--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most great people have attained their…" description: "\"Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.\" — Napoleon Hill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-attained-their-gr_2340995.jpg" --- # Most great people have attained their greatest success… ![“Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-attained-their-gr_2340995.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-attained-their-gr_2340995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-attained-their-gr_2340995.jpg) > “Most great people have attained 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. Success often follows closely after a major failure, as lessons learned become the catalyst for achievement. **In simple terms:** Failure can precede greatest success. Key Takeaway Learn from failure to achieve more. Themes resilience growth perseverance Mood reflective motivational Type self-help inspirational When to use this quote - career setbacks - entrepreneurial ventures - personal development - sports competition Key Concepts failure analysis mindset shift Questions to Reflect On - What failure taught you the most? - How can you turn setbacks into stepping stones? A Different Perspective Not all failures provide clear lessons; some may be demoralizing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [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/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“Most great people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/most-great-people-have-achieved-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/) > [Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to doDon't wish it were easier, wish you were better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/successful-people-do-what-unsuccessful-people-are-not-willing-to/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [This it the greatest success I can dream of for my life: to have spread a new vision of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/this-it-the-greatest-success-i-can-dream-of-for-my-life-to-have/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [Satan's greatest success is in making people think they have plenty of time before they die to consider their eternal welfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/satan-s-greatest-success-is-in-making-people-think-they-have-plenty/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [We had maybe the greatest success of any company that I know of in Paris, and after two or three years I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/we-had-maybe-the-greatest-success-of-any-company-that-i-know-of-in/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [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/) > [The greatest success goes to the person who is not afraid to fail in front of even the largest audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-packard/the-greatest-success-goes-to-the-person-who-is-not-afraid-to-fail-in/) [David Packard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-packard/) > [America, in the eyes of the world, typifies above all else this quality of initiative. The greatest successes are nearly all the fruit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/america-in-the-eyes-of-the-world-typifies-above-all-else-this-quality/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Interdependent people combine their own efforts with the efforts of others to achieve their greatest success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/interdependent-people-combine-their-own-efforts-with-the-efforts-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I thought doing reality TV would be the greatest success of my life or the biggest mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethenny-frankel/i-thought-doing-reality-tv-would-be-the-greatest-success-of-my-life/) [Bethenny Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethenny-frankel/) > [“To me, the greatest success you can have as the person in charge is to orchestrate others to do things well without you. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/to-me-the-greatest-success-you-can-have-as-the-person-in-charge-is-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [All of us attain the greatest success and happiness possible in this life whenever we use our native capacities to their fullest extent. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smiley-blanton/all-of-us-attain-the-greatest-success-and-happiness-possible-in-this/) [Smiley Blanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smiley-blanton/) > [Do the very best that you can, in the things you do best, and you will know in thy soul, that you are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/do-the-very-best-that-you-can-in-the-things-you-do-best-and-you-will/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [The greatest success in life is to feel I’m something for someone; the feeling of falling in love, the newness of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-wilson/the-greatest-success-in-life-is-to-feel-i-m-something-for-someone-the/) [Dennis Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-wilson/) ## 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 attained 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-attained-their-greatest-success-just-one-step/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/most-great-people-have-attained-their-greatest-success-just-one-step/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-attained-their-gr_2340995.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-attained-their-gr_2340995.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/napoleon-hill-201_failure_most-great-people-have-attained-their-gr_2340995.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most great people have attained 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 attained their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/most-great-people-have-attained-their-greatest-success-just-one-step/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/most-great-people-have-attained-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 } } ] } ```