Failing Quote by Steven D. Levitt
““Quitting is hard in part because it is equated with failure, and nobody likes to fail, or at least be seen failing. But is failure necessarily so terrible?””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Freakonomics Podcast, 2015
Failure is socially stigmatized, making quitting seem worse than it is; questioning that view can reduce fear of ending pursuits.
In simple terms: People fear failure, so quitting feels terrible.
Key Takeaway
Reframe quitting as a strategic choice.
Themes
psychology
risk
motivation
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- career change
- entrepreneurship
- habit cessation
Key Concepts
social stigma
decision making
learning from failure
Questions to Reflect On
- Is quitting always a sign of weakness?
- When can quitting be beneficial?
A Different Perspective
Failure can still have negative impacts.
![“[...]if you are hoping to damage opponents' mental health, go ahead and tell them how inferior or dim-witted or nasty they are. But even if you are certifiably right on every point, you should not think for a minute that you will ever be able to persuade them. Name-calling will make you an enemy…” quote by Steven D. Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4e9/steven-d-levitt-5284_first-place_if-you-are-hoping-to-damage-opponents-me_193482.jpg)
