protect-your-privacy-i-know/) [Ben Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-parr/) > [There is no need to argue if an experiment can be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-etienne-sainte-claire-deville/there-is-no-need-to-argue-if-an-experiment-can-be-made/) [Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-etienne-sainte-claire-deville/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) ## More by J. Richard Clarke > [Real sacrifice comes from self sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-clarke/real-sacrifice-comes-from-self-sacrifice/) [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) > [If we are to know God, we must read His words, for therein He stands revealed to the honest in heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-clarke/if-we-are-to-know-god-we-must-read-his-words-for-therein-he-stands/) [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) > [How we use our leisure is equally as important to our joy as our occupational pursuits. Proper use of leisure requires discriminating judgment. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-clarke/how-we-use-our-leisure-is-equally-as-important-to-our-joy-as-our/) [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) > [“We may talk about our religion, we may discuss marvelous manifestations and revealed gifts and powers, we may profess high ideals and noble values;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-clarke/we-may-talk-about-our-religion-we-may-discuss-marvelous/) [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) > [Truth is it's own witness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-clarke/truth-is-it-s-own-witness/) [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) > [Seek first to understand before being understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-clarke/seek-first-to-understand-before-being-understood/) [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) > [Continue to invest in your personal development. Expand your occupational horizons by constant study . . . look to your present job as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-clarke/continue-to-invest-in-your-personal-development-expand-your/) [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) > [The best leader brings out the best in those he has stewardship over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-clarke/the-best-leader-brings-out-the-best-in-those-he-has-stewardship-over/) [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) > [Work is honorable. It is good therapy for most problems. It is the antidote for worry. It is the equalizer for deficiency of native…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-clarke/work-is-honorable-it-is-good-therapy-for-most-problems-it-is-the/) [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) > [In the broader sense, work is the means to achieve happiness, prosperity. and salvation. When work and duty and joy are commingled, then man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-clarke/in-the-broader-sense-work-is-the-means-to-achieve-happiness/) [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) > [One who cares is one who listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-richard-clarke/one-who-cares-is-one-who-listens/) [J. Richard Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) [Explore all 12 J. Richard Clarke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-clarke/) ## More Argue quotes > [I'd rather argue with you than kiss someone else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fad-ibra/i-d-rather-argue-with-you-than-kiss-someone-else/) [Fad Ibra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fad-ibra/) > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“But that is not true for all folk. Some folk are meant to argue with fate. And win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/but-that-is-not-true-for-all-folk-some-folk-are-meant-to-argue-with/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/argue-for-your-limitations-and-sure-enough-they-re-yours/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [I like the fact that we argue but in the end we come together again realising how much we each need the other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine/i-like-the-fact-that-we-argue-but-in-the-end-we-come-together-again/) [Josephine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Has learned that sometimes it is just easier to agree with someone, than to argue a stupid point they think they have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/has-learned-that-sometimes-it-is-just-easier-to-agree-with-someone/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [If you dont know, please ask. If you dont agree, argue. If you dont like it, please say it. But don't sit there quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-dont-know-please-ask-if-you-dont-agree-argue-if-you-dont-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America gave the world the notion of the melting pot - an alchemical cooking device wherein diverse ethnic and religious groups voluntarily mix together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-krastev/america-gave-the-world-the-notion-of-the-melting-pot-an-alchemical/) [Ivan Krastev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-krastev/) > [Don't worry when I argue with you. Worry when I stop because it means there's nothing left to fight for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-worry-when-i-argue-with-you-worry-when-i-stop-because-it-means/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“Be quick to resolve conflicts before they mature to become wars. The energetic crocodile was once a delicate egg!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/be-quick-to-resolve-conflicts-before-they-mature-to-become-wars-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I taught my executive team how to argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/i-taught-my-executive-team-how-to-argue/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [“People argue between Pele or Maradona. Di Stéfano is the best, much more complete.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/people-argue-between-pele-or-maradona-di-st-fano-is-the-best-much/) [Pelé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [“The more women argue, loudly, against feminism, the more they both prove it exists and that they enjoy its hard-won privileges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/the-more-women-argue-loudly-against-feminism-the-more-they-both-prove/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) [Browse all 642 Argue quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argue/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You cannot explain failure any more than you can argue with success.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. 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