--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From Christ on down to Edison, the men…" description: "\"From Christ on down to Edison, the men who have achieved most have been those who met with the most stubborn forms of temporary defeat. This would seem..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/napoleon-hill-201_christ_from-christ-on-down-to-edison-the-men-wh_3095735.jpg" --- # From Christ on down to Edison, the men who have achieved… ![“From Christ on down to Edison, the men who have achieved most have been those who met with the most stubborn forms of temporary defeat. This would seem to justify the conclusion that Infinite Intelligence has a plan, or a law, by which it hurdles men over many obstacles before giving them the…” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/napoleon-hill-201_christ_from-christ-on-down-to-edison-the-men-wh_3095735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/napoleon-hill-201_christ_from-christ-on-down-to-edison-the-men-wh_3095735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/napoleon-hill-201_christ_from-christ-on-down-to-edison-the-men-wh_3095735.jpg) > “From Christ on down to Edison, the men who have achieved most have been those who met with the most stubborn forms of temporary defeat. This would seem to justify the conclusion that Infinite Intelligence has a plan, or a law, by which it hurdles men over many obstacles before giving them the privilege of leadership or the opportunity to render useful service in a noteworthy fashion.” [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success often follows repeated setbacks, suggesting a higher purpose or law that tests and refines leaders before they achieve impact. **In simple terms:** Repeated setbacks can lead to great success. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges as part of growth. Themes perseverance leadership resilience Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - personal development - overcoming failure Key Concepts Stoicism growth mindset destiny Questions to Reflect On - How do you interpret setbacks in your life? - What larger purpose might they serve? A Different Perspective Not all defeats are temporary; some may be permanent setbacks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Hurdle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurdle/) [Infinite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite/) [Infinite intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite-intelligence/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Justify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Achieved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-achieved-3543508/) [Men Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-obstacles-1392450/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Stubborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stubborn/) [Temporary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temporary/) [Temporary defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temporary-defeat/) ## Related quotes > [“There is a plan, or a law, by which it hurdles men over many obstacles before giving them the privilege of leadership or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-is-a-plan-or-a-law-by-which-it-hurdles-men-over-many-obstacles/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [There is a vast difference between failure and temporary defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-is-a-vast-difference-between-failure-and-temporary-defeat/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Remember when your plans fail, that temporary defeat is not permanent failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/remember-when-your-plans-fail-that-temporary-defeat-is-not-permanent/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Before success comes in any man’s life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure. When defeat overtakes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/before-success-comes-in-any-man-s-life-he-is-sure-to-meet-with-much-2/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You are fortunate if you have learned the difference between temporary defeat and failure, more fortunate still if you have learned the truth that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-are-fortunate-if-you-have-learned-the-difference-between/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“There comes with every experience of temporary defeat, and every failure and every form of adversity, the seed of an equivalent benefit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-comes-with-every-experience-of-temporary-defeat-and-every/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/opportunity-often-comes-disguised-in-the-form-of-misfortune-or/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“That is one of the tricks of opportunity. It has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/that-is-one-of-the-tricks-of-opportunity-it-has-a-sly-habit-of/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/one-of-the-most-common-causes-of-failure-is-the-habit-of-of-quitting/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/all-the-breaks-you-need-in-life-wait-within-your-imagination/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when overtaken by temporary defeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/one-of-the-most-common-causes-of-failure-is-the-habit-of-quitting/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Most so called FAILURES are only temporary defeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/most-so-called-failures-are-only-temporary-defeats/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Before success comes in any man's life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/before-success-comes-in-any-man-s-life-he-is-sure-to-meet-with-much/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [We see men who have accumulated great fortunes, but we often recognize only their triumph, overlooking the temporary defeats which they had to surmount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/we-see-men-who-have-accumulated-great-fortunes-but-we-often-recognize/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [If the thing you wish to do is right, and YOU BELIEVE IN IT, go ahead and do it! Put your dreams across, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/if-the-thing-you-wish-to-do-is-right-and-you-believe-in-it-go-ahead/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## More by Napoleon Hill > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The mind requires regular use to remain strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-requires-regular-use-to-remain-strong/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“To all these I wish to convey the thought that all achievement, no matter what may be its nature, or its purpose, must begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/to-all-these-i-wish-to-convey-the-thought-that-all-achievement-no/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/tell-the-world-what-you-intend-to-do-but-first-show-it-this/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You become what you think about](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-become-what-you-think-about/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Every man's own character is written so all who will may read it, in the expression of his eyes, the tone of his voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/every-man-s-own-character-is-written-so-all-who-will-may-read-it-in/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Life is a mirror of your consistent thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/life-is-a-mirror-of-your-consistent-thoughts/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Success requires no explanations. Failure permits no alibis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/success-requires-no-explanations-failure-permits-no-alibis/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The habit of taking the line of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-taking-the-line-of-least-resistance-makes-all-rivers-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-are-no-limitations-to-the-mind-except-those-that-we-acknowledge/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) [Explore all 928 Napoleon Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## More Christ quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“I would even go so far as to say that the mythical character of a life is just what expresses its universal human validity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/i-would-even-go-so-far-as-to-say-that-the-mythical-character-of-a/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [Christ never preached any funeral sermons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/christ-never-preached-any-funeral-sermons/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) [Browse all 9,006 Christ quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "From Christ on down to Edison, the men who have achieved most have been those who met with the most stubborn forms of temporary defeat. 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