--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success is never final, failure is never…" description: "\"Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts.\" — John Wooden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/john-wooden-420_courage_success-is-never-final-failure-is-never_2670507.png" --- # Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's… ![“Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts.” quote by John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/john-wooden-420_courage_success-is-never-final-failure-is-never_2670507.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/john-wooden-420_courage_success-is-never-final-failure-is-never_2670507.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/john-wooden-420_courage_success-is-never-final-failure-is-never_2670507.png) > “Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts.” [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) This quote is also attributed to [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) in other sources. Attributions for famous quotes are often disputed. ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success and failure are temporary; enduring courage is the true measure of character. **In simple terms:** Courage matters more than outcomes. Key Takeaway Cultivate resilience over results. Themes sports motivation success failure courage character Mood motivational optimistic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - team training - personal development - public speaking - coaching clinics Key Concepts mindset perseverance leadership Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success beyond trophies? - What practices build lasting courage? A Different Perspective May downplay the value of achievement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Counts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-counts-474895/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fatal Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fatal-courage-474897/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Final](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-final-474896/) ## Related quotes > [Success Is Never Final And Failure Is Never Fatal. It's Courage that Counts...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/success-is-never-final-and-failure-is-never-fatal-it-s-courage-that/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [Success is never final.Failure is never fatal.Courage is what counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-winston-churchill/success-is-never-final-failure-is-never-fatal-courage-is-what-counts/) [Sir Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-winston-churchill/) > [“Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It s courage that counts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/success-is-never-final-failure-is-never-fatal-it-s-courage-that-counts/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Success is not final, failure is not the end point.It is courage which counts the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/success-is-not-final-failure-is-not-the-end-point-it-is-courage-which/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“Winston Churchill said it well: “Success is never final; failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/winston-churchill-said-it-well-success-is-never-final-failure-is/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Success is never found. Failure is never fatal. Courage is the only thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/success-is-never-found-failure-is-never-fatal-courage-is-the-only/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Courage only counts when you can count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/courage-only-counts-when-you-can-count/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Take failure in your stride , failure is not the end point,it is courage that counts which inculcate the fighting spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/take-failure-in-your-stride-failure-is-not-the-end-point-it-is/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“Success is not final, failure is not fatal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/success-is-not-final-failure-is-not-fatal/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Success is not final and failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-is-not-final-and-failure-is-not-fatal-it-is-the-courage-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We must stop pulling ourselves and start pushing ourselves towards success. Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/we-must-stop-pulling-ourselves-and-start-pushing-ourselves-towards/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [Success is never final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/success-is-never-final/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“As Winston Churchill said, ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/as-winston-churchill-said-success-is-not-final-failure-is-not-fatal/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [I'm not going to get somewhere and say, 'OK, I'm done.' Success is never final; I'll just keep on going. The same way as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-m-not-going-to-get-somewhere-and-say-ok-i-m-done-success-is-never/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [Success is never final; failure is never fatal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-hilton/success-is-never-final-failure-is-never-fatal/) [Conrad Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-hilton/) ## More by John Wooden > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it. -John wooden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-so-important-who-starts-the-game-but-who-finishes-it-john/) [John wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“I remain convinced to this day that compassion like that—sincerely caring for your players and maintaining an active interest in their lives, concerns, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-remain-convinced-to-this-day-that-compassion-like-that-sincerely/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I'm not going to say I was opposed to the Vietnam War. I'm going to say I'm opposed to war. But I'm also opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-m-not-going-to-say-i-was-opposed-to-the-vietnam-war-i-m-going-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating...too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/being-a-role-model-is-the-most-powerful-form-of-educating-too-often/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Each of us has a huge capacity to learn and to achieve. Being ever alert makes the task of becoming all we are capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/each-of-us-has-a-huge-capacity-to-learn-and-to-achieve-being-ever/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Stay the course. When thwarted try again; harder; smarter. 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Emotionalism makes you weaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/intensity-makes-you-stronger-emotionalism-makes-you-weaker/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/reputation-is-what-others-perceive-you-as-being-and-their-opinion-may/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) [Explore all 578 John Wooden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) [Kristen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-armstrong/) > [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) [Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Success is never final, failure is never fatal. 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