--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mere lack of success does not discredit a…" description: "\"Mere lack of success does not discredit a method, for there are many things that determine and perpetuate our sanctified ways of doing things besides t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/james-harvey-robinson-24679_determine_mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit_1966131.png" --- # Mere lack of success does not discredit a method, for… ![“Mere lack of success does not discredit a method, for there are many things that determine and perpetuate our sanctified ways of doing things besides their success in reaching their proposed ends.” quote by James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/james-harvey-robinson-24679_determine_mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit_1966131.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/james-harvey-robinson-24679_determine_mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit_1966131.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/james-harvey-robinson-24679_determine_mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit_1966131.png) > “Mere lack of success does not discredit a method, for there are many things that determine and perpetuate our sanctified ways of doing things besides their success in reaching their proposed ends.” [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A method’s value isn’t judged solely by success; many other factors sustain its use. **In simple terms:** Success isn’t the only measure of a method. Key Takeaway Evaluate methods by broader criteria. Themes philosophy science methodology Mood reflective critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - research design - policy making - educational curricula Key Concepts epistemology social influence institutional inertia Questions to Reflect On - What hidden factors keep a method alive? - How can we assess a method’s true effectiveness? A Different Perspective Methods may persist despite inefficiency due to tradition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [True success is reaching our potential without compromising our values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/true-success-is-reaching-our-potential-without-compromising-our-values/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Success is not in reaching the destination, but in making the journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/success-is-not-in-reaching-the-destination-but-in-making-the-journey/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [I think of success as reaching beyond ourselves and helping other people in specific ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-think-of-success-as-reaching-beyond-ourselves-and-helping-other/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [The things you do determine the way people perceive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-things-you-do-determine-the-way-people-perceive-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“There are only two things that determine whether you're old enough to do something -- whether you understand what the hell you're getting yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midnight-blue/there-are-only-two-things-that-determine-whether-you-re-old-enough-to/) Midnight Blue > [Two things determine the success of a relationship. How much each of you give and how little each of you take for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/two-things-determine-the-success-of-a-relationship-how-much-each-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My family, and my belief in God and Jesus, are the things which determine my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaka/my-family-and-my-belief-in-god-and-jesus-are-the-things-which/) [Kaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaka/) > [A human being is not one thing among others; things determine each other, but man is ultimately self-determining. What he becomes-within the limits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-human-being-is-not-one-thing-among-others-things-determine-each-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A human being is not one thing among others; things determine each other, but man is ultimately self-determining. What he becomes - within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/a-human-being-is-not-one-thing-among-others-things-determine-each/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Guard your heart, mind and time. Those three things will determine the health of everything else in your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrena-sawyer/guard-your-heart-mind-and-time-those-three-things-will-determine-the/) [Andrena Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrena-sawyer/) > [History. Language. Passion. Custom. All these things determine what men say, think, and do. These are the hidden puppet-strings from which all men hang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/history-language-passion-custom-all-these-things-determine-what-men/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [“There are some things success is not. It's not fame. It's not money or power. Success is waking up in the morning so excited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-burnett/there-are-some-things-success-is-not-it-s-not-fame-it-s-not-money-or/) Allison Burnett > [Four things for success: work and pray, think and believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/four-things-for-success-work-and-pray-think-and-believe/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I dont choose things because I have to. I choose things because my success gives me the freedom to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-timbre/i-dont-choose-things-because-i-have-to-i-choose-things-because-my/) [Jamie Timbre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-timbre/) > [Any experience can be transformed into something of value. Everything depends on the way you look at things. You cannot have the success without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vash-young/any-experience-can-be-transformed-into-something-of-value-everything/) [Vash Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vash-young/) ## More by James Harvey Robinson > [Partisanship is our great curse. We too readily assume that everything has two sides and that it is our duty to be on one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/partisanship-is-our-great-curse-we-too-readily-assume-that-everything/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Man has long found solace in good talk to offset bad conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/man-has-long-found-solace-in-good-talk-to-offset-bad-conduct/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Speech gave man a unique power to lead a double life, he could say one thing and do another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/speech-gave-man-a-unique-power-to-lead-a-double-life-he-could-say-one/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [With supreme irony, the war to make the world safe for democracy ended by leaving democracy more unsafe in the world than at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/with-supreme-irony-the-war-to-make-the-world-safe-for-democracy-ended/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Each of us is great insofar as we perceive and act on the infinite possibilities which lie undiscovered and unrecognized about