--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The important thing in life is not the…" description: "\"The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.\" — Pierre de Coubertin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/pierre-de-coubertin-14070_education_the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-t_1466433.png" --- # The important thing in life is not the triumph but the… ![“The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.” quote by Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/pierre-de-coubertin-14070_education_the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-t_1466433.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/pierre-de-coubertin-14070_education_the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-t_1466433.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/pierre-de-coubertin-14070_education_the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-t_1466433.png) > “The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.” [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True value lies in effort and perseverance, not merely in winning outcomes. **In simple terms:** Success is about effort, not just victory. Key Takeaway Focus on the process, not just the result. Themes effort perseverance achievement sports life Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - training - career development - personal challenges - team projects Key Concepts growth mindset intrinsic motivation resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure success beyond results? - What does struggle teach you that triumph cannot? A Different Perspective Winning can mask underlying issues and discourage learning from failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education and teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-and-teachers/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-thing/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Important things in your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things-in-your-life/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Life is a struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-a-struggle/) [Life is not easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-not-easy/) [Life struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-struggle/) [Life Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-triumph-1681591/) [Living life well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-life-well/) [Most important things in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most-important-things-in-life/) [Olympic games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympic-games/) [Olympic spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympic-spirit/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Parents and teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-and-teachers/) [Running shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-shoes/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teacher and student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher-and-student/) [Teacher student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher-student/) [Things in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-in-life/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) [Triumph Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph-struggle-3745723/) [Ultra running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultra-running/) ## Related quotes > [The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-essential-thing-is-not-to-have-conquered-but-to-have-fought-well/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [“The most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-courbertin/the-most-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-triumph-but-the-struggle/) [Pierre de Courbertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-courbertin/) > [The important thing in life is not to triumph but to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-to-triumph-but-to-compete/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [“...the important thing in life is not to triumph but to compete…not victory but combat…not to have vanquished but to have fought well…not winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-to-triumph-but-to-compete-not/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [The Olympic Spirit is neither the property of one race nor of one age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-olympic-spirit-is-neither-the-property-of-one-race-nor-of-one-age/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-important-thing-in-the-olympic-games-is-not-to-win-but-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The triumph can't be had without the struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/the-triumph-can-t-be-had-without-the-struggle/) [Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/) > [The triumph can't be had without the struggle. And I know what struggle is. I have spent a lifetime trying to share what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/the-triumph-can-t-be-had-without-the-struggle-and-i-know-what/) [Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/) > [“the triumph cant be had without the struggle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/the-triumph-cant-be-had-without-the-struggle/) [Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/) > [Triumph over adversity that's what the marathon is all about. Nothing in life can't triumph after that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathrine-switzer/triumph-over-adversity-that-s-what-the-marathon-is-all-about-nothing/) [Kathrine Switzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathrine-switzer/) > [“Sam faced something he had never conceived of in all his life—the triumph of calumny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/sam-faced-something-he-had-never-conceived-of-in-all-his-life-the/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Whether our life has been a triumph or tragedy can only be judged at its very end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/whether-our-life-has-been-a-triumph-or-tragedy-can-only-be-judged-at/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [Teenagers are my life and my triumph. I'd be nowhere without them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/teenagers-are-my-life-and-my-triumph-i-d-be-nowhere-without-them/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [I want to see how life can triumph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romare-bearden/i-want-to-see-how-life-can-triumph/) [Romare Bearden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romare-bearden/) > [The real competition is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/the-real-competition-is-against-the-little-voice-inside-you-that/) [George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/) ## More by Pierre de Coubertin > [I therefore think that I was right in trying from the outset of the Olympic revival to rekindle a religious awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/i-therefore-think-that-i-was-right-in-trying-from-the-outset-of-the/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-essential-thing-is-not-to-have-conquered-but-to-have-fought-well/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-most-important-thing-in-the-olympic-games-is-not-winning-but/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [A better world could be brought about only by better individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/a-better-world-could-be-brought-about-only-by-better-individuals/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [In our view the Olympic idea involves a strong physical culture supplemented on the one hand by mobility, what is so aptly called 'fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/in-our-view-the-olympic-idea-involves-a-strong-physical-culture/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [Sport must be accessible to working class youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/sport-must-be-accessible-to-working-class-youth/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [Swifter, higher, stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/swifter-higher-stronger/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [Success comprises in itself the seeds of its own decline and sport is not spared by this law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/success-comprises-in-itself-the-seeds-of-its-own-decline-and-sport-is/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [The Olympic Games are the quadrennial celebration of the springtime of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-olympic-games-are-the-quadrennial-celebration-of-the-springtime/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [The Olympic Games are for the world and all nations must be admitted to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-olympic-games-are-for-the-world-and-all-nations-must-be-admitted/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [“...the important thing in life is not to triumph but to compete…not victory but combat…not to have vanquished but to have fought well…not winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-to-triumph-but-to-compete-not/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [ The Olympic flag \[\] has a white background, with five interlaced rings in the centre: blue, yellow, black, green and red \[\]. This design… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-olympic-flag-has-a-white-background-with-five-interlaced-rings-in/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [The important thing is that all stages from adolescent to mature man, work is done to spread the sporting spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-important-thing-is-that-all-stages-from-adolescent-to-mature-man/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [The strength of Olympism comes to it from that which is simply human, hence worldwide is its essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-strength-of-olympism-comes-to-it-from-that-which-is-simply-human/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [Olympism is a doctrine of the fraternity between the body and the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/olympism-is-a-doctrine-of-the-fraternity-between-the-body-and-the-soul/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) [Explore all 48 Pierre de Coubertin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) [Ioannes Amos Commenius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioannes-amos-commenius/) > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) [H.D. (Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-hilda-doolittle/) > [“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/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pierre de Coubertin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-triumph-but-the-struggle/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Education" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-triumph-but-the-struggle/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/pierre-de-coubertin-14070_education_the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-t_1466433.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/pierre-de-coubertin-14070_education_the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-t_1466433.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/pierre-de-coubertin-14070_education_the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-t_1466433.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.” — Pierre de Coubertin", "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": "Pierre de Coubertin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The important thing in life is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-triumph-but-the-struggle/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/the-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-triumph-but-the-struggle/#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 } } ] } ```