--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The easiest thing to do, whenever you…" description: "\"The easiest thing to do, whenever you fail, is to put yourself down by blaming your lack of ability for your misfortunes.\" — Washington Irving" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/washington-irving-1386_ability_the-easiest-thing-to-do-whenever-you-fai_1532579.png" --- # The easiest thing to do, whenever you fail, is to put… ![“The easiest thing to do, whenever you fail, is to put yourself down by blaming your lack of ability for your misfortunes.” quote by Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/washington-irving-1386_ability_the-easiest-thing-to-do-whenever-you-fai_1532579.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/washington-irving-1386_ability_the-easiest-thing-to-do-whenever-you-fai_1532579.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/washington-irving-1386_ability_the-easiest-thing-to-do-whenever-you-fai_1532579.png) > “The easiest thing to do, whenever you fail, is to put yourself down by blaming your lack of ability for your misfortunes.” [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When you fail, blaming yourself for lack of ability deepens the setback. **In simple terms:** Self‑blame worsens failure. Key Takeaway Focus on growth, not self‑criticism. Themes failure self‑blame growth Mood thoughtful encouraging Type self‑help motivational When to use this quote - career setbacks - academic challenges - personal goals Key Concepts psychology self‑esteem resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe failure positively? - What steps help you move from blame to action? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can sometimes motivate improvement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-misfortunes-5690298/) [Blaming Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blaming-lack-5690297/) [Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail/) [Fail Blaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-blaming-5690296/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Lack Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-ability-290788/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing can be more touching than to behold a soft and tender female, who had been all weakness and dependence, and alive to every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/nothing-can-be-more-touching-than-to-behold-a-soft-and-tender-female/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Small minds are subdued by misfortunes, greater minds overcome them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/small-minds-are-subdued-by-misfortunes-greater-minds-overcome-them/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Being gifted intellectually is only a small part of the equation of success. Concentrate on the factors you have control over: persistence, self-discipline, confidence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/being-gifted-intellectually-is-only-a-small-part-of-the-equation-of/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [“Partly this has to do with the tendency for females to blame failure on a lack of ability. Males do just the opposite. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-young/partly-this-has-to-do-with-the-tendency-for-females-to-blame-failure/) [Valerie Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-young/) > [It is lack of focus,not lack of ability that holds back from the potential. If you find it difficult to deal with where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/it-is-lack-of-focus-not-lack-of-ability-that-holds-back-from-the/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Today was about our lack of ability to not produce the ability we've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/today-was-about-our-lack-of-ability-to-not-produce-the-ability-we-ve/) [Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/) > [“The lack of ability of those in charge to get a grip on a situation, and to take immediate, decisive action rather than simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-chalk/the-lack-of-ability-of-those-in-charge-to-get-a-grip-on-a-situation/) [Frank Chalk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-chalk/) > [All the injustice in this world is a result of ones lack of ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tokyo-ghoul/all-the-injustice-in-this-world-is-a-result-of-ones-lack-of-ability/) [Tokyo Ghoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tokyo-ghoul/) > [“If they’re forced into a challenge they don’t feel prepared for, they may even engage in what psychologists call “self-handicapping”: deliberately doing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mcardle/if-they-re-forced-into-a-challenge-they-don-t-feel-prepared-for-they/) [Megan McArdle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mcardle/) > [Nobody have the ability to minister to men if you lack the ability to minister to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justiceogali/nobody-have-the-ability-to-minister-to-men-if-you-lack-the-ability-to/) [Justiceogali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justiceogali/) > [There is no such thing as luck, only situations combine with other situations. Who is the one creating those situations?every time someone is disadvantaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tokyo-ghoul/there-is-no-such-thing-as-luck-only-situations-combine-with-other/) [Tokyo Ghoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tokyo-ghoul/) > [“Don't waste time with people who lack the ability to pick up the pace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/don-t-waste-time-with-people-who-lack-the-ability-to-pick-up-the-pace/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Cowardice... is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend functioning of the imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/cowardice-is-almost-always-simply-a-lack-of-ability-to-suspend/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Those who dropped out of training rarely did so from lack of ability. Rather, what mattered, Mike said, was a “never give up” attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/those-who-dropped-out-of-training-rarely-did-so-from-lack-of-ability/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) ## More by Washington Irving > [Some minds corrode and grow inactive under the loss of personal liberty; others grow morbid and irritable; but it is the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-corrode-and-grow-inactive-under-the-loss-of-personal/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Language gradually varies, and with it fade away the writings of authors who have flourished their allotted time; otherwise, the creative powers of genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/language-gradually-varies-and-with-it-fade-away-the-writings-of/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's life is a history of the affections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Over no nation does the press hold a more absolute control than over the people of America, for the universal education of the poorest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/over-no-nation-does-the-press-hold-a-more-absolute-control-than-over/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I have never found, in anything outside of the four walls of my study, an enjoyment equal to sitting at my writing desk with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-have-never-found-in-anything-outside-of-the-four-walls-of-my-study/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is no character in the comedy of human life more difficult to play well than that of an old bachelor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-no-character-in-the-comedy-of-human-life-more-difficult-to/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-proportion-to-his-thoughts-he/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Redundancy of language is never found with deep reflection. Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. He who thinks much says but little in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/redundancy-of-language-is-never-found-with-deep-reflection-verbiage/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is a majestic grandeur in tranquillity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-a-majestic-grandeur-in-tranquillity/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There rise authors now and then, who seem proof against the mutability of language, because they have rooted themselves in the unchanging principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-rise-authors-now-and-then-who-seem-proof-against-the-mutability/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is nothing in England that exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-nothing-in-england-that-exercises-a-more-delightful-spell/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [It is but seldom that any one overt act produces hostilities between two nations; there exists, more commonly, a previous jealousy and ill will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/it-is-but-seldom-that-any-one-overt-act-produces-hostilities-between/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) [Explore all 244 Washington Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The easiest thing to do, whenever you fail, is to put yourself down by blaming your lack of ability for your misfortunes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Washington Irving" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/the-easiest-thing-to-do-whenever-you-fail-is-to-put-yourself-down-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/the-easiest-thing-to-do-whenever-you-fail-is-to-put-yourself-down-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/washington-irving-1386_ability_the-easiest-thing-to-do-whenever-you-fai_1532579.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/washington-irving-1386_ability_the-easiest-thing-to-do-whenever-you-fai_1532579.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/washington-irving-1386_ability_the-easiest-thing-to-do-whenever-you-fai_1532579.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The easiest thing to do, whenever you fail, is to put yourself down by blaming your lack of ability for your…” — Washington Irving", "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": "Washington Irving", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The easiest thing to do, whenever...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/the-easiest-thing-to-do-whenever-you-fail-is-to-put-yourself-down-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/the-easiest-thing-to-do-whenever-you-fail-is-to-put-yourself-down-by/#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 } } ] } ```