us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/each-of-us-is-great-insofar-as-we-perceive-and-act-on-the-infinite/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [To become historically-minded is to be grown-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/to-become-historically-minded-is-to-be-grown-up/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but find ourselves filled with an illicit passion for them when anyone proposes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/we-are-incredibly-heedless-in-the-formation-of-our-beliefs-but-find/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [We continue to think of new things in old ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/we-continue-to-think-of-new-things-in-old-ways/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Curiosity is idle only to those who fail to realize that it may be a very rare and indispensable thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/curiosity-is-idle-only-to-those-who-fail-to-realize-that-it-may-be-a/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Rationalizing is the self-exculpation which occurs when we feel ourselves, or our group, accused of misapprehension or error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/rationalizing-is-the-self-exculpation-which-occurs-when-we-feel/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [We find it hard to believe that other people's thoughts are as silly as our own, but they probably are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/we-find-it-hard-to-believe-that-other-people-s-thoughts-are-as-silly/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [History ... may be regarded as an artificial extension and : broadening of our memories and may be used to overcome the natural bewilderment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/history-may-be-regarded-as-an-artificial-extension-and-broadening-of/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [In its amplest meaning History includes every trace and vestige of everything that man has done or thought since first he appeared on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/in-its-amplest-meaning-history-includes-every-trace-and-vestige-of/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but if someone tries to take them from us, we defend them with almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/we-are-incredibly-heedless-in-the-formation-of-our-beliefs-but-if/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Few of us take the pains to study the origin of our cherished convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/few-of-us-take-the-pains-to-study-the-origin-of-our-cherished/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) [Explore all 24 James Harvey Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) ## More Determine quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [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/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [The wisdom of our actions in the first three years of peace will determine the course of world history for half a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-wisdom-of-our-actions-in-the-first-three-years-of-peace-will/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [Thought determines action. Do not let your whole life be a reaction to the things that happen around you each day. Let your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-kelly/thought-determines-action-do-not-let-your-whole-life-be-a-reaction-to/) [Matthew Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-kelly/) > [Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don't be an automaton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/determine-to-do-some-thinking-for-yourself-don-t-live-entirely-upon/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Choices determine character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/choices-determine-character/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [All writers are forced to live within deadlines, and deadlines determine how good they can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/all-writers-are-forced-to-live-within-deadlines-and-deadlines/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [Alfred Nobel stipulated that no distinction of race or colour will determine who received of his generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdus-salam/alfred-nobel-stipulated-that-no-distinction-of-race-or-colour-will/) [Abdus Salam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdus-salam/) > [The enmity of such a party towards Socialism does not mean that the members are only prejudiced against it because they do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-radek/the-enmity-of-such-a-party-towards-socialism-does-not-mean-that-the/) [Karl Radek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-radek/) > [It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/it-is-not-the-consciousness-of-men-that-determines-their-being-but-on/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Running gives freedom. When you run you can determine your own tempo. You can choose your own course and think whatever you want. Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-kuscsik/running-gives-freedom-when-you-run-you-can-determine-your-own-tempo/) [Nina Kuscsik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-kuscsik/) > [I've ultimately decided that I will not play this NBA season. I'm going to take the remainder of this season, as well as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-allen/i-ve-ultimately-decided-that-i-will-not-play-this-nba-season-i-m/) [Ray Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-allen/) > [The things you do determine the way people perceive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-things-you-do-determine-the-way-people-perceive-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) Browse all 2,194 Determine quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mere lack of success does not discredit a method, for there are many things that determine and perpetuate our sanctified ways of doing things besides their success in reaching their proposed ends.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Harvey Robinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit-a-method-for-there-are-many/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Determine" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit-a-method-for-there-are-many/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/james-harvey-robinson-24679_determine_mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit_1966131.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/james-harvey-robinson-24679_determine_mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit_1966131.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/james-harvey-robinson-24679_determine_mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit_1966131.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mere lack of success does not discredit a method, for there are many things that determine and perpetuate…” — James Harvey Robinson", "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": "James Harvey Robinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mere lack of success does not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit-a-method-for-there-are-many/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/mere-lack-of-success-does-not-discredit-a-method-for-there-are-many/#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 } } ] } ```