--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If success were easy, then it would not…" description: "\"If success were easy, then it would not necessarily be true success. Some of history's most successful people learned to cope with failure as a natural..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/john-templeton-3668_attitude_if-success-were-easy-then-it-would-not-n_1985113.png" --- # If success were easy, then it would not necessarily be… ![“If success were easy, then it would not necessarily be true success. Some of history's most successful people learned to cope with failure as a natural offshoot of the experimental and creative process and often learned more from their failures than their successes. By taking the attitude that…” quote by John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/john-templeton-3668_attitude_if-success-were-easy-then-it-would-not-n_1985113.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/john-templeton-3668_attitude_if-success-were-easy-then-it-would-not-n_1985113.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/john-templeton-3668_attitude_if-success-were-easy-then-it-would-not-n_1985113.png) > “If success were easy, then it would not necessarily be true success. Some of history's most successful people learned to cope with failure as a natural offshoot of the experimental and creative process and often learned more from their failures than their successes. By taking the attitude that failure is merely a detour on the way to our destination, hope can blossom into success.” [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) ## 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 not easy; it comes from learning through failure, which is a natural part of experimentation and creativity, leading to growth and eventual achievement. **In simple terms:** Success requires learning from failure. Key Takeaway Embrace failure as a stepping stone. Themes resilience learning growth creativity Mood reflective optimistic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - research projects - personal development - creative endeavors Key Concepts experimental mindset growth mindset psychology of failure Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe a recent setback? - What lessons have failures taught you? A Different Perspective Failure can be demotivating if not reframed positively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Being true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-true/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-process/) [Destination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destination/) [Detours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detours/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failures Successes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failures-successes-265944/) [History Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-successful-3410659/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success / failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-failure-2/) [Success History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-history-1020649/) [Successes Taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successes-taking-3410658/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-people/) [True success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-success/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [If you're going to define me properly, you must think in terms of my failures as well as my successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/if-you-re-going-to-define-me-properly-you-must-think-in-terms-of-my/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [Some of the biggest failures I ever had were successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/some-of-the-biggest-failures-i-ever-had-were-successes/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [FAILURES HAVE A STORY WHILE SUCCESS HAVE A HISTORY...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevaan-kuthaliya/failures-have-a-story-while-success-have-a-history/) [Nevaan Kuthaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nevaan-kuthaliya/) > [“In the course of time, Michael Strogoff reached a high station in the Empire. But it is not the history of his success, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/in-the-course-of-time-michael-strogoff-reached-a-high-station-in-the/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [The man who lives for himself is a failure. Even if he gains much wealth, position or fortune, he is still a failure. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/the-man-who-lives-for-himself-is-a-failure-even-if-he-gains-much/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“Failures or successes are not as important as the willingness to risk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-webb/failures-or-successes-are-not-as-important-as-the-willingness-to-risk/) [Darryl Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-webb/) > [I've concluded that I learned far more from my failures than from my successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-hunt/i-ve-concluded-that-i-learned-far-more-from-my-failures-than-from-my/) [June Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-hunt/) > [I'm a firm believer that you learn a hell of a lot more from your failures than you do from your successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-louis-walker/i-m-a-firm-believer-that-you-learn-a-hell-of-a-lot-more-from-your/) [Joe Louis Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-louis-walker/) > [“A great man will experience more failures than successes. If we lived for the successes, we would have all killed ourselves by now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sturm/a-great-man-will-experience-more-failures-than-successes-if-we-lived/) [Andrew Sturm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sturm/) > [With stand-up, it's more interesting to hear about people's failures than their successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/with-stand-up-it-s-more-interesting-to-hear-about-people-s-failures/) [Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/) > [I have learnt more from my failures than my successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-have-learnt-more-from-my-failures-than-my-successes/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Evolved creators are just as curious about their failures as they are of their successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/evolved-creators-are-just-as-curious-about-their-failures-as-they-are/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [“What might our lives feel like if we didn’t march through them with a scorecard, keeping a tally of our failures and successes? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martin/what-might-our-lives-feel-like-if-we-didn-t-march-through-them-with-a/) [James Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martin/) > [“Failures however, are the stuff of scrutiny. And so we often erect memorials over our failures while our successes drift into the foggy backwaters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/failures-however-are-the-stuff-of-scrutiny-and-so-we-often-erect/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I think you learn more from your failures than your successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andi-dorfman/i-think-you-learn-more-from-your-failures-than-your-successes/) [Andi Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andi-dorfman/) ## More by John Templeton > [An attitude of gratitude creates blessings. Help yourself by helping others. You have the most powerful weapons on earth - love and prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/an-attitude-of-gratitude-creates-blessings-help-yourself-by-helping/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I served for 42 years on the board of trustees of the largest Presbyterian seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and we had brilliant people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-served-for-42-years-on-the-board-of-trustees-of-the-largest/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [...Making people get over the concept that they've got the total proof. To get them to feel, 'Gee, I want to learn more. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/making-people-get-over-the-concept-that-they-ve-got-the-total-proof/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I have no quarrel with what I learned in the Presbyterian church - I am still an enthusiastic Christian. But why shouldn't I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-have-no-quarrel-with-what-i-learned-in-the-presbyterian-church-i-am/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Anybody who had come up with a new concept would have been under suspicion for being out of step with the tradition or out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/anybody-who-had-come-up-with-a-new-concept-would-have-been-under/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Suppose you went to your priest and asked for help; he would refer you to the Bible. But if you went the next day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/suppose-you-went-to-your-priest-and-asked-for-help-he-would-refer-you/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Help yourself by helping others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/help-yourself-by-helping-others/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Many media commercials encourage us to believe that if we buy a certain product, we can be physically appealing, or popular, or successful. According…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/many-media-commercials-encourage-us-to-believe-that-if-we-buy-a/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The idea that an individual can find God is terribly self-centered. It is like a wave thinking it can find the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-idea-that-an-individual-can-find-god-is-terribly-self-centered-it/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I never ask if the market is going to go up or down because I don't know, and besides it doesn't matter. I search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-never-ask-if-the-market-is-going-to-go-up-or-down-because-i-don-t/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Many of us understand giving, but some of us may still be confused about the meaning of forgiveness. Some people may go through life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/many-of-us-understand-giving-but-some-of-us-may-still-be-confused/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Not yet have I found any better method to prosper during the future financial chaos, which is likely to last many years, than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/not-yet-have-i-found-any-better-method-to-prosper-during-the-future/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The best investment with the least risk and the greatest dividend is giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-best-investment-with-the-least-risk-and-the-greatest-dividend-is/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [True peace is a quality you carry within yourself, regardless of external circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/true-peace-is-a-quality-you-carry-within-yourself-regardless-of/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The other boys at Yale came from wealthy families, and none of them were investing outside the United States, and I thought, 'That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-other-boys-at-yale-came-from-wealthy-families-and-none-of-them/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) [Explore all 125 John Templeton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [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/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If success were easy, then it would not necessarily be true success. Some of history's most successful people learned to cope with failure as a natural offshoot of the experimental and creative process and often learned more from their failures than their successes. 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