--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But my hope was that when I failed, if I…" description: "\"“But my hope was that when I failed, if I failed, I'd fail quickly, so I'd have enough time, enough years, to implement all the hard-won lessons. I was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/phil-knight-3238_enough-time_but-my-hope-was-that-when-i-failed-if-i_1184348.jpg" --- # But my hope was that when I failed, if I failed, I'd fail… ![“But my hope was that when I failed, if I failed, I'd fail quickly, so I'd have enough time, enough years, to implement all the hard-won lessons. I wasn't much for setting goals, but this goal kept flashing through my mind every day, until it became my internal chant: Fail fast.” quote by Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/phil-knight-3238_enough-time_but-my-hope-was-that-when-i-failed-if-i_1184348.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/phil-knight-3238_enough-time_but-my-hope-was-that-when-i-failed-if-i_1184348.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/phil-knight-3238_enough-time_but-my-hope-was-that-when-i-failed-if-i_1184348.jpg) > ““But my hope was that when I failed, if I failed, I'd fail quickly, so I'd have enough time, enough years, to implement all the hard-won lessons. I wasn't much for setting goals, but this goal kept flashing through my mind every day, until it became my internal chant: Fail fast.”” [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values rapid failure to learn quickly, allowing time to apply lessons before long‑term goals are set. **In simple terms:** Fail fast to learn fast. Key Takeaway Embrace quick failure to gain insight. Themes learning resilience growth innovation Mood determined optimistic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - startup development - personal development - project management - career planning Key Concepts Iterative improvement feedback loops Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure quick failures lead to actionable lessons? - What safeguards prevent repeated unnecessary failures? A Different Perspective Fast failure can waste resources if not followed by reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enough time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough-time/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail/) [Fail Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-fast/) [Fail Quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-quickly-213177/) [Failed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failed/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hope Failed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-failed-3486399/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Setting Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting-goal/) [Setting goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting-goals/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The ultimate reason for setting goals is to entice you to become the person it takes to achieve them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-ultimate-reason-for-setting-goals-is-to-entice-you-to-become-the/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I learned to put 100 percent into what you're doing. I learned about setting goals for yourself, knowing where you want to be and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-yamaguchi/i-learned-to-put-100-percent-into-what-you-re-doing-i-learned-about/) [Kristi Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-yamaguchi/) > [“Diwali is about setting goals, not accumulating gold. As Lakshmi comes from Lakshya, meaning Goal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/diwali-is-about-setting-goals-not-accumulating-gold-as-lakshmi-comes/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [Luck influences everything in life, but nothing beats setting goals and striving body and soul to achieve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyotomi-hideyoshi/luck-influences-everything-in-life-but-nothing-beats-setting-goals/) [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyotomi-hideyoshi/) > [“Setting goals takes desire, but completing them takes determination”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hawks/setting-goals-takes-desire-but-completing-them-takes-determination/) [Ron Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hawks/) > [There's a lot of goals I've set in the WWE that I want to accomplish. I'm always setting goals for myself, and someday I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/there-s-a-lot-of-goals-i-ve-set-in-the-wwe-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/) > [“Make New Year's goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year. This helps you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/make-new-year-s-goals-dig-within-and-discover-what-you-would-like-to/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [The secret of unleashing your true power is setting goals that are exciting enough that they truly inspire your creativity and ignite yourpassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-secret-of-unleashing-your-true-power-is-setting-goals-that-are/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Setting goals is a crucial step in the achievement of success, however the outcomes may be varied if you set your goals not based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/setting-goals-is-a-crucial-step-in-the-achievement-of-success-however/) [JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/) > [A primary purpose for setting goals is to get you moving in the right direction. When you set goals, you have to keep them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stedman-graham/a-primary-purpose-for-setting-goals-is-to-get-you-moving-in-the-right/) [Stedman Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stedman-graham/) > [In setting goals and executing a strategy, Wanda is sophisticated. We have good systems and departments. If targets are not reached, a yellow light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wang-jianlin/in-setting-goals-and-executing-a-strategy-wanda-is-sophisticated-we/) [Wang Jianlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wang-jianlin/) > [I truly hope you realize how important setting goals are for young women, teaching them we have so much more to offer than our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-grace-moretz/i-truly-hope-you-realize-how-important-setting-goals-are-for-young/) [Chloe Grace Moretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-grace-moretz/) > [I think setting goals is critical; having deadlines for ourselves- how much by when? Too many people have these big dreams where they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-think-setting-goals-is-critical-having-deadlines-for-ourselves-how/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [When Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bruce Jenner asked a roomful of Olympic hopefuls if they had a list of written goals, every one raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-olympic-decathlon-gold-medalist-bruce-jenner-asked-a-roomful-of/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Climbing is an artistic, creative thing; it's about being spontaneous, traveling, seeing the world, hanging out. It's a balance of setting goals while enjoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/climbing-is-an-artistic-creative-thing-it-s-about-being-spontaneous/) [Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/) ## More by Phil Knight > [A shoe dog is somebody that really loves shoes, and that was me. I was a runner... that became important to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/a-shoe-dog-is-somebody-that-really-loves-shoes-and-that-was-me-i-was/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Perception can be changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/perception-can-be-changed/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Dare to take chances, lest you leave your talent buried in the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/dare-to-take-chances-lest-you-leave-your-talent-buried-in-the-ground/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Why is it always so hard to get started?