--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you have a reasonable system for…" description: "\"If you have a reasonable system for pursuing success, it can survive a lot of face-plants along the way. That knowledge makes success seem accessible. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/scott-adams-666_knowledge_if-you-have-a-reasonable-system-for-purs_2077220.jpg" --- # If you have a reasonable system for pursuing success, it… ![“If you have a reasonable system for pursuing success, it can survive a lot of face-plants along the way. That knowledge makes success seem accessible. If you think successful people have some sort of superpower or special connections, why try?” quote by Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/scott-adams-666_knowledge_if-you-have-a-reasonable-system-for-purs_2077220.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/scott-adams-666_knowledge_if-you-have-a-reasonable-system-for-purs_2077220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/scott-adams-666_knowledge_if-you-have-a-reasonable-system-for-purs_2077220.jpg) > “If you have a reasonable system for pursuing success, it can survive a lot of face-plants along the way. That knowledge makes success seem accessible. If you think successful people have some sort of superpower or special connections, why try?” [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A solid, adaptable plan for success tolerates repeated failures, making achievement feel attainable rather than mystical. **In simple terms:** A good system survives setbacks. Key Takeaway Build resilient strategies. Themes success systems resilience Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice self‑help When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - career planning - personal development Key Concepts growth mindset goal setting failure analysis Questions to Reflect On - What failures teach you? - How can you improve your system? A Different Perspective Systems may become rigid if not updated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Pursuing Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuing-success-1374555/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Accessible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-accessible-4038690/) [Success Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-survive-4038689/) [Successful people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-people/) [Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survive/) [Think Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-successful/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I was happier when pursuing success than I was when savoring its fruits; the attraction, perhaps the addiction, was in the process, as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steinhardt/i-was-happier-when-pursuing-success-than-i-was-when-savoring-its/) [Michael Steinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steinhardt/) > [It doesn't matter whether you are pursuing success in business, sports, the arts, or life in general: The bridge between wishing and accomplishing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-whether-you-are-pursuing-success-in-business-sports/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Pursuing success is like chasing the horizon, and failure is an integral part of an interesting life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/pursuing-success-is-like-chasing-the-horizon-and-failure-is-an/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I would define success as setting a goal for yourself and then accomplishing it. I think successful people set out to do something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-addai-robinson/i-would-define-success-as-setting-a-goal-for-yourself-and-then/) [Cynthia Addai-Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-addai-robinson/) > [Remind yourself regularly that you are better than you think you are. Successful people are not superhuman. Success does not require a super-intellect. Nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-schwartz/remind-yourself-regularly-that-you-are-better-than-you-think-you-are/) [David J. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-schwartz/) > [Beware the advice of successful people; they do not seek company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/beware-the-advice-of-successful-people-they-do-not-seek-company/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [You should pursue your passion. If you're passionate about something and you work hard, then I think you will be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/you-should-pursue-your-passion-if-you-re-passionate-about-something-2/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [I assume everybody thinks they're a top-five quarterback. I mean, I think I'm the best. I don't think I'm top five, I think I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/i-assume-everybody-thinks-they-re-a-top-five-quarterback-i-mean-i/) [Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/) > [“They think that ‘I can be successful’ just because they read or heard the same thing”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/think-maverick/they-think-that-i-can-be-successful-just-because-they-read-or-heard/) [Think Maverick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/think-maverick/) > [I had a mental block. I didn't think I could be successful at right end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/i-had-a-mental-block-i-didn-t-think-i-could-be-successful-at-right-end/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [You can't break through Hollywood formulaic points of view. I've tried, and I think I was more successful than anybody at doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/you-can-t-break-through-hollywood-formulaic-points-of-view-i-ve-tried/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [I think everyone who's successful consistently is ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lassiter/i-think-everyone-who-s-successful-consistently-is-ambitious/) [James Lassiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lassiter/) > [“No matter how great you ‘think’ you are or how successful you've become. Never forget those who have lifted you up. Never forget life's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-murphy/no-matter-how-great-you-think-you-are-or-how-successful-you-ve-become/) [James A. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-murphy/) > [I don't think I'm successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-eclair/i-don-t-think-i-m-successful/) [Jenny Eclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-eclair/) > [I spent all my time in the clouds or the dirt and that is why I think I’m successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-spent-all-my-time-in-the-clouds-or-the-dirt-and-that-is-why-i-think/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) ## More by Scott Adams > [The creator of the universe works in mysterious ways. But he uses a base ten counting system and likes round numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-creator-of-the-universe-works-in-mysterious-ways-but-he-uses-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you think your odds of solving your problem are bad, don’t rule out the possibility that what is really happening is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-think-your-odds-of-solving-your-problem-are-bad-don-t-rule-out/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Frankly, I’m suspicious of anyone who has a strong opinion on a complicated issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/frankly-i-m-suspicious-of-anyone-who-has-a-strong-opinion-on-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you want success, figure out the price, then pay it. It sounds trivial and obvious, but if you unpack the idea it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-want-success-figure-out-the-price-then-pay-it-it-sounds/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Ideas are worthless, execution is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/ideas-are-worthless-execution-is-everything/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [For five hundred dollars, I'll name a subatomic particle after you. Some of my satisfied customers include Arthur C. Quark and George Meson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/for-five-hundred-dollars-i-ll-name-a-subatomic-particle-after-you/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Failure always brings something valuable with it. I don’t let it leave until I extract that value.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/failure-always-brings-something-valuable-with-it-i-don-t-let-it-leave/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The longer you verk here, diverse it gets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-longer-you-verk-here-diverse-it-gets/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“On all the important stuff, we are emotional creatures who make decisions first and rationalize them after the fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/on-all-the-important-stuff-we-are-emotional-creatures-who-make/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“What you rarely see is a stillborn failure that transmogrifies into a stellar success. Small successes can grow into big ones, but failures rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/what-you-rarely-see-is-a-stillborn-failure-that-transmogrifies-into-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Because everything you perceive is a metaphor for something your brain is not equipped to fully understand. God is as real as the clothes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/because-everything-you-perceive-is-a-metaphor-for-something-your/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Capitalism is rotten at every level, and yet it adds up to something extraordinarily useful for society over time. The paradox of capitalism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/capitalism-is-rotten-at-every-level-and-yet-it-adds-up-to-something/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The best part about being my age is in knowing how my life worked out. Sure, there's a lot more living to go, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-best-part-about-being-my-age-is-in-knowing-how-my-life-worked-out/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [If you see voters as rational, you'll be a terrible politician. People are not wired to be rational. Our brains simply evolved to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-see-voters-as-rational-you-ll-be-a-terrible-politician-people/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [E-books are impervious to analogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/e-books-are-impervious-to-analogy/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) [Explore all 418 Scott Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) ## More Knowledge quotes > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-zimmer/i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted-the-sweetness-of/) [Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-zimmer/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I am an aware citizen, so I want my characters to be aware, too. They should be aware of what's happening in the society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/i-am-an-aware-citizen-so-i-want-my-characters-to-be-aware-too-they/) [Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/) > [Technology means the systematic application of scientific or other organized knowledge to practical tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/technology-means-the-systematic-application-of-scientific-or-other/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Love is a vision,love carry our vision,and love by-step our vision. we carry our love to our by-step. once love is vision love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-a-vision-love-carry-our-vision-and-love-by-step-our-vision-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Man is an ignoramus athirst for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wagner/man-is-an-ignoramus-athirst-for-knowledge/) [Charles Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wagner/) [Browse all 13,227 Knowledge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you have a reasonable system for pursuing success, it can survive a lot of face-plants along the way. 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