--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never give up! Failure and rejection are…" description: "\"Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding.\" — Jim Valvano" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/jim-valvano-11717_athlete_never-give-up-failure-and-rejection-are_1703386.png" --- # Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first… ![“Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding.” quote by Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/jim-valvano-11717_athlete_never-give-up-failure-and-rejection-are_1703386.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/jim-valvano-11717_athlete_never-give-up-failure-and-rejection-are_1703386.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/jim-valvano-11717_athlete_never-give-up-failure-and-rejection-are_1703386.png) > “Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding.” [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) ## 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 rejection are early steps toward eventual success. **In simple terms:** Setbacks are part of the path to success. Key Takeaway Persist through setbacks. Themes perseverance resilience motivation Mood inspirational determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - sports competitions - job interviews - entrepreneurial ventures - academic pursuits Key Concepts growth mindset psychology of failure Questions to Reflect On - What recent rejection can you reframe as a step forward? - How do you stay motivated after setbacks? A Different Perspective Not all failures lead to success; timing matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-rejection-283003/) [First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) [First steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-steps/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Heartbreak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartbreak/) [Never giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-giving-up/) [Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection/) [Rejection Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection-step-1173764/) [Step Succeeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step-succeeding-1173763/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Succeeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeeding/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“Rejection is one step to get you closer to the destination if you simply stay persistent!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-tse/rejection-is-one-step-to-get-you-closer-to-the-destination-if-you/) [Sarah Tse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-tse/) > [We want to avoid pain and have pleasure, so if our early attempts to achieve our dreams fail, we want to avoid the pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/we-want-to-avoid-pain-and-have-pleasure-so-if-our-early-attempts-to/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Failure and rejection are important. Otherwise, you won't value success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aparshakti-khurana/failure-and-rejection-are-important-otherwise-you-won-t-value-success/) [Aparshakti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aparshakti-khurana/) > [“Rejection isn't a sign of failure. Rejection is a reminder that there's always room for improvement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-hart/rejection-isn-t-a-sign-of-failure-rejection-is-a-reminder-that-there/) [Ana Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-hart/) > [Have you had a failure or rejection? You could get bitter. That's one way to deal with it. Or...you could just get BETTER. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destiny-booze/have-you-had-a-failure-or-rejection-you-could-get-bitter-that-s-one/) [Destiny Booze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destiny-booze/) > [Let regret may not be excuse for failure.Learn how to handle rejection. If situation demands, in failure & rejection work hard even out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/let-regret-may-not-be-excuse-for-failure-learn-how-to-handle/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [On failure rejection is not solution.One should not be left depressed & devastad on failure.Make him to believe that failure is an opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/on-failure-rejection-is-not-solution-one-should-not-be-left-depressed/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“I’m more terrified of failure than rejection—so I’ll no my way to YES!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-more-terrified-of-failure-than-rejection-so-i-ll-no-my-way-to-yes/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Nothing can happen if it's not first a dream. If you have someone with a dream, if you have a motivated person with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/nothing-can-happen-if-it-s-not-first-a-dream-if-you-have-someone-with/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [“Oh yes. You’ve done a marvelous job of succeeding at failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kreitzer/oh-yes-you-ve-done-a-marvelous-job-of-succeeding-at-failure/) [Laura Kreitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kreitzer/) > [Failure is not an option, but greatness is achieved by succeeding through failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/failure-is-not-an-option-but-greatness-is-achieved-by-succeeding/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Trying is for everyday, but success has it own time and date. That is why success is no different than a fish. The only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/trying-is-for-everyday-but-success-has-it-own-time-and-date-that-is/) [De philosopher DJ Kyos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/) > [Tolerance for uncertainty is the prerequisite to succeeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/tolerance-for-uncertainty-is-the-prerequisite-to-succeeding/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) > [You have to fail, man, but you cannot allow failure to stop you from doing what you must do. Failing is just as good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-smoove/you-have-to-fail-man-but-you-cannot-allow-failure-to-stop-you-from/) [J. B. Smoove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-smoove/) > [If you're having trouble succeeding, fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/if-you-re-having-trouble-succeeding-fail/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) ## More by Jim Valvano > [How do you go from where you are to where you wanna be? And I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/how-do-you-go-from-where-you-are-to-where-you-wanna-be-and-i-think/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [To find the unlimited scope of human possibility, look within yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/to-find-the-unlimited-scope-of-human-possibility-look-within-yourself/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [Every day ordinary people do extra-ordinary things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/every-day-ordinary-people-do-extra-ordinary-things/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [What enables us to achieve our greatness contains the seeds of our destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/what-enables-us-to-achieve-our-greatness-contains-the-seeds-of-our/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [Life changes when you least expect it to. The future is uncertain. So, seize this day, seize this moment, and make the most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/life-changes-when-you-least-expect-it-to-the-future-is-uncertain-so/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [How many people do you know who've had their dream come true? You're looking at one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/how-many-people-do-you-know-who-ve-had-their-dream-come-true-you-re/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [Are you saying that the assistant had the answers all along, he just wasn't telling anyone?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/are-you-saying-that-the-assistant-had-the-answers-all-along-he-just/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [We need your help. I need your help. We need money for research. It may not save my life. It may save my children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/we-need-your-help-i-need-your-help-we-need-money-for-research-it-may/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [No matter what business you're in, you can't run in place or someone will pass you by. It doesn't matter how many games you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/no-matter-what-business-you-re-in-you-can-t-run-in-place-or-someone/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [I'm not happy to be here. I'm just happy to be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/i-m-not-happy-to-be-here-i-m-just-happy-to-be/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [I set out very calculatedly to become known. The only thing I maybe miscalculated was how easy it would be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/i-set-out-very-calculatedly-to-become-known-the-only-thing-i-maybe/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [In every single day, in every walk of life, ordinary people do extraordinary things. Ordinary People accomplish Extraordinary things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/in-every-single-day-in-every-walk-of-life-ordinary-people-do/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [Nothing has ever been accomplished in any walk of life without enthusiasm, without motivation, and without perseverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/nothing-has-ever-been-accomplished-in-any-walk-of-life-without/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [Enjoy your life, the precious moments you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/enjoy-your-life-the-precious-moments-you-have/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [Each day, be sure to laugh, to think, to cry; that's one heckuva full day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/each-day-be-sure-to-laugh-to-think-to-cry-that-s-one-heckuva-full-day/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) [Explore all 58 Jim Valvano quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [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/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never give up! 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