--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Failing sucks. But it's better than the…" description: "\"“Failing sucks. But it's better than the alternative...not even trying...life's short.”\" — Sarah Dessen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/sarah-dessen-110_failing_failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-a_1506904.png" --- # Failing sucks. But it's better than the alternative...not… ![“Failing sucks. But it's better than the alternative...not even trying...life's short.” quote by Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/sarah-dessen-110_failing_failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-a_1506904.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/sarah-dessen-110_failing_failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-a_1506904.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/sarah-dessen-110_failing_failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-a_1506904.png) > ““Failing sucks. But it's better than the alternative...not even trying...life's short.”” [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding effort leads to regret; trying, even if painful, is preferable. **In simple terms:** Trying is better than doing nothing. Key Takeaway Embrace effort despite fear of failure. Themes risk effort regret Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career decisions - personal projects - health goals Key Concepts existential self‑help Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today? - How do you define “the alternative”? A Different Perspective Effort may not guarantee success and can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alternative Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative-trying-5538056/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Failing Sucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing-sucks-5538055/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Sucks Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sucks-better-374066/) [Trying Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-life-748443/) ## Related quotes > [Failing sucks. But it's better than the alternative." "Which is?" "Not even trying." Now he did look at me, straight on. "Life's short, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-alternative-which-is-not-even/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“Fuck me! She sucks better than a Dyson. I swear all vacuums would bow at her feet if they were aware of her talents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-golland/fuck-me-she-sucks-better-than-a-dyson-i-swear-all-vacuums-would-bow/) [K.M. Golland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-golland/) > [I've done that kind of stuff in records, where you start going back and you want to just redo everything, destroy everything, because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/i-ve-done-that-kind-of-stuff-in-records-where-you-start-going-back/) [Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/) > [“Today I will try again. And tomorrow. And then the next day. If I don’t get better, I will at least have fun trying.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/today-i-will-try-again-and-tomorrow-and-then-the-next-day-if-i-don-t/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [I studied law, economy, international relations, communications, in order to find what I would do. It's the hardest thing, being 17 and trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-testino/i-studied-law-economy-international-relations-communications-in-order/) [Mario Testino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-testino/) > [Live your life see you have nothing to regret. If u care about something protect it. No matter how tough no matter how sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-sajwan/live-your-life-see-you-have-nothing-to-regret-if-u-care-about/) [Sachin Sajwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-sajwan/) > [I'm trying to get through life without really knowing about computers, but I don't know if I am going to make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/i-m-trying-to-get-through-life-without-really-knowing-about-computers/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [I have to be self-conscious of what I'm trying to do with my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-have-to-be-self-conscious-of-what-i-m-trying-to-do-with-my-life/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [All I've been trying to do all my life is to make great music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-i-ve-been-trying-to-do-all-my-life-is-to-make-great-music/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just knew that was what I wanted to do. I was going to perform as a singer; I was going to perform as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/i-just-knew-that-was-what-i-wanted-to-do-i-was-going-to-perform-as-a/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) > [“Trying to go through life on our own, is like fumbling around in the dark... God sent Jesus to light the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-hart/trying-to-go-through-life-on-our-own-is-like-fumbling-around-in-the/) [Heather Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-hart/) > [It’s good to be here. I’m just trying to go through life without looking stupid. It’s not working out too well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/it-s-good-to-be-here-i-m-just-trying-to-go-through-life-without/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [Whatever you're trying to do, wherever you're trying to go in life, whatever you got your mindset on, stay there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-rock/whatever-you-re-trying-to-do-wherever-you-re-trying-to-go-in-life/) [Jay Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-rock/) > [The time we waste trying to find out what life is all about could be spent loving someone and finding out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-time-we-waste-trying-to-find-out-what-life-is-all-about-could-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is difficult,but you keep trying,life gets easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gzxc/life-is-difficult-but-you-keep-trying-life-gets-easier/) [Gzxc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gzxc/) ## More by Sarah Dessen > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“if i were a book i would be so open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/if-i-were-a-book-i-would-be-so-open/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“At times, I found myself questioning his very existence, even though I knew I had, in fact, spotted him, with my own eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/at-times-i-found-myself-questioning-his-very-existence-even-though-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [When you had to do something, you had to do it. And eventually, if you were lucky, you did it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/when-you-had-to-do-something-you-had-to-do-it-and-eventually-if-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [the truth about forever is that it is happening right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-truth-about-forever-is-that-it-is-happening-right-now/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I jammed my hand in my jacket pocket, bracing myself fo the next hit, and fel something. Something grainy and samll, sticking to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-jammed-my-hand-in-my-jacket-pocket-bracing-myself-fo-the-next-hit/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. People weren't meant to be together forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-had-no-illusions-about-love-anymore-it-came-it-went-it-left/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“But maybe that isn't so bad. You can't love anyone that way more than once in a lifetime. It's too hard and it hurts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-maybe-that-isn-t-so-bad-you-can-t-love-anyone-that-way-more-than/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [This was just one night, one chance to vary and see where it took me. The fireflies were probably already out: maybe it wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/this-was-just-one-night-one-chance-to-vary-and-see-where-it-took-me/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [call it chicken salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/call-it-chicken-salad/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“For me, however, it was a mix of the two, this constant push and pull. I loved it here. But I'd been in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/for-me-however-it-was-a-mix-of-the-two-this-constant-push-and-pull-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I think whenever a writer is really enjoying themselves and liking what they are doing, that shows on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-think-whenever-a-writer-is-really-enjoying-themselves-and-liking/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) [Explore all 1,251 Sarah Dessen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Failing sucks. But it's better than the alternative...not even trying...life's short.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Dessen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-alternative-not-even-trying/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-alternative-not-even-trying/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/sarah-dessen-110_failing_failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-a_1506904.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/sarah-dessen-110_failing_failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-a_1506904.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/sarah-dessen-110_failing_failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-a_1506904.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Failing sucks. But it's better than the alternative...not even trying...life's short.” — Sarah Dessen", "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": "Sarah Dessen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Failing sucks. But it's better than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-alternative-not-even-trying/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/failing-sucks-but-it-s-better-than-the-alternative-not-even-trying/#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 } } ] } ```