Firsts Quote by Stephen Leacock
“There is an old motto that runs, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." This is nonsense. It ought to read, "If at first you don't succeed, quit, quit at once."”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Book of Humorous Quotations, 1915
The usual encouragement to persist is flawed; sometimes quitting is wiser.
In simple terms: Sometimes quitting is smarter than persisting.
Key Takeaway
Know when to stop and change direction.
Themes
perseverance
failure
quit
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- career setbacks
- creative projects
- personal goals
Key Concepts
psychology
motivation
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- When is quitting a sign of strength?
- How do you differentiate persistence from stubbornness?
A Different Perspective
Quitting can be seen as giving up, harming reputation.
![“Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to…” quote by A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/a-r-rahman-4481_cutting_since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-o_539.jpg)
