--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What can it matter to me, that I succeed…" description: "\"What can it matter to me, that I succeed or fail ? The undertaking is none of mine, if they want me to succeed I'll fail, and vice versa, so as not to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/samuel-beckett-365_failing_what-can-it-matter-to-me-that-i-succeed_1962143.png" --- # What can it matter to me, that I succeed or fail ? The… ![“What can it matter to me, that I succeed or fail ? The undertaking is none of mine, if they want me to succeed I'll fail, and vice versa, so as not to be rid of my tormentors.” quote by Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/samuel-beckett-365_failing_what-can-it-matter-to-me-that-i-succeed_1962143.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/samuel-beckett-365_failing_what-can-it-matter-to-me-that-i-succeed_1962143.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/samuel-beckett-365_failing_what-can-it-matter-to-me-that-i-succeed_1962143.png) > “What can it matter to me, that I succeed or fail ? The undertaking is none of mine, if they want me to succeed I'll fail, and vice versa, so as not to be rid of my tormentors.” [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success and failure are irrelevant when external expectations dictate outcomes; personal agency is undermined. **In simple terms:** External expectations nullify personal success. Key Takeaway Seek autonomy over external validation. Themes existentialism freedom agency Mood melancholic resigned Type dramatic philosophical When to use this quote - career - personal goals - social pressure - family expectations Key Concepts absurdism determinism Questions to Reflect On - What can you control in this situation? - How does external pressure affect your choices? A Different Perspective One may still find meaning despite external control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mentor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentor/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) ## Related quotes > [People who focus exclusively on efforts that matter, succeed. It's that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lazerow/people-who-focus-exclusively-on-efforts-that-matter-succeed-it-s-that/) Michael Lazerow > [The hardest point in our lives is what determines whether we want to succeed or fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/the-hardest-point-in-our-lives-is-what-determines-whether-we-want-to/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [In order to succeed,you must be patient and wait for your chance cause it is very useless to rush to succeed,what if you fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gen-pain/in-order-to-succeed-you-must-be-patient-and-wait-for-your-chance/) Gen Pain > [It takes less work to succeed than to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone/it-takes-less-work-to-succeed-than-to-fail/) [W. Clement Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-clement-stone/) > [The great difference between those who succeed and those who fail does not consist in the amount of work done by each but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/the-great-difference-between-those-who-succeed-and-those-who-fail/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [My game is such that I either succeed or fail. But I always hope to do something which is useful to the team at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-afridi/my-game-is-such-that-i-either-succeed-or-fail-but-i-always-hope-to-do/) [Shahid Afridi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-afridi/) > [“Sometimes the only way to succeed is to fail backwards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-bellamacina/sometimes-the-only-way-to-succeed-is-to-fail-backwards/) [Benny Bellamacina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-bellamacina/) > [Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, 'She doesn't have what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/because-i-am-a-woman-i-must-make-unusual-efforts-to-succeed-if-i-fail/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [“Two people between whom there is love succeed or fail together, but when two people hate each other the success of either is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/two-people-between-whom-there-is-love-succeed-or-fail-together-but/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The difference between those who succeed and fail: not taking advantage of opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/the-difference-between-those-who-succeed-and-fail-not-taking/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Experience has taught me that there is one chief reason why some people succeed and others fail. The difference is not one of knowing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-babson/experience-has-taught-me-that-there-is-one-chief-reason-why-some/) [Roger Babson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-babson/) > [Without Divine assistance I can not succeed; with it I can not fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/without-divine-assistance-i-can-not-succeed-with-it-i-can-not-fail/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Nothing in this life comes easy, sometimes we try so hard to succeed and still fail but remember anything worth having is worth fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/telisa-mclaughlin/nothing-in-this-life-comes-easy-sometimes-we-try-so-hard-to-succeed/) [Telisa McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/telisa-mclaughlin/) > [“We don't succeed or fail because of fortune or luck. We succeed because we understand the way the world works and what we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viet-thanh-nguyen/we-don-t-succeed-or-fail-because-of-fortune-or-luck-we-succeed/) [Viet Thanh Nguyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viet-thanh-nguyen/) > [“Does it matter whether we achieve our outer purpose, whether we succeed or fail in the world? It will matter to you as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/does-it-matter-whether-we-achieve-our-outer-purpose-whether-we/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More by Samuel Beckett > [“It was December, I had never felt so cold, the eel soup lay heavy on my stomach, I was afraid I'd die, I turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/it-was-december-i-had-never-felt-so-cold-the-eel-soup-lay-heavy-on-my/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“To be always what I am - and so changed from what I was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/to-be-always-what-i-am-and-so-changed-from-what-i-was/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [To what will love not stoop!