--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Failure isn't a character quality. It's…" description: "\"Failure isn't a character quality. It's just an event. How you respond to failure is your character.\" — Rick Warren" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/rick-warren-230_character_failure-isn-t-a-character-quality-it-s-j_1565036.png" --- # Failure isn't a character quality. It's just an event. How… ![“Failure isn't a character quality. It's just an event. How you respond to failure is your character.” quote by Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/rick-warren-230_character_failure-isn-t-a-character-quality-it-s-j_1565036.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/rick-warren-230_character_failure-isn-t-a-character-quality-it-s-j_1565036.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/rick-warren-230_character_failure-isn-t-a-character-quality-it-s-j_1565036.png) > “Failure isn't a character quality. It's just an event. How you respond to failure is your character.” [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Failure is an event, not a trait; character is shown by how one reacts to setbacks. **In simple terms:** Failure is an event; response defines character. Key Takeaway Respond constructively to setbacks. Themes resilience growth character mindset Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - business - education - personal relationships Key Concepts personal development leadership mental health Questions to Reflect On - What can you learn from a recent failure? - How can you turn setbacks into growth? A Different Perspective Success also depends on external factors beyond response. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) ## Related quotes > [“Blifil's failure as a character in "Tom Jones" is ultimately due to the fact that he has absolutely no redeeming characteristics and once his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-j-anisman/blifil-s-failure-as-a-character-in-tom-jones-is-ultimately-due-to-the/) Martin J. Anisman > [The chief factor in any man's success or failure must be his own character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-chief-factor-in-any-man-s-success-or-failure-must-be-his-own/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Failure does not shape you; the way you respond to failure shapes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/failure-does-not-shape-you-the-way-you-respond-to-failure-shapes-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure happens to everyone in this game. It's not something worth harping on. What is worth focusing on is how you respond to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/failure-happens-to-everyone-in-this-game-it-s-not-something-worth/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [The best part of the character and quality of the leader is expressing who you are in the work you do and how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/the-best-part-of-the-character-and-quality-of-the-leader-is/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [I haven't done great things for Spain - I can't lie - but when I play well, they should say so. 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Not about looks or IQ, DONT QUIT!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perseverance-may-be-the-top-character-quality-of-successful-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Perhaps the greatest definition I think of character and quality is people who when they're truly great rather than making you feel that tall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/perhaps-the-greatest-definition-i-think-of-character-and-quality-is/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Because failure isn't an option if success is just a matter of more effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/because-failure-isn-t-an-option-if-success-is-just-a-matter-of-more/) [W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/) ## More by Rick Warren > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Change always starts in your mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/change-always-starts-in-your-mind-the-way-you-think-determines-the/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If Jesus is king in heaven then the Kingdom of God is in heaven. If Jesus is king, reign on earth then the Kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-jesus-is-king-in-heaven-then-the-kingdom-of-god-is-in-heaven-if/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-bible-says-you-must-make-allowance-for-each-other-s-faults-and/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If it grows on a plant, it's healthy. 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Sometimes you just have to go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-you-jump-across-a-canyon-cautious-small-steps-and-vacillation/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [We often miss hearing God's voice simply because we aren't paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-often-miss-hearing-god-s-voice-simply-because-we-aren-t-paying/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Law is downstream from culture. By the time you make a law about something, you're reacting, not acting. I'd rather shape the culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/law-is-downstream-from-culture-by-the-time-you-make-a-law-about/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-you-look-at-the-world-you-ll-be-distressed-if-you-look-within-you/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [It is mind-boggling to me that the Almighty power created everything I see; the Bible says that God created the entire universe just so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/it-is-mind-boggling-to-me-that-the-almighty-power-created-everything/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [The role of the church and the government are fundamentally different. The church must always show compassion - always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-role-of-the-church-and-the-government-are-fundamentally-different/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [We become whatever we are committed to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-become-whatever-we-are-committed-to/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“but it does mean God is able to redeem any and all situations and use them for his own good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/but-it-does-mean-god-is-able-to-redeem-any-and-all-situations-and-use/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Well actually I don't think it's a bunch of bad things that send us to hell. I think it is rejection of God's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/well-actually-i-don-t-think-it-s-a-bunch-of-bad-things-that-send-us/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) [Explore all 847 Rick Warren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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