---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It all counts,' Adam said again. 'And the…"
description: "\"“It all counts,' Adam said again. 'And the bottom line is, what defines you isn't how many times you crash, but the number of times you get back on the..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/sarah-dessen-110_along-for-the-ride_it-all-counts-adam-said-again-and-the-bo_1040109.jpg"
---

#  It all counts,' Adam said again. 'And the bottom line is…

![“It all counts,' Adam said again. 'And the bottom line is, what defines you isn't how many times you crash, but the number of times you get back on the bike. As long as it's one more, you're all good.-pg 325 Along for the Ride” quote by Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/sarah-dessen-110_along-for-the-ride_it-all-counts-adam-said-again-and-the-bo_1040109.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/sarah-dessen-110_along-for-the-ride_it-all-counts-adam-said-again-and-the-bo_1040109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/sarah-dessen-110_along-for-the-ride_it-all-counts-adam-said-again-and-the-bo_1040109.jpg)

> ““It all counts,' Adam said again. 'And the bottom line is, what defines you isn't how many times you crash, but the number of times you get back on the bike. As long as it's one more, you're all good.-pg 325 Along for the Ride””

[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.

Resilience is measured by how often you recover, not by how many failures you endure

**In simple terms:** Success is about getting back up after each crash

Key Takeaway

Keep trying, one more time each day

Themes

resilience perseverance self‑belief

Mood

hopeful encouraging

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- Recovering from setbacks
- sports injuries
- career setbacks

Key Concepts

Growth mindset grit learning from failure

Questions to Reflect On

- What lessons do you learn each time you recover?
- How can you turn repeated failures into lasting strengths?

A Different Perspective

Focusing solely on recovery may ignore the need to address underlying issues

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Along for the ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/along-for-the-ride/) [Bottom line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Sarah-dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sarah-dessen/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [The bottom line is, what defines you isn't how many times you crash, but the number of times you get back on the bike.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-bottom-line-is-what-defines-you-isn-t-how-many-times-you-crash/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“What defines you isn’t how many times you crash, but the number of times you get back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/what-defines-you-isn-t-how-many-times-you-crash-but-the-number-of/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“Nope.' He sat back. 'Just been there, done that. Done that getting hauled to the police station thing because of it, too.I appreciate your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/nope-he-sat-back-just-been-there-done-that-done-that-getting-hauled/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“It was terrible and awful when someone left you. You could move on, do the best you could, but like Eli had said, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-was-terrible-and-awful-when-someone-left-you-you-could-move-on-do/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“You're supposed to fail sometimes. It's a required part of the human existence -Eli”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-re-supposed-to-fail-sometimes-it-s-a-required-part-of-the-human/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“To me, summer has always been about potential. This was especially true when I was in high school. Those 3 or so months between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/to-me-summer-has-always-been-about-potential-this-was-especially-true/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“It was so risky and so scary, and yet at the same time, so beautiful. Maybe the truth was, it shouldn't be easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-was-so-risky-and-so-scary-and-yet-at-the-same-time-so-beautiful-2/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“I dialed the number slowly, wanting to get it right. Two rings, and he picked up. "Yes," I said after his hello. "Mclean?" he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-dialed-the-number-slowly-wanting-to-get-it-right-two-rings-and-he/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“We make such messes in this life, both accidently and on purpose. But wiping the surface clean doesn't really make anything any neater. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/we-make-such-messes-in-this-life-both-accidently-and-on-purpose-but/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“All I wanted - all I’d ever wanted - was just to get away. To be somewhere small where I could crowd in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/all-i-wanted-all-i-d-ever-wanted-was-just-to-get-away-to-be-somewhere/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“The truth was, there was no way everything could be the Best. Sometimes, when it came to events and people, it had to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-truth-was-there-was-no-way-everything-could-be-the-best-sometimes/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“Incluso ahora que estaba muerto, era un artista de un solo éxito. O dos, supongo, si me cuento a mí.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/incluso-ahora-que-estaba-muerto-era-un-artista-de-un-solo-xito-o-dos/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“I didn't hear the footsteps. Or see the shadow. Instead from where I was crouched on the ground, the green of the grass filling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-didn-t-hear-the-footsteps-or-see-the-shadow-instead-from-where-i/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“Because this is what happens when you try to run from the past. it doesn't just catch up: it overtakes, blotting out the future,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/because-this-is-what-happens-when-you-try-to-run-from-the-past-it/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“Nobody was all bad, I was learning. Even the worst person had someone who cared about them at some point" - Sydney Stanford”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/nobody-was-all-bad-i-was-learning-even-the-worst-person-had-someone/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

