--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People who do not succeed have one…" description: "\"People who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. They know all the reasons for failure, and have what they believe to be air-tight al..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f85/napoleon-hill-201_achievement_people-who-do-not-succeed-have-one-disti_2817319.jpg" --- # People who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in… ![“People who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. They know all the reasons for failure, and have what they believe to be air-tight alibis to explain away their own lack of achievement.” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f85/napoleon-hill-201_achievement_people-who-do-not-succeed-have-one-disti_2817319.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f85/napoleon-hill-201_achievement_people-who-do-not-succeed-have-one-disti_2817319.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f85/napoleon-hill-201_achievement_people-who-do-not-succeed-have-one-disti_2817319.jpg) > “People who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. They know all the reasons for failure, and have what they believe to be air-tight alibis to explain away their own lack of achievement.” [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 is blocked by self‑justifying excuses that hide failure. **In simple terms:** Excuses prevent achievement. Key Takeaway Eliminate excuses, act. Themes self‑sabotage mindset achievement Mood motivational challenging Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - goal setting - coaching - self‑reflection Key Concepts psychology personal development motivation Questions to Reflect On - What excuses do you use? - How can you replace them? A Different Perspective Excuses may be deeply ingrained. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Alibis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alibis/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-believe-977932/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lack Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-achievement-3562825/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-succeed/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Succeed Distinguishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed-distinguishing-3562824/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Traits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traits/) ## Related quotes > [For many, lack of achievement is more a consequence of fear of taking a chance and getting uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-backley/for-many-lack-of-achievement-is-more-a-consequence-of-fear-of-taking/) [Steve Backley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-backley/) > [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/) > [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/) > [IF - and this is the greatest of them all - I had the courage to see myself as I reallyam, I would find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/if-and-this-is-the-greatest-of-them-all-i-had-the-courage-to-see/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [No alibi will save you from accepting the responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-alibi-will-save-you-from-accepting-the-responsibility/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“success requires no apologies, failure permits no alibis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/success-requires-no-apologies-failure-permits-no-alibis/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Failure to believe stems from moral failure to recognize the truth, not from want of evidence, but from willful neglect or distortion of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/failure-to-believe-stems-from-moral-failure-to-recognize-the-truth/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [I don’t believe in failure; I believe there are setbacks that are put into our path to teach us something and move us in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-jewell/i-don-t-believe-in-failure-i-believe-there-are-setbacks-that-are-put/) [Geri Jewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-jewell/) > [I don't believe in failure. I believe every setback is an opportunity to learn, regroup, get stronger, and try again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roselyn-sanchez/i-don-t-believe-in-failure-i-believe-every-setback-is-an-opportunity/) [Roselyn Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roselyn-sanchez/) > [I don't believe in failure. I believe every setback is an opportunity to learn, regroup, get stronger, and try again. This is my motto:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roselyn-sanchez/i-don-t-believe-in-failure-i-believe-every-setback-is-an-opportunity-2/) [Roselyn Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roselyn-sanchez/) > [“I've never met a person, I don't care what his condition, in whom I could not see possibilities. I don't care how much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-bradley/i-ve-never-met-a-person-i-don-t-care-what-his-condition-in-whom-i/) [Preston Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-bradley/) > [You can do anything if you have enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes rise to the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/you-can-do-anything-if-you-have-enthusiasm-enthusiasm-is-the-yeast/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [It will revolutionize baseball. It will open a new area of alibis for the players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-paul/it-will-revolutionize-baseball-it-will-open-a-new-area-of-alibis-for/) [Gabe Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-paul/) > [You can do anything if you have enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/you-can-do-anything-if-you-have-enthusiasm/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Our enemy is not lack of preparation; it’s not the difficulty of the project, or the state of the marketplace or the emptiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/our-enemy-is-not-lack-of-preparation-it-s-not-the-difficulty-of-the/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) ## 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 Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) [Chaz Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-brenchley/) > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) [Nicholas Roerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-roerich/) > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. 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