--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paradoxically, the man who has failed and…" description: "\"Paradoxically, the man who has failed and one who is at the peak of success are in exactly the same position. Each must decide what he will do next, ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/kano-jigoro-23116_courses_paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and_1992907.jpg" --- # Paradoxically, the man who has failed and one who is at… ![“Paradoxically, the man who has failed and one who is at the peak of success are in exactly the same position. Each must decide what he will do next, choose the course that will lead him to the future.” quote by Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/kano-jigoro-23116_courses_paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and_1992907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/kano-jigoro-23116_courses_paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and_1992907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/kano-jigoro-23116_courses_paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and_1992907.jpg) > “Paradoxically, the man who has failed and one who is at the peak of success are in exactly the same position. Each must decide what he will do next, choose the course that will lead him to the future.” [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) ## 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 success place a person at a crossroads where future direction must be chosen. **In simple terms:** Both success and failure require a decision about next steps. Key Takeaway Choose the path that aligns with your future goals. Themes decision future success failure Mood reflective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal growth - entrepreneurship - sports coaching Key Concepts choice agency consequence Questions to Reflect On - What decision will define your next chapter? - How do you differentiate between a setback and a learning opportunity? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on binary outcomes can ignore nuanced progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [A man's dignity isn't measured by the people he has around him when he's at the peak of his success, but by his ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-man-s-dignity-isn-t-measured-by-the-people-he-has-around-him-when/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You can't hold onto someone or something which clearly don't want to held… when you open your eyes and realize what your position is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-williams/you-can-t-hold-onto-someone-or-something-which-clearly-don-t-want-to/) [C Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-williams/) > [I would love to find myself in a position where I have to decide, 'Gosh, do I want to be on a series?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wil-wheaton/i-would-love-to-find-myself-in-a-position-where-i-have-to-decide-gosh/) [Wil Wheaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wil-wheaton/) > [“In general, Temple was forced to concede, he was a man who had failed to live up to his own high standards. Or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/in-general-temple-was-forced-to-concede-he-was-a-man-who-had-failed/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [I'm a man who has failed in many areas, but the one thing I don't want to do is quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-williams/i-m-a-man-who-has-failed-in-many-areas-but-the-one-thing-i-don-t-want/) [Monty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-williams/) > [Many a man has failed because he had his wishbone where his backbone should have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/many-a-man-has-failed-because-he-had-his-wishbone-where-his-backbone/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [More mistakes happen to the successful than to the man who has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/more-mistakes-happen-to-the-successful-than-to-the-man-who-has-failed/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Never give a man up until he has failed at something he likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-e-lawes/never-give-a-man-up-until-he-has-failed-at-something-he-likes/) [Lewis E. Lawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-e-lawes/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [It would be a piece of ingenuousness to accuse the man of today of his lack of moral code. The accusation would leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/it-would-be-a-piece-of-ingenuousness-to-accuse-the-man-of-today-of/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [My idea for 'BoneMan's Daughters' came from the loss of my own daughter when she left home to live with a monster at age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/my-idea-for-boneman-s-daughters-came-from-the-loss-of-my-own-daughter/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) ## More by Kano Jigoro > [Walk a single path, becoming neither cocky with victory nor broken with defeat, without forgetting caution when all is quiet or becoming frightened when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/walk-a-single-path-becoming-neither-cocky-with-victory-nor-broken/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [There are people who are excitable by nature and allow themselves to become angry for the most trivial of reasons. Judo can help such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/there-are-people-who-are-excitable-by-nature-and-allow-themselves-to/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Before and after practicing Judo or engaging in a match, opponents bow to each other. Bowing is an expression of gratitude and respect. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/before-and-after-practicing-judo-or-engaging-in-a-match-opponents-bow/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [In randori, one must search out the opponent's weaknesses and be ready to attack with all the resources at his disposal the moment the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/in-randori-one-must-search-out-the-opponent-s-weaknesses-and-be-ready/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [In an argument, you may silence your opponent by pressing an advantage of strength or of wealth, or of education. But you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/in-an-argument-you-may-silence-your-opponent-by-pressing-an-advantage/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Judo is the way to the most effective use of both physical and spiritual strength. By training you in attacks and defenses it refines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/judo-is-the-way-to-the-most-effective-use-of-both-physical-and/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Judo is a study of techniques with which you may kill if you wish to kill, injure if you wish to injure, subdue if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/judo-is-a-study-of-techniques-with-which-you-may-kill-if-you-wish-to/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Judo should be free as art and science from any external influences, political, national, racial, and financial or any other organized interest. And all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/judo-should-be-free-as-art-and-science-from-any-external-influences/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Nothing under the sun is greater than education. By educating one person and sending him into the society of his generation, we make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/nothing-under-the-sun-is-greater-than-education-by-educating-one/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Judo helps us to understand that worry is a waste of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/judo-helps-us-to-understand-that-worry-is-a-waste-of-energy/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Face your fear, empty yourself, trust your own voice, let go of control, have faith in outcomes, connect with a larger purpose, derive meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/face-your-fear-empty-yourself-trust-your-own-voice-let-go-of-control/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [In Randori we teach the pupil to act on the fundamental principles of Judo, no matter how physically inferior his opponent may seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/in-randori-we-teach-the-pupil-to-act-on-the-fundamental-principles-of/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Apply just the right amount of force — never too much, never too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/apply-just-the-right-amount-of-force-never-too-much-never-too-little/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [The purpose of the study of judo is to perfect yourself and to contribute to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/the-purpose-of-the-study-of-judo-is-to-perfect-yourself-and-to/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [To ask may be but a moment's shame, not to ask and remain ignorant is a lifelong shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/to-ask-may-be-but-a-moment-s-shame-not-to-ask-and-remain-ignorant-is/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) [Explore all 26 Kano Jigoro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) ## More Courses quotes > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our critical day is not the very day of our death; but the whole course of our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/our-critical-day-is-not-the-very-day-of-our-death-but-the-whole/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I earn my living by teaching film, mostly filmmaking but also teaching courses on current cinema. I'm interested in movies. I hope that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-andersen/i-earn-my-living-by-teaching-film-mostly-filmmaking-but-also-teaching/) [Thom Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-andersen/) > [The wisdom of our actions in the first three years of peace will determine the course of world history for half a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-wisdom-of-our-actions-in-the-first-three-years-of-peace-will/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Of course it does on opening night, but I've never had that devastating stage fright that some people get, but apparently, you can develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/of-course-it-does-on-opening-night-but-i-ve-never-had-that/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [I studied philosophy and ended on sociology. For some reason, all the advanced courses in philosophy were offered 4:30 to 6:30, so I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-jackson/i-studied-philosophy-and-ended-on-sociology-for-some-reason-all-the/) [Lawrence Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-jackson/) > [There is no one who can change My course or affect My conduct to the slightest extent. I am the Master over all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/there-is-no-one-who-can-change-my-course-or-affect-my-conduct-to-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [In the course of our eternal existence, we spend infinitely more time in the spirit world on the other side than we spend in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/in-the-course-of-our-eternal-existence-we-spend-infinitely-more-time/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) Browse all 6,995 Courses quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Paradoxically, the man who has failed and one who is at the peak of success are in exactly the same position. Each must decide what he will do next, choose the course that will lead him to the future.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kano Jigoro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and-one-who-is-at-the-peak-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and-one-who-is-at-the-peak-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/kano-jigoro-23116_courses_paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and_1992907.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/kano-jigoro-23116_courses_paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and_1992907.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/kano-jigoro-23116_courses_paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and_1992907.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Paradoxically, the man who has failed and one who is at the peak of success are in exactly the same…” — Kano Jigoro", "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": "Kano Jigoro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Paradoxically, the man who has failed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and-one-who-is-at-the-peak-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/paradoxically-the-man-who-has-failed-and-one-who-is-at-the-peak-of/#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 } } ] } ```