--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human beings are the only creatures who…" description: "\"Human beings are the only creatures who are allowed to fail. If an ant fails, it's dead. But we're allowed to learn from our mistakes and from our fail..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/madeleine-l-engle-345_ants_human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-who_1736121.png" --- # Human beings are the only creatures who are allowed to… ![“Human beings are the only creatures who are allowed to fail. If an ant fails, it's dead. But we're allowed to learn from our mistakes and from our failures. And that's how I learn, by falling flat on my face and picking myself up and starting all over again.” quote by Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/madeleine-l-engle-345_ants_human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-who_1736121.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/madeleine-l-engle-345_ants_human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-who_1736121.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/madeleine-l-engle-345_ants_human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-who_1736121.png) > “Human beings are the only creatures who are allowed to fail. If an ant fails, it's dead. But we're allowed to learn from our mistakes and from our failures. And that's how I learn, by falling flat on my face and picking myself up and starting all over again.” [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans uniquely can fail and learn, unlike other creatures whose failure is fatal. **In simple terms:** People can fail and grow. Key Takeaway Embrace failure as a learning tool. Themes growth resilience learning humility Mood reflective encouraging Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal relationships - creative projects - entrepreneurial ventures Key Concepts Existentialism psychology self-improvement Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn setbacks into lessons? - What fear holds you from trying? A Different Perspective Failure can lead to discouragement if not reflected upon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ant Fails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ant-fails-1475501/) [Ants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ants/) [Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail/) [Fail Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-ant-1475500/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failures/) [Failures Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failures-learn-267142/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Flats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flats/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Learn From Our Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-from-our-mistakes/) [Learning from our mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-from-our-mistakes/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting/) [Starting all over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-all-over-177150/) ## Related quotes > [It's a curious thing about our industry: not only do we not learn from our mistakes, we also don't learn from our successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-braithwaite/it-s-a-curious-thing-about-our-industry-not-only-do-we-not-learn-from/) [Keith Braithwaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-braithwaite/) > [If we Americans are to learn from our mistakes, from the flailing, ineffective way we, as a nation, conducted the war on terror after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oliver-relin/if-we-americans-are-to-learn-from-our-mistakes-from-the-flailing/) [David Oliver Relin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oliver-relin/) > [Hindsight is of little value in the decision-making process. 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It makes us feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-don-t-think-harry-cares-about-being-forgiven-poppy-said-glumly-of/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Just as we may learn from our successes (how to do it) so also can we learn from our mistakes (how not to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/just-as-we-may-learn-from-our-successes-how-to-do-it-so-also-can-we/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The history of science, like the history of all human ideas, is a history of irresponsible dreams, of obstinacy, and of error. But science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/the-history-of-science-like-the-history-of-all-human-ideas-is-a-2/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [We don't turn back. We leave no one behind. We pull each other up. We draw strength from our victories, and we learn from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-don-t-turn-back-we-leave-no-one-behind-we-pull-each-other-up-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [But really, the term “forgive and forget” doesn’t make sense to me. Forgiving does allow us to stop dwelling on an issue, which isn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/but-really-the-term-forgive-and-forget-doesn-t-make-sense-to-me/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [Take the stupidest thing you've ever done. At least it's done. It's over. It's gone. We can all learn from our mistakes and heal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-wallace/take-the-stupidest-thing-you-ve-ever-done-at-least-it-s-done-it-s/) [Danny Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-wallace/) > [We all mess up. It's what we learn from our mistakes that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/we-all-mess-up-it-s-what-we-learn-from-our-mistakes-that-matters/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [We can actually learn from our mistakes and we can actually learn to conditionally structure our activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-g-kline/we-can-actually-learn-from-our-mistakes-and-we-can-actually-learn-to/) [William G. Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-g-kline/) ## More by Madeleine L'Engle > [“One of the hardest lessons I have to learn is how not to be judgmental about people who are judgmental. When I see how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/one-of-the-hardest-lessons-i-have-to-learn-is-how-not-to-be/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Inspiration more often comes during the work than before it, because the largest part of the job of an artist is to listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/inspiration-more-often-comes-during-the-work-than-before-it-because/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/you-have-to-write-the-book-that-wants-to-be-written-and-if-the-book/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Severe illness isolates those in close contact with it, because it inevitably narrows the focus of concern. To a certain extent this can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/severe-illness-isolates-those-in-close-contact-with-it-because-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Goodness has never been a guarantee of safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/goodness-has-never-been-a-guarantee-of-safety/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/faith-is-what-makes-life-bearable-with-all-its-tragedies-and/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Instead