--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are not measured by their…" description: "\"“People are not measured by their accomplishments, but by how many times they screw up trying to achieve them.”\" — James McGregor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/james-mcgregor-80868_accomplishments_people-are-not-measured-by-their-accompl_2520610.jpg" --- # People are not measured by their accomplishments, but by… ![“People are not measured by their accomplishments, but by how many times they screw up trying to achieve them.” quote by James McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/james-mcgregor-80868_accomplishments_people-are-not-measured-by-their-accompl_2520610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/james-mcgregor-80868_accomplishments_people-are-not-measured-by-their-accompl_2520610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/james-mcgregor-80868_accomplishments_people-are-not-measured-by-their-accompl_2520610.jpg) > ““People are not measured by their accomplishments, but by how many times they screw up trying to achieve them.”” [James McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgregor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is judged not by achievements but by the frequency of earnest attempts and failures while pursuing goals. **In simple terms:** Failure counts as effort toward goals. Key Takeaway Embrace mistakes as part of growth. Themes resilience effort learning failure achievement Mood reflective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - personal development - creative projects - academic research Key Concepts growth mindset risk taking perseverance Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure progress beyond outcomes? - What can you learn from each setback? A Different Perspective Repeated failures can erode confidence if not reframed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishments/) [Accomplishments Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishments-times-1247148/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Measured Accomplishments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measured-accomplishments-791604/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Screw Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screw-trying-1247149/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Trying Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-achieve/) ## Related quotes > [“success is not measured so much by our accomplishments in life but by what we had to overcome in the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newberry-tommy/success-is-not-measured-so-much-by-our-accomplishments-in-life-but-by/) [Newberry, Tommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newberry-tommy/) > [In the end, the extent of our own success will be measured by the accomplishments we have helped create in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-reid/in-the-end-the-extent-of-our-own-success-will-be-measured-by-the/) [Greg Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-reid/) > [“A person is not measured by their accomplishments. Neither are they measured by their ability to accomplish. In fact, it’s not about being measured.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-person-is-not-measured-by-their-accomplishments-neither-are-they/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Sometimes milestones are not measured by the accomplishments of society, but by those of integrity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-milestones-are-not-measured-by-the-accomplishments-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you have the power to change the world for the better, you should do it. That's why people who do nothing are idiots,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgregor/if-you-have-the-power-to-change-the-world-for-the-better-you-should/) [James McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgregor/) > [What I try to do is to create an environment that is not about the results. It's about development, and an understanding of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-marsch/what-i-try-to-do-is-to-create-an-environment-that-is-not-about-the/) [Jesse Marsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-marsch/) > [My task, which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you feel--it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/my-task-which-i-am-trying-to-achieve-is-by-the-power-of-the-written/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [There's nothing wrong with having your goals really high and trying to achieve them. That's the fun part. You may come up short. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-having-your-goals-really-high-and-trying/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [Trust in yourself, have trust in your dreams and goals. You can achieve them if you continue to fully believe in them and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/trust-in-yourself-have-trust-in-your-dreams-and-goals-you-can-achieve/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Some goals you just never really think about trying to achieve because they just seem so out of reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-daughtry/some-goals-you-just-never-really-think-about-trying-to-achieve/) [Chris Daughtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-daughtry/) > [When you start you're trying to achieve staying alive and getting home. If you can do both of those, then you stand a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-macarthur/when-you-start-you-re-trying-to-achieve-staying-alive-and-getting/) [Ellen MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-macarthur/) > [Successful people will always tell you you can do something. It's the people who have never accomplished anything who will always discourage you from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/successful-people-will-always-tell-you-you-can-do-something-it-s-the/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [Actually, something is always happening. People who don't love the moment are always trying to achieve something, but when one is on the way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-selver/actually-something-is-always-happening-people-who-don-t-love-the/) [Charlotte Selver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-selver/) > [I've learned how to deal with pressure more. I'm still trying to achieve more in my game and add more to it. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/i-ve-learned-how-to-deal-with-pressure-more-i-m-still-trying-to/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [If you start out trying to achieve a specific thing - like doing stadium shows or going into the studio and doing an album…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/if-you-start-out-trying-to-achieve-a-specific-thing-like-doing/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) ## More by James McGregor > [“If you have the power to change the world for the better, you should do it. That's why people who do nothing are idiots,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgregor/if-you-have-the-power-to-change-the-world-for-the-better-you-should/) [James McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgregor/) > [“Geniuses don't become geniuses until they find the right moron to compare themselves to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgregor/geniuses-don-t-become-geniuses-until-they-find-the-right-moron-to/) [James McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgregor/) [Explore all 3 James McGregor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgregor/) ## More Accomplishments quotes > [“Give someone more time and they'll appear to have done more with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/give-someone-more-time-and-they-ll-appear-to-have-done-more-with-it/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [“A responsible woman doesn’t see opportunities and needs and look the other way pretending not to see them rather she gets to work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agu-jaachynma-n-e/a-responsible-woman-doesn-t-see-opportunities-and-needs-and-look-the/) [Agu Jaachynma N.E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agu-jaachynma-n-e/) > [“Each day I will accomplish one thing on my to list.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/each-day-i-will-accomplish-one-thing-on-my-to-list/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I come from a world where accountability and accomplishments matter, and where titles and rhetoric take a back seat to results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-come-from-a-world-where-accountability-and-accomplishments-matter/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [“Don't die without fulfilling your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/don-t-die-without-fulfilling-your-purpose/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“Eschew evil and it's machinations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/eschew-evil-and-it-s-machinations/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“I’ve come to think that flourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-consciousness and become fused with other people, experiences,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-ve-come-to-think-that-flourishing-consists-of-putting-yourself-in/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“Don’t simply exist in this world, but grasp life’s potential by the jacket. Dare it to be all it can. Make life historical—a gripping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-goodrich/don-t-simply-exist-in-this-world-but-grasp-life-s-potential-by-the/) [Richelle Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-goodrich/) > [“Don't let any situation intimidate you anymore, don't accept defeat anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/don-t-let-any-situation-intimidate-you-anymore-don-t-accept-defeat/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“It is never late, you can start the movement now, the provisions have been made, the price has been paid and the gifts have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/it-is-never-late-you-can-start-the-movement-now-the-provisions-have/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“You may not attain the highest height with one leap but my dear; you will reach your destination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/you-may-not-attain-the-highest-height-with-one-leap-but-my-dear-you/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [To me, I feel like your accomplishments have been recognized when you make the cover of a videogame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/to-me-i-feel-like-your-accomplishments-have-been-recognized-when-you/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [I'm happy and satisfied with my accomplishments. I sleep well at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royce-gracie/i-m-happy-and-satisfied-with-my-accomplishments-i-sleep-well-at-night/) [Royce Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/royce-gracie/) [Browse all 489 Accomplishments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishments/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People are not measured by their accomplishments, but by how many times they screw up trying to achieve them.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James McGregor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgregor/people-are-not-measured-by-their-accomplishments-but-by-how-many/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplishments" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgregor/people-are-not-measured-by-their-accomplishments-but-by-how-many/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/james-mcgregor-80868_accomplishments_people-are-not-measured-by-their-accompl_2520610.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/james-mcgregor-80868_accomplishments_people-are-not-measured-by-their-accompl_2520610.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/james-mcgregor-80868_accomplishments_people-are-not-measured-by-their-accompl_2520610.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People are not measured by their accomplishments, but by how many times they screw up trying to achieve them.” — James McGregor", "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 McGregor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgregor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“People are not measured by their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgregor/people-are-not-measured-by-their-accomplishments-but-by-how-many/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgregor/people-are-not-measured-by-their-accomplishments-but-by-how-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 } } ] } ```