--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You're going to fail. It's how you…" description: "\"You're going to fail. It's how you respond to that failure that kind of defines you as a person, as an athlete.\" — Vernon Wells" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/vernon-wells-31761_fail_you-re-going-to-fail-it-s-how-you-respon_1506803.jpg" --- # You're going to fail. It's how you respond to that failure… ![“You're going to fail. It's how you respond to that failure that kind of defines you as a person, as an athlete.” quote by Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/vernon-wells-31761_fail_you-re-going-to-fail-it-s-how-you-respon_1506803.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/vernon-wells-31761_fail_you-re-going-to-fail-it-s-how-you-respon_1506803.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb9/vernon-wells-31761_fail_you-re-going-to-fail-it-s-how-you-respon_1506803.jpg) > “You're going to fail. It's how you respond to that failure that kind of defines you as a person, as an athlete.” [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Failure tests character; response shapes identity and future success. **In simple terms:** How you react to failure defines you. Key Takeaway Own your reaction, grow from it. Themes resilience growth identity Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - sports competition - career setbacks - personal crises - team dynamics Key Concepts psychology mindset performance Questions to Reflect On - What does your response to failure reveal about you? - How can you turn setbacks into strengths? A Different Perspective Success also needs skill and opportunity, not just reaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [If a person, an athlete is not versed in something, their first reaction when there is a bad situation is not a good feeling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-assuncao/if-a-person-an-athlete-is-not-versed-in-something-their-first/) [Raphael Assuncao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-assuncao/) > [The worst of failure of this kind is that it spoils the market for more competent performers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/the-worst-of-failure-of-this-kind-is-that-it-spoils-the-market-for/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [I think that failure is just as important as success. In a way, failure is a kind of success if you can look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-that-failure-is-just-as-important-as-success-in-a-way-failure/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [Art school had taught me it was far better to be a flamboyant failure than any kind of benign success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mclaren/art-school-had-taught-me-it-was-far-better-to-be-a-flamboyant-failure/) [Malcolm Mclaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mclaren/) > [I've won five races as a pro and become European champion in time-trial. I'm growing stronger as a person and as an athlete. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remco-evenepoel/i-ve-won-five-races-as-a-pro-and-become-european-champion-in-time/) [Remco Evenepoel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remco-evenepoel/) > [I think the people who have really followed my career from the time I was seven years old can see my steady progress and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/i-think-the-people-who-have-really-followed-my-career-from-the-time-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [You keep on going if you fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ramsey/you-keep-on-going-if-you-fail/) [Laura Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ramsey/) > [You have to be able to be a good loser. You have to be okay knowing you're going to fail every day in something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-o-brien/you-have-to-be-able-to-be-a-good-loser-you-have-to-be-okay-knowing/) [Dan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-o-brien/) > [We all have to decide how we are going to fail, by not going far enough or by going too far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumner-redstone/we-all-have-to-decide-how-we-are-going-to-fail-by-not-going-far/) [Sumner Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumner-redstone/) > [At some point, we all have to decide how we are going to fail: by not going far enough, or by going too far.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/at-some-point-we-all-have-to-decide-how-we-are-going-to-fail-by-not/) [Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) > [I don't believe in a price on carbon, because the government is going to control it and they're going to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-boone-pickens/i-don-t-believe-in-a-price-on-carbon-because-the-government-is-going/) [T. Boone Pickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-boone-pickens/) > [Without the right attitude, a business with everything going for it will fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-heller/without-the-right-attitude-a-business-with-everything-going-for-it/) [Robert Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-heller/) > [I'm just not willing to give up on myself. If I'm going to fail, then I want to fail to the limits of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-m-just-not-willing-to-give-up-on-myself-if-i-m-going-to-fail-then-i/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [It isn't that every company is going to be successful. The law of averages shows that 80% of companies are going to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-carter/it-isn-t-that-every-company-is-going-to-be-successful-the-law-of/) [Troy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-carter/) > [If you know you are going to fail, then fail gloriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/if-you-know-you-are-going-to-fail-then-fail-gloriously/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) ## More by Vernon Wells > [As hitters, I think we take for granted at times how good our hands are and just how much the value of truly getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/as-hitters-i-think-we-take-for-granted-at-times-how-good-our-hands/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [If I'm going to wind up playing left, I want to be the best left fielder in the game. I'll work to be that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/if-i-m-going-to-wind-up-playing-left-i-want-to-be-the-best-left/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [I keep a lot of things inside. I don't like showing too much emotion. Early in the minor leagues, they wanted me to show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/i-keep-a-lot-of-things-inside-i-don-t-like-showing-too-much-emotion/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [I think hitting's