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/to-what-will-love-not-stoop/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [With all this darkness round me I feel less alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/with-all-this-darkness-round-me-i-feel-less-alone/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“You may say it is all in my head, and indeed sometimes it seems to me I am in a head and that these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/you-may-say-it-is-all-in-my-head-and-indeed-sometimes-it-seems-to-me/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“Here he stood. Here he sat. Here he knelt. Here he lay. Here he moved, to and fro, from the door to the window,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/here-he-stood-here-he-sat-here-he-knelt-here-he-lay-here-he-moved-to/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/what-are-we-doing-here-that-is-the-question-and-we-are-blessed-in/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [I shall state silences more competently than ever a better man spangled the butterflies of vertigo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-shall-state-silences-more-competently-than-ever-a-better-man/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [It is useless not to seek, not to want, for when you cease to seek you start to find, and when you cease to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/it-is-useless-not-to-seek-not-to-want-for-when-you-cease-to-seek-you/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [We are not saints, but we have kept our appointment. How many people can boast as much?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/we-are-not-saints-but-we-have-kept-our-appointment-how-many-people/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [The new light above my table is a great improvement. With all this darkness around me I feel less alone. (Pause.) In a way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/the-new-light-above-my-table-is-a-great-improvement-with-all-this/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [I lay down across her with my face in her breasts and my hand on her. We lay there without moving. But under us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-lay-down-across-her-with-my-face-in-her-breasts-and-my-hand-on-her/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Women are all the bloody sameyou can't love for five minutes without wanting it abolished in brats and house bloody wifery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/women-are-all-the-bloody-sameyou-can-t-love-for-five-minutes-without/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“ESTRAGON: Do you think God sees me? VLADIMIR: You must close your eyes. Estragon closes his eyes, staggers worse. ESTRAGON: (stopping, brandishing his fists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/estragon-do-you-think-god-sees-me-vladimir-you-must-close-your-eyes/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Deplorable mania, when something happens, to inquire what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/deplorable-mania-when-something-happens-to-inquire-what/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) [Explore all 609 Samuel Beckett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) ## More Failing quotes > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Trial by jury. Live wherever you can make a living. How could a government based on such principles fail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/trial-by-jury-live-wherever-you-can-make-a-living-how-could-a/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [My willingness to fail gives me the ability to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/my-willingness-to-fail-gives-me-the-ability-to-succeed/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [I would warn against holsters with devices for quick-draw. Devices always fail when you need them most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-powell/i-would-warn-against-holsters-with-devices-for-quick-draw-devices/) [William Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-powell/) > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [When I paint, I never think of selling. People simply fail to understand that we paint in order to experiment and to develop ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edvard-munch/when-i-paint-i-never-think-of-selling-people-simply-fail-to/) [Edvard Munch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edvard-munch/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I wake up every morning fearing I am going to fail. But I love a challenge, big or small. There's so much I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-mone/i-wake-up-every-morning-fearing-i-am-going-to-fail-but-i-love-a/) [Michelle Mone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-mone/) > [What I want is to be willing to fail rather than stagnate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dickey/what-i-want-is-to-be-willing-to-fail-rather-than-stagnate/) [James Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dickey/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The very first company I started failed with a great bang. The second one failed a little bit less, but still failed. The third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-levchin/the-very-first-company-i-started-failed-with-a-great-bang-the-second/) [Max Levchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-levchin/) Browse all 5,634 Failing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What can it matter to me, that I succeed or fail ? 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