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/why-is-it-always-so-hard-to-get-started/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Play by the rules, but be ferocious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/play-by-the-rules-but-be-ferocious/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Life is growth, You grow or you die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/life-is-growth-you-grow-or-you-die/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“If my life was to be all work no play, I wanted my work to be play.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/if-my-life-was-to-be-all-work-no-play-i-wanted-my-work-to-be-play/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“he was all the colors of an Easter egg.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/he-was-all-the-colors-of-an-easter-egg/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“what I knew that morning in March 1977 as we settled around the conference table. I wasn’t even sure how these guys reached us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/what-i-knew-that-morning-in-march-1977-as-we-settled-around-the/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“When you make something, when you improve something, when you deliver something, when you add some service or product to the lives of strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/when-you-make-something-when-you-improve-something-when-you-deliver/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“It’s possible that we were never closer, maybe because our relationship had been reduced to its primal essence. He was my dad, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/it-s-possible-that-we-were-never-closer-maybe-because-our/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Oneness—in some way, shape, or form, it’s what every person I’ve ever met has been seeking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/oneness-in-some-way-shape-or-form-it-s-what-every-person-i-ve-ever/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [We wanted Nike to be the world's best sports and fitness company. Once you say that, you have a focus. You don't end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/we-wanted-nike-to-be-the-world-s-best-sports-and-fitness-company-once/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“You tell yourself that you’re running toward some goal, chasing some rush, but really you run because the alternative, stopping, scares you to death.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/you-tell-yourself-that-you-re-running-toward-some-goal-chasing-some/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“I wanted to win. No, that’s not right. I simply didn’t want to lose. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/i-wanted-to-win-no-that-s-not-right-i-simply-didn-t-want-to-lose-and/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) [Explore all 120 Phil Knight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) ## More Enough time quotes > [If I died If I died tonight would you notice? Would you even care? If I died tonight would you find it humorous? Would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-died-if-i-died-tonight-would-you-notice-would-you-even-care-if-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you spend too much time thinking about doing something, you won’t ever have enough time to experience it or feel it. And feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-lister/if-you-spend-too-much-time-thinking-about-doing-something-you-won-t/) [Ann Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-lister/) > [When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-re-frustrated-with-people-when-they-ve-made-you-angry-it/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Man: You are all going to live... (Smith family cheers) Man: ... for 24 more hours. Which is just enough time for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-dad/man-you-are-all-going-to-live-smith-family-cheers-man-for-24-more/) [American Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/american-dad/) > [“Artists are never poor, they just don't get enough time to make money !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmananda-patra/artists-are-never-poor-they-just-don-t-get-enough-time-to-make-money/) [Brahmananda Patra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmananda-patra/) > [We live a short enough time on this earth. A man should do what he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-tsukiyama/we-live-a-short-enough-time-on-this-earth-a-man-should-do-what-he/) [Gail Tsukiyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-tsukiyama/) > [“If you say something over and over again, it begins to lose it's meaning... Say anything enough times and it becomes gibberish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/if-you-say-something-over-and-over-again-it-begins-to-lose-it-s/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [If you really like Someone, there's no such things as not haveing enough Time for them…!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-really-like-someone-there-s-no-such-things-as-not-haveing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’m worried that I haven’t said a lot of this very well, and that we don’t have enough time for me to tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-dibdin/i-m-worried-that-i-haven-t-said-a-lot-of-this-very-well-and-that-we/) [Emma Dibdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-dibdin/) > [My loves in life are food, history and rugby. 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Which is rather ridiculous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-bruce/satire-is-tragedy-plus-time-you-give-it-enough-time-the-public-the/) [Lenny Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-bruce/) [Browse all 941 Enough time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But my hope was that when I failed, if I failed, I'd fail quickly, so I'd have enough time, enough years, to implement all the hard-won lessons. 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