--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success or failure in business is caused…" description: "\"Success or failure in business is caused more by mental attitude even than by mental capacity. Banish the fear-attitude; acquire the confident attitude..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/walter-dill-scott-66837_attitude_success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused_87132.jpg" --- # Success or failure in business is caused more by mental… ![“Success or failure in business is caused more by mental attitude even than by mental capacity. Banish the fear-attitude; acquire the confident attitude. And remember that the only way to acquire it is-to acquire it.” quote by Walter Dill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/walter-dill-scott-66837_attitude_success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused_87132.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/walter-dill-scott-66837_attitude_success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused_87132.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/walter-dill-scott-66837_attitude_success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused_87132.jpg) > “Success or failure in business is caused more by mental attitude even than by mental capacity. Banish the fear-attitude; acquire the confident attitude. And remember that the only way to acquire it is-to acquire it.” Walter Dill Scott ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mindset drives outcomes more than raw intellect; confidence must be cultivated deliberately. **In simple terms:** Attitude outweighs ability in business. Key Takeaway Adopt confidence, discard fear. Themes mindset confidence business success psychology Mood optimistic assertive Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - entrepreneurial ventures - career transitions - sales negotiations Key Concepts mental attitude fear confidence Practical Applications - coaching programs - self‑help workshops Questions to Reflect On - What practices build lasting confidence? - How can fear be systematically reduced? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Mental attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-attitude/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Success or failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-or-failure/) ## Related quotes > [Success or failure in business is caused more by the mental attitude even than by mental capacities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused-more-by-the-mental-attitude-2/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Success or failure in business is caused more by the mental attitude more than by mental capacities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-walter-scott/success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused-more-by-the-mental-attitude/) [Sir Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-walter-scott/) > [Your mental attitude is something you can control outright and you must use self discipline until you create a positive mental attitude - your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-mental-attitude-is-something-you-can-control-outright-and-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [If you are not satisfied with what is coming to you, start to work and change your mental attitude and mental states, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-walker-atkinson/if-you-are-not-satisfied-with-what-is-coming-to-you-start-to-work-and/) [William Walker Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-walker-atkinson/) > [We must recognize that the reality of another's fear is not to be estimated by our own attitude toward the object of the fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-g-wickes/we-must-recognize-that-the-reality-of-another-s-fear-is-not-to-be/) [Frances G. Wickes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-g-wickes/) > [Good work habits help develop an internal toughness and a self-confident attitude that will sustain you through every adversity and temporary discouragement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-fleyer/good-work-habits-help-develop-an-internal-toughness-and-a-self/) Paul J Fleyer > [Be strong enough to disappoint disappointment with a confident attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/be-strong-enough-to-disappoint-disappointment-with-a-confident/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [What separates champions from mere mortals is not just talent. It is attitude. It is mental strength. It is the willingness to fight when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prakah-iyer/what-separates-champions-from-mere-mortals-is-not-just-talent-it-is/) [Prakah Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prakah-iyer/) > [Failure or success in business is primarily not determined by mental capacity but by MENTAL ATTITUDES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dill-scott/failure-or-success-in-business-is-primarily-not-determined-by-mental/) Walter Dill Scott > [Mental attitude is more important than mental capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dill-scott/mental-attitude-is-more-important-than-mental-capacity/) Walter Dill Scott > [If you want to catch the right mental attitude, go where that attitude exists. Start by going to the people who have the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-want-to-catch-the-right-mental-attitude-go-where-that-attitude/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Having a positive mental attitude is asking how something can be done rather than saying it can't be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-a-positive-mental-attitude-is-asking-how-something-can-be-done/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So much of sport is that mental attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/so-much-of-sport-is-that-mental-attitude/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Our mental attitude transforms a situation into either a problem or an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/our-mental-attitude-transforms-a-situation-into-either-a-problem-or/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Mental attitude and concentration are the keys to pitching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferguson-jenkins/mental-attitude-and-concentration-are-the-keys-to-pitching/) Ferguson Jenkins ## More by Walter Dill Scott > [It is more than probable that the average man could, with no injury to his health, increase his efficiency fifty percent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dill-scott/it-is-more-than-probable-that-the-average-man-could-with-no-injury-to/) Walter Dill Scott > [Failure or success in business is primarily not determined by mental capacity but by MENTAL ATTITUDES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dill-scott/failure-or-success-in-business-is-primarily-not-determined-by-mental/) Walter Dill Scott > [Mental attitude is more important than mental capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dill-scott/mental-attitude-is-more-important-than-mental-capacity/) Walter Dill Scott Explore all 4 Walter Dill Scott quotes ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Success or failure in business is caused more by mental attitude even than by mental capacity. Banish the fear-attitude; acquire the confident attitude. And remember that the only way to acquire it is-to acquire it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Dill Scott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dill-scott/success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused-more-by-mental-attitude-even/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dill-scott/success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused-more-by-mental-attitude-even/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/walter-dill-scott-66837_attitude_success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused_87132.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/walter-dill-scott-66837_attitude_success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused_87132.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/walter-dill-scott-66837_attitude_success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused_87132.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Success or failure in business is caused more by mental attitude even than by mental capacity. Banish the…” — Walter Dill Scott", "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": "Walter Dill Scott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dill-scott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Success or failure in business is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dill-scott/success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused-more-by-mental-attitude-even/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dill-scott/success-or-failure-in-business-is-caused-more-by-mental-attitude-even/#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 } } ] } ```