just repetition. The more you hit, the better you're gonna get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/i-think-hitting-s-just-repetition-the-more-you-hit-the-better-you-re/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [I got to the big leagues when I was 20. I thought I had it all figured out. Went to spring training that next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/i-got-to-the-big-leagues-when-i-was-20-i-thought-i-had-it-all-figured/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [You get caught up in hitting home runs and seeing how far you can hit them, and your swing changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/you-get-caught-up-in-hitting-home-runs-and-seeing-how-far-you-can-hit/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [I've played in Boston and New York, and it doesn't matter if you're sick, aching - once you step on that field, you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/i-ve-played-in-boston-and-new-york-and-it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-re/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [I think I'm a guy who loves to play defense. I have a great time in the outfield. I think it's fun robbing guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/i-think-i-m-a-guy-who-loves-to-play-defense-i-have-a-great-time-in/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [There's a fine line between playing through things and sitting out. I was always on the side of, 'I'm going to play through it.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/there-s-a-fine-line-between-playing-through-things-and-sitting-out-i/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [My dad was a designer for Upper Deck, and I had hundreds of Ken Griffey Jr. cards. Hundreds. I could have paid for college…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/my-dad-was-a-designer-for-upper-deck-and-i-had-hundreds-of-ken/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [If I could go the ballpark and play the game for three hours and then go home? It would be awesome. But that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/if-i-could-go-the-ballpark-and-play-the-game-for-three-hours-and-then/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [I never lose confidence. As soon as you lose confidence, you're done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/i-never-lose-confidence-as-soon-as-you-lose-confidence-you-re-done/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [I guess my name was gonna be Michael Vernon Wells, and I came out, and my dad saw my nose. He always says that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/i-guess-my-name-was-gonna-be-michael-vernon-wells-and-i-came-out-and/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [I think you start hitting home runs, and you start getting caught up in seeing how far you can hit them. They're fun, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/i-think-you-start-hitting-home-runs-and-you-start-getting-caught-up/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) > [I remember the first time I played the triple-A Yankees when I was 20 years old, and Darryl Strawberry was on that team. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-wells/i-remember-the-first-time-i-played-the-triple-a-yankees-when-i-was-20/) [Vernon Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) [Explore all 16 Vernon Wells quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-wells/) ## More Fail quotes > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Would you like a side of epic with that fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabi/would-you-like-a-side-of-epic-with-that-fail/) [Gabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabi/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [My willingness to fail gives me the ability to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/my-willingness-to-fail-gives-me-the-ability-to-succeed/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [If you have a good idea you must explain it or you will fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-you-have-a-good-idea-you-must-explain-it-or-you-will-fail/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [What I want is to be willing to fail rather than stagnate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dickey/what-i-want-is-to-be-willing-to-fail-rather-than-stagnate/) [James Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dickey/) > [“If you die, I will find you. I will never leave you. I will never let you go. I will not let you fall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/if-you-die-i-will-find-you-i-will-never-leave-you-i-will-never-let/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [“The worst outcome of not trying is never getting to fail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-gary-smith/the-worst-outcome-of-not-trying-is-never-getting-to-fail/) [Phillip Gary Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-gary-smith/) > [“Many people fail in their career, business and relationship, and others get stuck because of their inability to make quality decisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkem-mpamah/many-people-fail-in-their-career-business-and-relationship-and-others/) [Nkem Mpamah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkem-mpamah/) > [“Quitters don’t gain what they have started working on; waiters don’t start what they could have gained. What is common there is failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/quitters-don-t-gain-what-they-have-started-working-on-waiters-don-t/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [This is my most important role. If I fail at this, I fail at everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/this-is-my-most-important-role-if-i-fail-at-this-i-fail-at-everything/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [Sunscreen is something that I think a lot of people fail to incorporate into their beauty routines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zegler/sunscreen-is-something-that-i-think-a-lot-of-people-fail-to/) [Rachel Zegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zegler/) > [Never give up on something just because you think you might fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-lee-reed-jr/never-give-up-on-something-just-because-you-think-you-might-fail/) Jimmy Lee Reed Jr > [The main thing that endears the United Nations to member governments, and so enables it to survive, is its proven capacity to fail, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-cruise-o-brien/the-main-thing-that-endears-the-united-nations-to-member-governments/) [Conor Cruise O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-cruise-o-brien/) Browse all 2,202 Fail quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You're going to fail. 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