--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success is often built on the shoulders…" description: "\"Success is often built on the shoulders of failure - from which new configurations emerge.\" — Kevin Reilly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/kevin-reilly-11200_failure_success-is-often-built-on-the-shoulders_1597254.jpg" --- # Success is often built on the shoulders of failure - from… ![“Success is often built on the shoulders of failure - from which new configurations emerge.” quote by Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/kevin-reilly-11200_failure_success-is-often-built-on-the-shoulders_1597254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/kevin-reilly-11200_failure_success-is-often-built-on-the-shoulders_1597254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/kevin-reilly-11200_failure_success-is-often-built-on-the-shoulders_1597254.jpg) > “Success is often built on the shoulders of failure - from which new configurations emerge.” [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Failure provides the raw material for future success; each setback reshapes strategies, leading to innovative outcomes. **In simple terms:** Failure fuels future success. Key Takeaway Learn from setbacks to innovate. Themes failure innovation growth resilience Mood motivational analytical Type business philosophical When to use this quote - startup pivots - career setbacks - product development - organizational change Key Concepts systems thinking creative problem solving iteration Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a recent failure into a new opportunity? - What patterns emerge from past setbacks? A Different Perspective Not every failure yields a breakthrough; timing matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“contain into new, durable configurations, which can handle huge energy flows without disintegrating. This, we will see, is the characteristic pattern of all such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-christian/contain-into-new-durable-configurations-which-can-handle-huge-energy/) [David Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-christian/) > [Despite what some would have us believe, success is not built on resentment and fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susana-martinez/despite-what-some-would-have-us-believe-success-is-not-built-on/) [Susana Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susana-martinez/) > [Success, they taught me, is built on the foundation of courage, hard-work and individual responsibility. Despite what some would have us believe, success is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susana-martinez/success-they-taught-me-is-built-on-the-foundation-of-courage-hard/) [Susana Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susana-martinez/) > [Never look back, except for an occasional glance, look ahead and plan for the future. Success is not built on past laurels, but rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-draper/never-look-back-except-for-an-occasional-glance-look-ahead-and-plan/) [Dorothy Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-draper/) > [“Success is built on hard work, the right hard work itself is success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/success-is-built-on-hard-work-the-right-hard-work-itself-is-success/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Success is built sequentially. It's one thing at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-w-keller/success-is-built-sequentially-it-s-one-thing-at-a-time/) [Gary W. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-w-keller/) > [“The key is over time. Success is built sequentially. It’s one thing at a time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-one-things/the-key-is-over-time-success-is-built-sequentially-it-s-one-thing-at/) the one things > [Great success is built on failure, frustration, even catastrophe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumner-redstone/great-success-is-built-on-failure-frustration-even-catastrophe/) [Sumner Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumner-redstone/) > [Success is built upon courage, hard work and personal responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-is-built-upon-courage-hard-work-and-personal-responsibility/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Success is not built on what we accomplish for ourselves. Its foundation lies in what we do for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-thomas/success-is-not-built-on-what-we-accomplish-for-ourselves-its/) [Danny Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-thomas/) > [Great success is built on failure, frustration, even catastrophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumner-redstone/great-success-is-built-on-failure-frustration-even-catastrophy/) [Sumner Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumner-redstone/) > [As his partner on this amazing journey, I can tell you Mitt Romney was not handed success. He built it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-romney/as-his-partner-on-this-amazing-journey-i-can-tell-you-mitt-romney-was/) [Ann Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-romney/) > [“Success is built on a series of mistakes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-e-miller/success-is-built-on-a-series-of-mistakes/) [Brian E. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-e-miller/) > [Optimism, positivity and faith create the foundation from which success can be built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lechter/optimism-positivity-and-faith-create-the-foundation-from-which/) Sharon Lechter > [Where we've been wise is that, while 'Monk' may have been a risk at the beginning, we've built its success and built on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/where-we-ve-been-wise-is-that-while-monk-may-have-been-a-risk-at-the/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) ## More by Kevin Reilly > [I love talent because they are passionate. They can be emotional and irrational and unpredictable... and that's okay, because all we want is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/i-love-talent-because-they-are-passionate-they-can-be-emotional-and/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > ['The Walking Dead' is an extraordinary thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/the-walking-dead-is-an-extraordinary-thing/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [It used to be a given that the talent and the talent agencies would line up around the broadcast pitch season first and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/it-used-to-be-a-given-that-the-talent-and-the-talent-agencies-would/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [People love television; they're watching a lot of it in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/people-love-television-they-re-watching-a-lot-of-it-in-a-lot-of-ways/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [The one thing that I'm really obsessed with is multi-camera comedy. It is a form that is unique to network television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/the-one-thing-that-i-m-really-obsessed-with-is-multi-camera-comedy-it/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [Some of the greatest shows in history - 'Seinfeld,' 'Everybody Loves Raymond' and 'House' - had puny starts but the benefit of schedule protection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/some-of-the-greatest-shows-in-history-seinfeld-everybody-loves/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [Pilots are useful. You just learn things during a pilot - the piece of casting that just wasn't right or things about the storytelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/pilots-are-useful-you-just-learn-things-during-a-pilot-the-piece-of/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [The way television is done, you're kind of set on a certain path, and then episodic directors come in every week to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/the-way-television-is-done-you-re-kind-of-set-on-a-certain-path-and/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [The biggest move that put Fox on the map, from an entertainment perspective, was when 'The Simpsons' moved to Thursday night, and that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/the-biggest-move-that-put-fox-on-the-map-from-an-entertainment/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [Creative content is challenging, no matter what, and animation is particularly challenging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/creative-content-is-challenging-no-matter-what-and-animation-is/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [When you start to feel you're not coming to work with the same enthusiasm, maybe you shouldn't hang onto that job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/when-you-start-to-feel-you-re-not-coming-to-work-with-the-same/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [I'm a believer in broadcast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/i-m-a-believer-in-broadcast/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > ['Fringe' has been a point of pride. I share the passion for the show that the fans have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/fringe-has-been-a-point-of-pride-i-share-the-passion-for-the-show/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [NBC, for me, is like the crazy ex-wife that I can't get away from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/nbc-for-me-is-like-the-crazy-ex-wife-that-i-can-t-get-away-from/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [I still love a great pilot as much as I did the day I started at NBC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/i-still-love-a-great-pilot-as-much-as-i-did-the-day-i-started-at-nbc/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) [Explore all 61 Kevin Reilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) ## More Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Success is often built on the shoulders of failure - from which new configurations emerge.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin Reilly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/success-is-often-built-on-the-shoulders-of-failure-from-which-new/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/success-is-often-built-on-the-shoulders-of-failure-from-which-new/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/kevin-reilly-11200_failure_success-is-often-built-on-the-shoulders_1597254.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/kevin-reilly-11200_failure_success-is-often-built-on-the-shoulders_1597254.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/kevin-reilly-11200_failure_success-is-often-built-on-the-shoulders_1597254.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Success is often built on the shoulders of failure - from which new configurations emerge.” — Kevin Reilly", "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": "Kevin Reilly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Success is often built on the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/success-is-often-built-on-the-shoulders-of-failure-from-which-new/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/success-is-often-built-on-the-shoulders-of-failure-from-which-new/#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 } } ] } ```