## 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 Along for the ride quotes

> [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/)

> [“It's never fifty-fifty in a marriage. Someone falls in love first. Someone puts someone else up on a pedestal. Someone works hard to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-never-fifty-fifty-in-a-marriage-someone-falls-in-love-first/)

[jodi picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> ['Faithfully' speaks to me. It's about a guy who's busy with his work, always on the road, but I'm still completely into you. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-garrett/faithfully-speaks-to-me-it-s-about-a-guy-who-s-busy-with-his-work/)

[Myles Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-garrett/)

> [“And you think you can help me find my way?” He shook his head, his eyes went warm and I got another neck squeeze,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/and-you-think-you-can-help-me-find-my-way-he-shook-his-head-his-eyes/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [“This is a 911? You know you only text that when someone is dead or dying. You scared the crap out of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/this-is-a-911-you-know-you-only-text-that-when-someone-is-dead-or/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [You know it's never fifty-fifty in a marriage. It's always seventy-thirty, or sixty-forty. Someone falls in love first. Someone puts someone else up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-know-it-s-never-fifty-fifty-in-a-marriage-it-s-always-seventy/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [You've got all these characters and yet, you're hovering over one character like a fly over a stinky diaper. Realize that you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-wendig/you-ve-got-all-these-characters-and-yet-you-re-hovering-over-one/)

[Chuck Wendig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-wendig/)

> [“Life…Isn't a roller coaster, it isn't unexpected or surprising. It's not a free ticket to go along for the ride... Simply put, Life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-hussain/life-isn-t-a-roller-coaster-it-isn-t-unexpected-or-surprising-it-s/)

Bilal Hussain

> [I'm a storyteller... I haves a God-given gift that I can share with you and perhaps entertain you and bring you along for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-m-a-storyteller-i-haves-a-god-given-gift-that-i-can-share-with-you/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [“Then he picks up the first book and holds it so Peter can read the title. I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This Peter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/then-he-picks-up-the-first-book-and-holds-it-so-peter-can-read-the/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [ I was lucky to come along for the ride. \[My mother\] really is an amazing woman. And the world we lived in in South… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/i-was-lucky-to-come-along-for-the-ride-my-mother-really-is-an-amazing/)

[Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/)

> [“Need to get to Ruislip by sparrow-fart though', said the squadron leader. 'Think you can do that? Can I come along for the ride?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rankin/need-to-get-to-ruislip-by-sparrow-fart-though-said-the-squadron/)

[Robert Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rankin/)

> [“It is the role of the BCYF caseworker to simply go along for the ride, so that if by some miracle it reaches the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-is-the-role-of-the-bcyf-caseworker-to-simply-go-along-for-the-ride/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [The ones that I love of 'I Love Lucy' are when one of them decides they need something, and the other one is along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennon-parham/the-ones-that-i-love-of-i-love-lucy-are-when-one-of-them-decides-they/)

[Lennon Parham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennon-parham/)

> [People are fascinated about the world above them because it seems so out-of-reach. My jump gave them an opportunity to come along for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-baumgartner/people-are-fascinated-about-the-world-above-them-because-it-seems-so/)

[Felix Baumgartner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-baumgartner/)

[Browse all 122 Along for the ride quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/along-for-the-ride/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It all counts,' Adam said again. 'And the bottom line is, what defines you isn't how many times you crash, but the number of times you get back on the bike. As long as it's one more, you're all good.-pg 325 Along for the Ride”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sarah Dessen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-all-counts-adam-said-again-and-the-bottom-line-is-what-defines-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Along for the ride"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-all-counts-adam-said-again-and-the-bottom-line-is-what-defines-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/sarah-dessen-110_along-for-the-ride_it-all-counts-adam-said-again-and-the-bo_1040109.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/sarah-dessen-110_along-for-the-ride_it-all-counts-adam-said-again-and-the-bo_1040109.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/sarah-dessen-110_along-for-the-ride_it-all-counts-adam-said-again-and-the-bo_1040109.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It all counts,' Adam said again. 'And the bottom line is, what defines you isn't how many times you crash…” — 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": "“It all counts,' Adam said again....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-all-counts-adam-said-again-and-the-bottom-line-is-what-defines-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-all-counts-adam-said-again-and-the-bottom-line-is-what-defines-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
