--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Failure is a great teacher and, if you…" description: "\"Failure is a great teacher and, if you are open to it, every mistake has a lesson to offer.\" — Oprah Winfrey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/oprah-winfrey-186_failure_failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-if-you-ar_734781.png" --- # Failure is a great teacher and, if you are open to it… ![“Failure is a great teacher and, if you are open to it, every mistake has a lesson to offer.” quote by Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/oprah-winfrey-186_failure_failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-if-you-ar_734781.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/oprah-winfrey-186_failure_failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-if-you-ar_734781.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/oprah-winfrey-186_failure_failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-if-you-ar_734781.png) > “Failure is a great teacher and, if you are open to it, every mistake has a lesson to offer.” [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Failure teaches valuable lessons; openness turns mistakes into growth opportunities. **In simple terms:** Mistakes are teachers. Key Takeaway Learn from failure. Themes growth resilience learning Mood inspirational motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal challenges - education Key Concepts psychology self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - What recent mistake taught you? - How can you stay open to failure? A Different Perspective Success can be overemphasized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-great-2212702/) [Great teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-teacher/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesson/) [Lesson Offer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesson-offer-5748125/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistake Lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-lesson-2643093/) [Offers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offers/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [Success is its own reward, but failure is a great teacher too, and not to be feared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/success-is-its-own-reward-but-failure-is-a-great-teacher-too-and-not/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [Failure is a great teacher, and I think when you make mistakes and you recover from them and you treat them as valuable learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-i-think-when-you-make-mistakes-and-you/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [“Failure is a great teacher; but never insist on hiring one for yourself. Learn vicariously from others' teachers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashok-kallarakkal/failure-is-a-great-teacher-but-never-insist-on-hiring-one-for/) [Ashok Kallarakkal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashok-kallarakkal/) > [You werent a mistake, you were a lesson. Thanks for teaching me not to fall easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-werent-a-mistake-you-were-a-lesson-thanks-for-teaching-me-not-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every mistake is a lesson in itself but just for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/every-mistake-is-a-lesson-in-itself-but-just-for-you/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [In school, you are given the lesson first. On the street, you're given the mistake first and then it's up to you to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/in-school-you-are-given-the-lesson-first-on-the-street-you-re-given/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [One may encounter a bump during course of action.This is just to remind to mend the way & to act with more efforts &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/one-may-encounter-a-bump-during-course-of-action-this-is-just-to/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“For every mistake is a lesson and for every lesson learned is victory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdulkadir-abdullahi-mohamed-mirre/for-every-mistake-is-a-lesson-and-for-every-lesson-learned-is-victory/) [Abdulkadir Abdullahi Mohamed Mirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdulkadir-abdullahi-mohamed-mirre/) > [Mistakes are often made to learn a lesson; but if you keep making the same mistake; what lesson have you learned? You cant get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mistakes-are-often-made-to-learn-a-lesson-but-if-you-keep-making-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A mistake should be your teacher, not your attacker. A mistake is a lesson, not a loss. It is a temporary, necessary detour, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-mistake-should-be-your-teacher-not-your-attacker-a-mistake-is-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Learning from own mistake is a good trait but learning from others mistake is a lesson which very few can learn..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhi-saini/learning-from-own-mistake-is-a-good-trait-but-learning-from-others/) [Nidhi Saini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhi-saini/) > [Make your first mistake be a lesson for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nf/make-your-first-mistake-be-a-lesson-for-you/) [NF](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nf/) > [“Repeat a mistake once, it's a lesson. Twice, it's a coincidence. Thrice, it's a subscription to a comedy show called "Oops, I Did It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monika-ajay-kaul/repeat-a-mistake-once-it-s-a-lesson-twice-it-s-a-coincidence-thrice/) [Monika Ajay Kaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monika-ajay-kaul/) > [When you learn, teach. When you get, give. Maya Angelou taught me that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/when-you-learn-teach-when-you-get-give-maya-angelou-taught-me-that/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The wretchedness of failure is the great attraction of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-wretchedness-of-failure-is-the-great-attraction-of-success/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## More by Oprah Winfrey > [I've seen that many times in rural African villages where people have nothing but a hut and a bowl. The joy in the children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-seen-that-many-times-in-rural-african-villages-where-people-have/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [These French-style caramels are handmade in California. It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said-you-know-we-were-talking/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Forgiveness is about letting go of the past and not holding on to it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-about-letting-go-of-the-past-and-not-holding-on-to-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-deepest-courage-we-can-exercise-is-continuing-to-believe-in-our/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [If you can see it, and believe it, it is a LOT easier to achieve it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/if-you-can-see-it-and-believe-it-it-is-a-lot-easier-to-achieve-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It's why you were born. And how you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/there-is-no-greater-gift-you-can-give-or-receive-than-to-honor-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Gratitude is the single greatest treasure I will take with me from this experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/gratitude-is-the-single-greatest-treasure-i-will-take-with-me-from/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change our perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/keep-a-grateful-journal-every-night-list-five-things-that-you-are/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-want-every-day-to-be-a-fresh-start-on-expanding-what-is-possible/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [We often block our own blessings because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough... You're worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/we-often-block-our-own-blessings-because-we-don-t-feel-inherently/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [One if the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/one-if-the-hardest-things-in-life-to-learn-are-which-bridges-to-cross/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [You must feed your mind with reading material, thoughts, and ideas that open you to new possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-must-feed-your-mind-with-reading-material-thoughts-and-ideas-that/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Your soul tells you when it's time to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-soul-tells-you-when-it-s-time-to-move-on/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) [Explore all 971 Oprah Winfrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## 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": "Failure is a great teacher and, if you are open to it, every mistake has a lesson to offer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oprah Winfrey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-if-you-are-open-to-it-every-mistake/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-if-you-are-open-to-it-every-mistake/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/oprah-winfrey-186_failure_failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-if-you-ar_734781.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/oprah-winfrey-186_failure_failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-if-you-ar_734781.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/oprah-winfrey-186_failure_failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-if-you-ar_734781.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Failure is a great teacher and, if you are open to it, every mistake has a lesson to offer.” — Oprah Winfrey", "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": "Oprah Winfrey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Failure is a great teacher and,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-if-you-are-open-to-it-every-mistake/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/failure-is-a-great-teacher-and-if-you-are-open-to-it-every-mistake/#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 } } ] } ```