of rejoicing in this glorious “impossible” which gives meaning and dignity to our lives, we try to domesticate God, to make his mighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/instead-of-rejoicing-in-this-glorious-impossible-which-gives-meaning/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I have never lived before...Until this summer, I did not know what it was to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-have-never-lived-before-until-this-summer-i-did-not-know-what-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [On the other side of pain, there is still love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/on-the-other-side-of-pain-there-is-still-love/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“To love is to be vulnerable; and it is only in vulnerability and risk—not safety and security—that we overcome darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/to-love-is-to-be-vulnerable-and-it-is-only-in-vulnerability-and-risk/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“IT was the most horrible, the most repellent thing she had ever seen, far more nauseating then anything she had ever imagined with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/it-was-the-most-horrible-the-most-repellent-thing-she-had-ever-seen/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I feel as though I'm not breathing when I'm out of his presence. He's the oxygen in my air, the sun in my universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-feel-as-though-i-m-not-breathing-when-i-m-out-of-his-presence-he-s/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Rather than feeling lost and unimportant and meaningless, set against galaxies which go beyond the reach of the furthest telescopes, I feel that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/rather-than-feeling-lost-and-unimportant-and-meaningless-set-against/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [My husband is my most ruthless critic... sometimes he will say, 'It's been said better before.' Of course it has. It's all been said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/my-husband-is-my-most-ruthless-critic-sometimes-he-will-say-it-s-been/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [If we aren't capable of being hurt we aren't capable of feeling joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/if-we-aren-t-capable-of-being-hurt-we-aren-t-capable-of-feeling-joy/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) [Explore all 660 Madeleine L'Engle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## More Ants quotes > [Some people are like ants. Give them a warm day and a piece of ground and they start digging. There the similarity ends. Ants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-borland/some-people-are-like-ants-give-them-a-warm-day-and-a-piece-of-ground/) [Hal Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-borland/) > [Great God of the Ants, thou hast granted victory to thy servants. I appoint thee honorary Colonel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karel-capek/great-god-of-the-ants-thou-hast-granted-victory-to-thy-servants-i/) [Karel Capek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karel-capek/) > [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [People are like ants: Just a few of them give all the orders. And most of them spend their lives getting squashed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/people-are-like-ants-just-a-few-of-them-give-all-the-orders-and-most/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“Some people are ants by nature; they have to work, even when it’s useless. Few people have a talent for constructive laziness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/some-people-are-ants-by-nature-they-have-to-work-even-when-it-s/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [There's a good case to be made that having fun is a key evolutionary advantage right next to opposable thumbs in terms of importance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raph-koster/there-s-a-good-case-to-be-made-that-having-fun-is-a-key-evolutionary/) [Raph Koster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raph-koster/) > [“THE FIGHTERS ARE TINY. INSECTS, REALLY. BUT ANTS CAN SLAY AN ELEPHANT, IF THERE ARE ENOUGH OF THEM. ESPECIALLY ANTS ARMED WITH HIGH-YIELD EXPLOSIVES…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amie-kaufman/the-fighters-are-tiny-insects-really-but-ants-can-slay-an-elephant-if/) [Amie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amie-kaufman/) > [We know of no behavior in ants or any other social insects that can be construed as play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-holldobler/we-know-of-no-behavior-in-ants-or-any-other-social-insects-that-can/) [Bert Holldobler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-holldobler/) > [Oh, ants, my sisters, good old honeydew-seekers! From close up you are sticky and shiny and gristly; and your nymphs have parasitic red mites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/oh-ants-my-sisters-good-old-honeydew-seekers-from-close-up-you-are/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [Albert and I would spend hours and hours looking at them. Cleo had this big magnifying glass on his desk, and we'd find centipedes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-flagg/albert-and-i-would-spend-hours-and-hours-looking-at-them-cleo-had/) [Fannie Flagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-flagg/) > [When someone criticizes or disagrees with you, a small ant of hatred and antagonism is born in your heart. If you do not squash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/when-someone-criticizes-or-disagrees-with-you-a-small-ant-of-hatred/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“Lies are like ants; there's never just one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ash/lies-are-like-ants-there-s-never-just-one/) [Julia Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ash/) > [There's a scientific hypothesis that every person's name is a primary suggestive command that contains the entire script of their life in highly concentrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/there-s-a-scientific-hypothesis-that-every-person-s-name-is-a-primary/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [When I was little, I would burn ants with a magnifying glass. But now that I'm older, I'm more of a cat guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/when-i-was-little-i-would-burn-ants-with-a-magnifying-glass-but-now/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [If ants were the size of humans, they would be able to run twice as fast as a Lamborghini.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-ants-were-the-size-of-humans-they-would-be-able-to-run-twice-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 499 Ants quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ants/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Human beings are the only creatures who are allowed to fail. If an ant fails, it's dead. But we're allowed to learn from our mistakes and from our failures. 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