--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have forty million reasons for…" description: "\"We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.\" — Rudyard Kipling" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e10/rudyard-kipling-527_excuse_we-have-forty-million-reasons-for-failur_1166353.png" --- # We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a… ![“We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.” quote by Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e10/rudyard-kipling-527_excuse_we-have-forty-million-reasons-for-failur_1166353.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e10/rudyard-kipling-527_excuse_we-have-forty-million-reasons-for-failur_1166353.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e10/rudyard-kipling-527_excuse_we-have-forty-million-reasons-for-failur_1166353.png) > “We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.” [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights that abundant reasons for failure exist, but excuses are unacceptable; accountability is essential. **In simple terms:** No excuses, only reasons. Key Takeaway Own your failures, learn from them. Themes accountability failure responsibility Mood determined serious Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - business projects - personal goals - team performance - education Key Concepts self‑assessment growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What reasons can you turn into lessons? - How do you resist making excuses? A Different Perspective Excuses can be a coping mechanism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Forty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forty/) [Million Reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-reasons/) [Reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons/) [Reasons Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-failure-3361510/) [Single Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-excuse-2461005/) ## Related quotes > [In volleyball there are many reasons for errors but not a single excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/in-volleyball-there-are-many-reasons-for-errors-but-not-a-single/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [The very reasons sometimes that you make a film are the reasons for its failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/the-very-reasons-sometimes-that-you-make-a-film-are-the-reasons-for/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [If you really love someone, even if there was a million reasons to leave, you would still look for the one reason to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-really-love-someone-even-if-there-was-a-million-reasons-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are a million reasons why you might not get a part. You may look like someone's brother-in-law that they don't like. There may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-searcy/there-are-a-million-reasons-why-you-might-not-get-a-part-you-may-look/) [Nick Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-searcy/) > [Even on your weakest days, find a million reasons to smile because there are so many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-on-your-weakest-days-find-a-million-reasons-to-smile-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It takes a million reasons to cry, a million reasons to smile, but there's only one you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-a-million-reasons-to-cry-a-million-reasons-to-smile-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When Life Gives U A, Thousand Reasons To Cry, Show That You Have A Million Reasons To Smile. Keep Smiling And Enjoy Life. Like: 116](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiodun-oladipupo/when-life-gives-u-a-thousand-reasons-to-cry-show-that-you-have-a/) [Abiodun Oladipupo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiodun-oladipupo/) > [“There are a million reasons why I love you. A million reasons that all begin with the amazing woman you are and end with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-ward/there-are-a-million-reasons-why-i-love-you-a-million-reasons-that-all/) [Natalie Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-ward/) > [A million reasons to save myself and a billion not to...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/a-million-reasons-to-save-myself-and-a-billion-not-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [The problem with ratings is that you can give yourself a million reasons why they are what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/the-problem-with-ratings-is-that-you-can-give-yourself-a-million/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [There are a million reasons to smile, but I'm glad you're one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-a-million-reasons-to-smile-but-i-m-glad-you-re-one-of-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Enjoy ur life no matter how hard it may seem, when life gives you one thousand reasons to cry show the world you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/enjoy-ur-life-no-matter-how-hard-it-may-seem-when-life-gives-you-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you fail, let the world knows the reasons of your failure; if you win, let the world knows the secrets of your victory!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-fail-let-the-world-knows-the-reasons-of-your-failure-if-you/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [When new pages are sent to editors and see rejection, we should ask for the reasons. We must study the reasons for failure and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giraud/when-new-pages-are-sent-to-editors-and-see-rejection-we-should-ask/) [Jean Giraud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giraud/) > [Eighty-five percent of the reasons for failure are deficiencies in the systems and process rather than the employee. The role of management is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/eighty-five-percent-of-the-reasons-for-failure-are-deficiencies-in/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) ## More by Rudyard Kipling > [Borrow trouble for yourself, if that's your nature, but don't lend it to your neighbours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/borrow-trouble-for-yourself-if-that-s-your-nature-but-don-t-lend-it/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“I follow the Law—the Most Excellent Law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/i-follow-the-law-the-most-excellent-law/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/brothers-and-sisters-i-bid-you-beware-of-giving-your-heart-to-a-dog/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [O