--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The difference between success and…" description: "\"The difference between success and failure isn't the absence of fear but the determination to pursue your heart's desires no matter how scared you are...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/245/martha-beck-961_absence_the-difference-between-success-and-failu_2921978.jpg" --- # The difference between success and failure isn't the… ![“The difference between success and failure isn't the absence of fear but the determination to pursue your heart's desires no matter how scared you are.” quote by Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/245/martha-beck-961_absence_the-difference-between-success-and-failu_2921978.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/245/martha-beck-961_absence_the-difference-between-success-and-failu_2921978.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/245/martha-beck-961_absence_the-difference-between-success-and-failu_2921978.jpg) > “The difference between success and failure isn't the absence of fear but the determination to pursue your heart's desires no matter how scared you are.” [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success hinges on confronting fear and persisting toward deep desires despite anxiety. **In simple terms:** Fear isn’t the barrier; determination is. Key Takeaway Pursue your heart despite fear. Themes courage determination desire fear success Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - creative projects - relationship choices - personal growth - entrepreneurship Key Concepts Psychology motivation self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What desire would you chase if fear vanished? - How do you balance courage with realistic risk? A Different Perspective Fear can still paralyze if not managed; courage alone may not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success and failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-and-failure/) ## Related quotes > [“The difference between success & failure isn't ability as much as action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/the-difference-between-success-failure-isn-t-ability-as-much-as-action/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“Often it is not the wrong start but the wrong stop that makes the difference between success and failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/often-it-is-not-the-wrong-start-but-the-wrong-stop-that-makes-the/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [Frequently, the difference between success and failure is the resolve to stick to your plan long enough to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cottrell/frequently-the-difference-between-success-and-failure-is-the-resolve/) [David Cottrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cottrell/) > [“We’ve already said the difference between success and failure in most things — and self-publishing is no exception — is a matter of keeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-platt/we-ve-already-said-the-difference-between-success-and-failure-in-most/) [Sean Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-platt/) > [I believe the real difference between success and failure in a corporation can be very often traced to the question of how well the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson-jr/i-believe-the-real-difference-between-success-and-failure-in-a/) [Thomas Watson, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson-jr/) > [“The difference between success and failure is the ability to say, "I can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-gareau/the-difference-between-success-and-failure-is-the-ability-to-say-i-can/) Colleen Gareau > [The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/the-only-difference-between-success-and-failure-is-the-ability-to/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [The only difference between success and failure is Lack of Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-shukla/the-only-difference-between-success-and-failure-is-lack-of-vision/) [Abhishek Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-shukla/) > [The difference between success and failure is work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/the-difference-between-success-and-failure-is-work/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [“The difference between success and failure is the direction of your will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casea-major/the-difference-between-success-and-failure-is-the-direction-of-your/) Casea Major > [If optimism is important, it's because many outcomes are determined by how much of it we bring to the task. It is an important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/if-optimism-is-important-it-s-because-many-outcomes-are-determined-by/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [The difference between success and failure is often about 5% more effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/the-difference-between-success-and-failure-is-often-about-5-more/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [So many people spend so much time on things that aren't important. It's the difference between success and failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/so-many-people-spend-so-much-time-on-things-that-aren-t-important-it/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Sheer persistence is the difference between success and failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/sheer-persistence-is-the-difference-between-success-and-failure/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Difference between success and failure depends on what we decide to do with the 24 hours in our day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/difference-between-success-and-failure-depends-on-what-we-decide-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Martha Beck > [Imagine what you'd do if it absolutely didn't matter what people thought of you. Got it? Good. Never go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/imagine-what-you-d-do-if-it-absolutely-didn-t-matter-what-people/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [In one century, we've added 28 years to our average life span - a change so rapid that our brains couldn't possibly have evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/in-one-century-we-ve-added-28-years-to-our-average-life-span-a-change/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [If I tell a man he needs to quit his soul-sucking job, he has to go home and fight with his wife or fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/if-i-tell-a-man-he-needs-to-quit-his-soul-sucking-job-he-has-to-go/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [There has never been, and never will be, anyone who sees, thinks, or responds exactly the way you do. 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Your path to it is through anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/a-joyful-life-isn-t-about-others-it-s-about-the-brightness-that-is/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Fear is the raw material from which courage is manufactured. Without it, we wouldn't even know what it means to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/fear-is-the-raw-material-from-which-courage-is-manufactured-without/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Many people think passion is a fuzzy feeling that makes taking action effortless. In fact, it's the gritty courage and tenacity to forge onward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/many-people-think-passion-is-a-fuzzy-feeling-that-makes-taking-action/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Angels come in many shapes and sizes, and most of them are not invisible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/angels-come-in-many-shapes-and-sizes-and-most-of-them-are-not/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Truth itself is something you live, not something you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/truth-itself-is-something-you-live-not-something-you-think/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) [Explore all 318 Martha Beck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) ## More Absence quotes > [Distance sometimes endears friendship, and absence sweeteneth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/distance-sometimes-endears-friendship-and-absence-sweeteneth-it/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [The work, the work, the work. 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Of the bodily desires, it is the sexual by which they are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/young-men-have-strong-passions-and-tend-to-gratify-them/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/every-person-needs-to-take-one-day-away-a-day-in-which-one/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“I was thinking how most people don't make you feel much of anything at all. Don't make you feel like time spent with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lotter/i-was-thinking-how-most-people-don-t-make-you-feel-much-of-anything/) [Jane Lotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lotter/) > [Cooperation isn't the absence of conflict but a means of managing conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/cooperation-isn-t-the-absence-of-conflict-but-a-means-of-managing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. 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Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) [Browse all 2,057 Absence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The difference between success and failure isn't the absence of fear but the determination to pursue your heart's desires no matter how scared you are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martha Beck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-difference-between-success-and-failure-isn-t-the-absence-of-fear/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-difference-between-success-and-failure-isn-t-the-absence-of-fear/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/245/martha-beck-961_absence_the-difference-between-success-and-failu_2921978.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/245/martha-beck-961_absence_the-difference-between-success-and-failu_2921978.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/245/martha-beck-961_absence_the-difference-between-success-and-failu_2921978.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The difference between success and failure isn't the absence of fear but the determination to pursue your…” — Martha Beck", "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": "Martha Beck", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The difference between success and failure...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-difference-between-success-and-failure-isn-t-the-absence-of-fear/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-difference-between-success-and-failure-isn-t-the-absence-of-fear/#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 } } ] } ```