--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Failure is less attributable to either…" description: "\"Failure is less attributable to either insufficiency of means or impatience of labours than to a confused understanding of the thing actually to be don..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/john-ruskin-314_confused_failure-is-less-attributable-to-either-i_367005.jpg" --- # Failure is less attributable to either insufficiency of… ![“Failure is less attributable to either insufficiency of means or impatience of labours than to a confused understanding of the thing actually to be done.” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/john-ruskin-314_confused_failure-is-less-attributable-to-either-i_367005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/john-ruskin-314_confused_failure-is-less-attributable-to-either-i_367005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/john-ruskin-314_confused_failure-is-less-attributable-to-either-i_367005.jpg) > “Failure is less attributable to either insufficiency of means or impatience of labours than to a confused understanding of the thing actually to be done.” [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success depends more on clear understanding of the goal than on resources or speed. **In simple terms:** Understanding the task is more important than tools or haste. Key Takeaway Clarify objectives before acting. Themes productivity mindset goal-setting learning Mood reflective motivational pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - project management - personal development - education - team leadership Key Concepts cognitive clarity goal definition strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - What is the true objective? - How can you ensure shared understanding? A Different Perspective Even with resources, confusion can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Impatience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impatience/) [Insufficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insufficiency/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [People who do not understand themselves have a craving for understanding — a thing which is rather surmised and never spoken than known and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-stekel/people-who-do-not-understand-themselves-have-a-craving-for/) [Wilhelm Stekel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-stekel/) > [“Sitting high above the city, Father Time realized that knowing something and understanding it were not the same thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/sitting-high-above-the-city-father-time-realized-that-knowing/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“The greatest understanding of a thing is when you can't reduce it any further”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/the-greatest-understanding-of-a-thing-is-when-you-can-t-reduce-it-any/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“ God's will. How many times have I heard someone declare their understanding of this thing I find so indefinable?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/god-s-will-how-many-times-have-i-heard-someone-declare-their/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [To look wise is quite as good as understanding a thing, and very much easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-look-wise-is-quite-as-good-as-understanding-a-thing-and-very-much/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The thing itself is one; the images are many. What leads to a perceptive understanding of the thing is not the focus on one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/the-thing-itself-is-one-the-images-are-many-what-leads-to-a/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [Art is not some sort of guideline for understanding. It's a thing unto itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-zvyagintsev/art-is-not-some-sort-of-guideline-for-understanding-it-s-a-thing-unto/) [Andrey Zvyagintsev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-zvyagintsev/) > [“But understanding a thing and accepting it are so very different things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-zhang/but-understanding-a-thing-and-accepting-it-are-so-very-different/) [Kat Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-zhang/) > [It's only when I say that everything is incomprehensible that I come as close as possible to understanding the only thing it is given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/it-s-only-when-i-say-that-everything-is-incomprehensible-that-i-come/) [Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/) > [Knowing something and understanding it were not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/knowing-something-and-understanding-it-were-not-the-same-thing/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Some people lives the life of having everything without understanding a thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manith-j/some-people-lives-the-life-of-having-everything-without-understanding/) Manith J > [“Blind thinking… could make me pretend I was being true to myself when really I was only being true to an infantile fear and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-milner/blind-thinking-could-make-me-pretend-i-was-being-true-to-myself-when/) [Marion Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-milner/) > [The birds did not understand a single word of what he was saying, but that made no matter, for they put their heads on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-birds-did-not-understand-a-single-word-of-what-he-was-saying-but/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“We all go through life as puzzled monkeys. The minute we think we're any more than that, we've made a grave mistake. We're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-jordon/we-all-go-through-life-as-puzzled-monkeys-the-minute-we-think-we-re/) Nate Jordon > [There are two occasions when the sacred beauty of Creation becomes dazzlingly apparent, and they occur together. One is when we feel our mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/there-are-two-occasions-when-the-sacred-beauty-of-creation-becomes/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) ## More by John Ruskin > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/mighty-of-heart-mighty-of-mind-magnanimous-to-be-this-is-indeed-to-be/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-am-far-more-provoked-at-being-thought-foolish-by-foolish-people/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/when-we-build-let-it-not-be-for-present-delights-nor-for-present-use/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-far-more-difficult-to-be-simple-than-to-be-complicated-far-more/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-a-good-and-safe-rule-to-sojourn-in-every-place-as-if-you-meant/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“You may trust to the truth of my sympathy; but you must remember that I am engaged in the investigation of enormous religious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/you-may-trust-to-the-truth-of-my-sympathy-but-you-must-remember-that/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [And remember, child, that nothing is ever done beautifully, which is done in rivalship; or nobly, which is done in pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/and-remember-child-that-nothing-is-ever-done-beautifully-which-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-s-unwise-to-pay-too-much-but-it-s-worse-to-pay-too-little/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The world is full of vulgar Purists, who bring discredit on all selection by the silliness of their choice; and this the more, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-world-is-full-of-vulgar-purists-who-bring-discredit-on-all/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/like-other-beautiful-things-in-this-world-its-end-that-of-a-shaft-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [All are to be men of genius in their degree,--rivulets or rivers, it does not matter, so that the souls be clear and pure;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/all-are-to-be-men-of-genius-in-their-degree-rivulets-or-rivers-it/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The art of drawing which is of more real importance to the human race than that of writing...should be taught to every child just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-art-of-drawing-which-is-of-more-real-importance-to-the-human-race/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) [Explore all 696 John Ruskin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## More Confused quotes > [The fact -- not theory -- that evolution has occurred and the Darwinian theory as to how it occurred have become so confused in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gaylord-simpson/the-fact-not-theory-that-evolution-has-occurred-and-the-darwinian/) [George Gaylord Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gaylord-simpson/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [I was a very protected and confused kid till 24. It was after then, that I started taking my life seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddharth-shukla/i-was-a-very-protected-and-confused-kid-till-24-it-was-after-then/) [Siddharth Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddharth-shukla/) > [I can picture certain things in my mind, while writing the script, but then I can also tell that everyone else might be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/i-can-picture-certain-things-in-my-mind-while-writing-the-script-but/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [America today is a confused society, caught up in a terror war, a culture war, and a media war, where honesty and professional standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/america-today-is-a-confused-society-caught-up-in-a-terror-war-a/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Well I'm trying to think what I put in... I think I put in 'why?' to see if I'd confuse the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/well-i-m-trying-to-think-what-i-put-in-i-think-i-put-in-why-to-see-if/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I am still searching for the expression of those confused sensations that we bring with us at birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/i-am-still-searching-for-the-expression-of-those-confused-sensations/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [If I look confused it is because I am thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/if-i-look-confused-it-is-because-i-am-thinking/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [Rage is exciting, but leaves me confused and exhausted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/rage-is-exciting-but-leaves-me-confused-and-exhausted/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [I believe that much of Hollywood is confused about Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/i-believe-that-much-of-hollywood-is-confused-about-israel/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [My senior thesis was a documentary. 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I am clearly missing something here,” Lori said, still holding a confused expression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-chamberlin/hold-the-freaking-phone-i-am-clearly-missing-something-here-lori-said/) [Lindsay Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-chamberlin/) Browse all 1,772 Confused quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Failure is less attributable to either insufficiency of means or impatience of labours than to a confused understanding of the thing actually to be done.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ruskin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/failure-is-less-attributable-to-either-insufficiency-of-means-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confused" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/failure-is-less-attributable-to-either-insufficiency-of-means-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/john-ruskin-314_confused_failure-is-less-attributable-to-either-i_367005.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/john-ruskin-314_confused_failure-is-less-attributable-to-either-i_367005.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f30/john-ruskin-314_confused_failure-is-less-attributable-to-either-i_367005.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Failure is less attributable to either insufficiency of means or impatience of labours than to a confused…” — John Ruskin", "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": "John Ruskin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Failure is less attributable to either...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/failure-is-less-attributable-to-either-insufficiency-of-means-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/failure-is-less-attributable-to-either-insufficiency-of-means-or/#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 } } ] } ```