it's Tommy this, and Tommy that, and Tommy 'ow's your soul/But it's thin red line of heroes when the drums begin to roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/o-it-s-tommy-this-and-tommy-that-and-tommy-ow-s-your-soul-but-it-s/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Believe the best of everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/believe-the-best-of-everybody/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees That half a proper gardener's work is done upon his knees, So when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/oh-adam-was-a-gardener-and-god-who-made-him-sees-that-half-a-proper/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Adam was a gardener, and God, who made him, sees that half of all good gardening is done upon the knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/adam-was-a-gardener-and-god-who-made-him-sees-that-half-of-all-good/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Call a truce, then, to our labors - let us feast with friends and neighbors, and be merry as the custom of our caste;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/call-a-truce-then-to-our-labors-let-us-feast-with-friends-and/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [No one accuses the gunner of maudlin affection for anything except his beasts and his weapons. He serves as least three jealous gods-his horse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/no-one-accuses-the-gunner-of-maudlin-affection-for-anything-except/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“One of these days, Strickland is going to write a little book on his experiences. That book will be worth buying; and even more,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/one-of-these-days-strickland-is-going-to-write-a-little-book-on-his/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Good work does not matter, because a man is judged by his worst output and another man takes all the credit of his best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/good-work-does-not-matter-because-a-man-is-judged-by-his-worst-output/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Those who kill snakes get killed by snakes, said Chuchundra, more sorrowfully than ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/those-who-kill-snakes-get-killed-by-snakes-said-chuchundra-more/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Like everything else in the world, it is one man's work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/like-everything-else-in-the-world-it-is-one-man-s-work/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Father Wolf looked on amazed. He had almost forgotten the days when he won Mother Wolf in fair fight from five other wolves, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/father-wolf-looked-on-amazed-he-had-almost-forgotten-the-days-when-he/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [If you want something and don't get it, there are only two reasons. You either really didn't want it, or you tried to bargain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/if-you-want-something-and-don-t-get-it-there-are-only-two-reasons-you/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) [Explore all 491 Rudyard Kipling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) ## More Excuse quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [International friendly games are not worth the lives of the silk worms who perish to make the pennants. They do not even have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-baker/international-friendly-games-are-not-worth-the-lives-of-the-silk/) [Danny Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-baker/) > [Win without boasting. Lose without excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-payson-terhune/win-without-boasting-lose-without-excuse/) [Albert Payson Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-payson-terhune/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [Dont leave without a reason, and then try to come back with an excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-leave-without-a-reason-and-then-try-to-come-back-with-an-excuse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Using, as an excuse, others' failure of common sense is in itself a failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/using-as-an-excuse-others-failure-of-common-sense-is-in-itself-a/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [I'm not the guy who will sit in a room with somebody who's using a bunch of big words and just act like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-m-not-the-guy-who-will-sit-in-a-room-with-somebody-who-s-using-a/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [Worst Break Up Excuse; 'You deserve so much better.' Translation: They've already moved on whether you like it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worst-break-up-excuse-you-deserve-so-much-better-translation-they-ve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lie is an excuse guarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-lie-is-an-excuse-guarded/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Live with No Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyanendra/live-with-no-excuse/) [Gyanendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyanendra/) [Browse all 2,435 Excuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rudyard Kipling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/we-have-forty-million-reasons-for-failure-but-not-a-single-excuse/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/we-have-forty-million-reasons-for-failure-but-not-a-single-excuse/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e10/rudyard-kipling-527_excuse_we-have-forty-million-reasons-for-failur_1166353.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e10/rudyard-kipling-527_excuse_we-have-forty-million-reasons-for-failur_1166353.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e10/rudyard-kipling-527_excuse_we-have-forty-million-reasons-for-failur_1166353.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.” — Rudyard Kipling", "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": "Rudyard Kipling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have forty million reasons for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/we-have-forty-million-reasons-for-failure-but-not-a-single-excuse/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/we-have-forty-million-reasons-for-failure-but-not-a-single-excuse/#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 } } ] } ```