Failure Quote by William Makepeace Thackeray
““Perhaps as he was lying awake then, his life may have passed before him--his early hopeful struggles, his manly successes and prosperity, his downfall in his declining years, and his present helpless condition--no chance of revenge against Fortune, which had had the better of him--neither name nor money to bequeath--a spent-out, bootless life of defeat and disappointment, and the end here! Which, I wonder, brother reader, is the better lot, to die prosperous and famous, or poor and disappointed? To have, and to be forced to yield; or to sink out of life, having played and lost the game? That must be a strange feeling, when a day of our life comes and we say, “To-morrow, success or failure won’t matter much, and the sun will rise, and all the myriads of mankind go to their work or their pleasure as usual, but I shall be out of the turmoil.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The History of Henry Esmond, 1852
Life’s value is measured by fulfillment versus regret, not by wealth or fame.
In simple terms: Choose meaning over material success.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize purpose over prestige.
Themes
meaning
mortality
contentment
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career choices
- retirement planning
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
philosophy
literature
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a life well lived for you?
- How do you balance ambition with inner peace?
A Different Perspective
Focusing solely on success can ignore deeper satisfaction.
