--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success and failure are equally disastrous." description: "\"Success and failure are equally disastrous.\" — Tennessee Williams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/tennessee-williams-745_disastrous_success-and-failure-are-equally-disastro_862432.png" --- # Success and failure are equally disastrous. ![“Success and failure are equally disastrous.” quote by Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/tennessee-williams-745_disastrous_success-and-failure-are-equally-disastro_862432.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/tennessee-williams-745_disastrous_success-and-failure-are-equally-disastro_862432.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/tennessee-williams-745_disastrous_success-and-failure-are-equally-disastro_862432.png) > “Success and failure are equally disastrous.” [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success and failure both bring severe negative consequences, highlighting the importance of balance and perspective. **In simple terms:** Both outcomes can be harmful. Key Takeaway Seek balance, avoid extremes. Themes balance consequences perspective Mood anxious reflective Type philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - financial investments - health choices Key Concepts existential risk emotional volatility Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure true success? - What can failure teach you about priorities? A Different Perspective Success may feel rewarding but can lead to complacency; failure can teach resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disastrous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disastrous/) [Equally Disastrous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equally-disastrous-866758/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Equally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-equally-866759/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success and failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-and-failure/) [Success Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-failure/) ## Related quotes > [Success and failure are equally surprising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/success-and-failure-are-equally-surprising/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) > [I can easily be lying in the gutter with someone kicking mud in my face tomorrow as easily as I can float in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shenaz-treasury/i-can-easily-be-lying-in-the-gutter-with-someone-kicking-mud-in-my/) [Shenaz Treasury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shenaz-treasury/) > [But success and failure are of no account. They are God's concern, not mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/but-success-and-failure-are-of-no-account-they-are-god-s-concern-not/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Success and failure are two edges of the same blade, two sides of the same coin. To fear one is to forever deny the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-and-failure-are-two-edges-of-the-same-blade-two-sides-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The difference between insanity and genius is measured only by success and failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masashi-kishimoto/the-difference-between-insanity-and-genius-is-measured-only-by/) [Masashi Kishimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masashi-kishimoto/) > [What strikes me is that theres a very fine line between success and failure. Just one ingredient can make the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/what-strikes-me-is-that-theres-a-very-fine-line-between-success-and/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [Sheer persistence is the difference between success and failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/sheer-persistence-is-the-difference-between-success-and-failure/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“Success and failure are largely the results of our habitual thoughts & many people create by default. — Marie Cunningham”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-cunningham/success-and-failure-are-largely-the-results-of-our-habitual-thoughts/) [Marie Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-cunningham/) > [Welcome it as part of a process... you just can't avoid it... if you go to bat enough times, you are going to strike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-guber/welcome-it-as-part-of-a-process-you-just-can-t-avoid-it-if-you-go-to/) [Peter Guber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-guber/) > [“Often it is not the wrong start but the wrong stop that makes the difference between success and failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/often-it-is-not-the-wrong-start-but-the-wrong-stop-that-makes-the/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [Both success and failure begin with one step. Don't be afraid to take that step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-hope/both-success-and-failure-begin-with-one-step-don-t-be-afraid-to-take/) [Amber Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-hope/) > [“The way a young man spends his evenings is a part of that thin area between success and failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-r-young/the-way-a-young-man-spends-his-evenings-is-a-part-of-that-thin-area/) [Robert R. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-r-young/) > [Well, I think that there's a very thin dividing line between success and failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/well-i-think-that-there-s-a-very-thin-dividing-line-between-success/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“The rise or fall, success or failure of your dreams is largely dependent on the association you build yourself around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-rise-or-fall-success-or-failure-of-your-dreams-is-largely/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Success and failure are temporary in TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeeda-sheikh/success-and-failure-are-temporary-in-tv/) [Sanjeeda Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeeda-sheikh/) ## More by Tennessee Williams > [“Nothing human disgusts me unless its unkind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/nothing-human-disgusts-me-unless-its-unkind/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [These are the intensities that one cannot live with, that he has to outgrow if he wants to survive. But who can help grieving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/these-are-the-intensities-that-one-cannot-live-with-that-he-has-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Well, you better look out. They got a new bureau in the guvamint files. It’s called U.W. Stands for Useless Wimmen. Tha’s secret plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/well-you-better-look-out-they-got-a-new-bureau-in-the-guvamint-files/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [People go to the movies instead of moving. Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America, while everybody in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/people-go-to-the-movies-instead-of-moving-hollywood-characters-are/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [They chatter together like birds on Cypress Hill, but all they say is 'Live, live, live, live, live!' It's all they've learned, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/they-chatter-together-like-birds-on-cypress-hill-but-all-they-say-is/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [You take it for granted that I am in something that I want to get out of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/you-take-it-for-granted-that-i-am-in-something-that-i-want-to-get-out/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Guessing isn't knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/guessing-isn-t-knowing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I respect a person that has had to fight and howl for his decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-respect-a-person-that-has-had-to-fight-and-howl-for-his-decency/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/life-is-all-memory-except-for-the-one-present-moment-that-goes-by-you/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Most of the confidence which I appear to feel, especially when influenced by noon wine, is only a pretense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/most-of-the-confidence-which-i-appear-to-feel-especially-when/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I cannot write any sort of story unless there is at least one character in it for whom I have physical desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-cannot-write-any-sort-of-story-unless-there-is-at-least-one/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren't prepared to occupy a position. I've seen such pitiful cases in the South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-know-so-well-what-becomes-of-unmarried-women-who-aren-t-prepared-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“The Jefferson is such a dignified hotel / There is no such thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-jefferson-is-such-a-dignified-hotel-there-is-no-such-thing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“A drinking man's someone who wants to forget he isn't still young and believing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/a-drinking-man-s-someone-who-wants-to-forget-he-isn-t-still-young-and/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“As for me, no one will ever love me. But you could get used to me, couldn't you, Jimmy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/as-for-me-no-one-will-ever-love-me-but-you-could-get-used-to-me/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) [Explore all 373 Tennessee Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## More Disastrous quotes > [I never wanted System to take a hiatus. I think it was a disastrous move for us, because we never reached our peak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/i-never-wanted-system-to-take-a-hiatus-i-think-it-was-a-disastrous/) [John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/) > [Adrian's face was the picture of perfect politeness and restraint, meaning something disastrous was about to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/adrian-s-face-was-the-picture-of-perfect-politeness-and-restraint/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Nevertheless, the realization that breaking a pencil point would have far less disastrous consequences played little or no role, I believe, in this decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-a-marcus/nevertheless-the-realization-that-breaking-a-pencil-point-would-have/) [Rudolph A. Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-a-marcus/) > [Until higher institutions have been evolved, any attempt to break the old ones will be disastrous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/until-higher-institutions-have-been-evolved-any-attempt-to-break-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [My preoccupation has been from the very beginning that I believe that the "Brexit" referendum result is the most disastrous peacetime result that we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/my-preoccupation-has-been-from-the-very-beginning-that-i-believe-that/) [Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/) > [“It will take centuries to disconnect people from an addiction like religion; no matter how bad and disastrous it could be, but addiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/it-will-take-centuries-to-disconnect-people-from-an-addiction-like/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [“My stomach sank. I was in trouble. Big, disastrous, Maddox trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/my-stomach-sank-i-was-in-trouble-big-disastrous-maddox-trouble/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [The Citizens United decision has been disastrous for the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/the-citizens-united-decision-has-been-disastrous-for-the-american/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [Most poets' revisions are disastrous. They buckle and dent what was originally forged at a red-hot heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-longley/most-poets-revisions-are-disastrous-they-buckle-and-dent-what-was/) [Michael Longley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-longley/) > [“There's something about Easton that makes me want when I shouldn't, need when I needn't, and desire when I know it'll be disastrous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-bromberg/there-s-something-about-easton-that-makes-me-want-when-i-shouldn-t/) [K. Bromberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-bromberg/) > [A very difficult year is ahead of us. We must continue our efforts with decisiveness, to stay in the euro, to make sure we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-papademos/a-very-difficult-year-is-ahead-of-us-we-must-continue-our-efforts/) [Lucas Papademos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-papademos/) > [“Religion has had the disastrous effect of placing vitally important concepts, such as morality, happiness and love, in a supernatural realm inaccessible to man’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-smith/religion-has-had-the-disastrous-effect-of-placing-vitally-important/) [George H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-smith/) > [“I have tried to live with women who share a similar sensibility to mine, with predictably disastrous consequences, but the opposite route seems every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-have-tried-to-live-with-women-who-share-a-similar-sensibility-to/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [If you're actually talking to someone who's been through a disastrous number of years, that only means one thing: They survived it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/if-you-re-actually-talking-to-someone-who-s-been-through-a-disastrous/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [Suburban sprawl leads to social atomisation and fragmentation and is environmentally disastrous, as carbon-intensive car journeys displace local shops and replace public transport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rogers/suburban-sprawl-leads-to-social-atomisation-and-fragmentation-and-is/) [Richard Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rogers/) [Browse all 92 Disastrous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disastrous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Success and failure are equally disastrous.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tennessee Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/success-and-failure-are-equally-disastrous/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disastrous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/success-and-failure-are-equally-disastrous/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/tennessee-williams-745_disastrous_success-and-failure-are-equally-disastro_862432.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/tennessee-williams-745_disastrous_success-and-failure-are-equally-disastro_862432.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/tennessee-williams-745_disastrous_success-and-failure-are-equally-disastro_862432.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Success and failure are equally disastrous.” — Tennessee Williams", "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": "Tennessee Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Success and failure are equally disastrous.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/success-and-failure-are-equally-disastrous/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/success-and-failure-are-equally-disastrous/#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 } } ] } ```