--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most great people have achieved their…" description: "\"“Most great people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.”\" — Napoleon Hill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54c/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-achieved-their-gr_2625286.jpg" --- # Most great people have achieved their greatest success… ![“Most great people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54c/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-achieved-their-gr_2625286.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54c/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-achieved-their-gr_2625286.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54c/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-achieved-their-gr_2625286.jpg) > ““Most great people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.”” [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. Great success follows when one pushes just beyond their biggest failure. **In simple terms:** Success lies just beyond failure. Key Takeaway Push past failure to achieve success. Themes success failure resilience Mood optimistic encouraging Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - personal setbacks Key Concepts self‑help psychology Questions to Reflect On - What failure can you learn from? - How far can you stretch beyond it? A Different Perspective Failure can be demotivating, making the push hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieved Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieved-greatest-674174/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Great people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-people/) [Greatest success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-success/) [People Achieved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-achieved-674173/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-just/) ## Related quotes > [Most people achieved their greatest successes one step beyond what looked like their greatest failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-people-achieved-their-greatest-successes-one-step-beyond-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The one that achieved the greatest amount of success is the Eagles. And because it was really successful, it was a lot more fun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/the-one-that-achieved-the-greatest-amount-of-success-is-the-eagles/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/most-great-people-have-attained-their-greatest-success-just-one-step/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The number one reason people fail in life is because they listen to their friends, family, and neighbors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-number-one-reason-people-fail-in-life-is-because-they-listen-to/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Accept the ego of extraordinary people as they have achieved something but don't accept the ego of ordinary people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/accept-the-ego-of-extraordinary-people-as-they-have-achieved/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Many arrogant people achieved powerful positions, ignoring people around them, but in the end they failed. They would give anything in the world not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eraldo-banovac/many-arrogant-people-achieved-powerful-positions-ignoring-people/) [Eraldo Banovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eraldo-banovac/) > [The great thing about art on any level is that it can speak to all people if it's achieved properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/the-great-thing-about-art-on-any-level-is-that-it-can-speak-to-all/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [“He looked at the walls, Awed at the heights His people had achieved And for a moment -- just a moment -- All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-mason/he-looked-at-the-walls-awed-at-the-heights-his-people-had-achieved/) [Herbert Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-mason/) > [People who have achieved great success are not necessarily more skillful or intelligent than others. What separates them is their burning desire and thirst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/people-who-have-achieved-great-success-are-not-necessarily-more/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Arrogance occurs in people who have achieved something and believe that they independently caused their own success with no assistance, support, or input from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-carter-scott/arrogance-occurs-in-people-who-have-achieved-something-and-believe/) [Cherie Carter-Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-carter-scott/) > [You know, heroes are ordinary people that have achieved extraordinary things in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/you-know-heroes-are-ordinary-people-that-have-achieved-extraordinary/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [I love looking at people who have achieved a lot - even Kim Kardashian, who has made a brand out of being a reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ecclestone/i-love-looking-at-people-who-have-achieved-a-lot-even-kim-kardashian/) [Tamara Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ecclestone/) > [I don't look for people who have achieved great things; I look for people who will achieve great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urijah-faber/i-don-t-look-for-people-who-have-achieved-great-things-i-look-for/) [Urijah Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urijah-faber/) > [“Happiness. I believed few people ever achieved it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilsa-madden-mills/happiness-i-believed-few-people-ever-achieved-it/) [Ilsa Madden-Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilsa-madden-mills/) > [People who have achieved a public voice find it a mixed bag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/people-who-have-achieved-a-public-voice-find-it-a-mixed-bag/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) ## 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 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": "“Most great people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Hill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/most-great-people-have-achieved-their-greatest-success-just-one-step/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/most-great-people-have-achieved-their-greatest-success-just-one-step/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54c/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-achieved-their-gr_2625286.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54c/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-achieved-their-gr_2625286.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54c/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-achieved-their-gr_2625286.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most great people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” — Napoleon Hill", "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": "Napoleon Hill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Most great people have achieved their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/most-great-people-have-achieved-their-greatest-success-just-one-step/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/most-great-people-have-achieved-their-greatest-success-just-one-step/#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 } } ] } ```