QuoteProject
You cannot measure a man by his failures. You must know what use he makes of them. What did they mean to him. What did he get out of them.
Orison Swett Marden
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

A person's failures should not define them; rather, it's their response to those failures that is important.

This quote emphasizes the idea that failures are not the ultimate measure of a person's worth. Instead, the focus should be on how an individual interprets and learns from their failures, as well as the value they extract from those experiences. It suggests that resilience and the ability to grow from setbacks are what truly define a person's character and potential.

Themes

FailuresGrowthResilienceLearningCharacter

In practice

Example use cases

A speaker at a personal development workshop could use this quote to inspire attendees to view their setbacks as opportunities for growth.

More from Orison Swett Marden

Opportunity is latent in the very foundation of human society. Opportunity is everywhere about us. But the preparation to seize upon the opportunity, and to make the most of it, is to be made by every one for himself ... he will be self-made or never made.
Orison Swett MardenRead
We lift ourselves by our thought, we climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself. Hold the ideal of yourself as you long to be, always, everywhere - your ideal of what you long to attain - the ideal of health, efficiency, success.
Orison Swett MardenRead
You know from past experiences that whenever you have been driven to the wall, or thought you were, you have extricated yourself in a way which you never would have dreamed possible had you not been put to the test. The trouble is that in your everyday life you don't go deep enough to tap the divine mind within you.
Orison Swett MardenRead
Something greater than wealth, grander even than fame β€” that manhood, character, stand for success, and that nothing else really does.
Orison Swett MardenRead
Many a man has finally succeeded only because he has failed after repeated efforts. If he had never met defeat he would never have known any great victory.
Orison Swett MardenRead
If our dreams are sincere desires to achieve, not mere pipe-dreams, there is something deep within ourselves which comes out to meet them and helps to make them realities.
Orison Swett MardenRead

Similar quotes

I used to be one of those students who needed to see something bigger, and God brought people into my life who gave me a bigger vision than the circumstances that surrounded me.
Tony EvansRead
It is a good rule never to look into the face of a man in the morning till you have looked into the face of God.
Charles SpurgeonRead
All those paper people living in their paper houses, burning the future to stay warm.
John GreenRead
You are something new in this world. Never before, since the beginning of time, has there ever been anybody exactly like you; and never again throughout all the ages to come will there ever be anybody exactly like you again.
Dale CarnegieRead
I've never bothered about my color. I never had that thing about being black. If the whole world was like that, maybe there would be more harmony and love. Maybe. I don't have a problem with being black in a white country or being with my people.
Tina TurnerRead
The necessary thing for anyone to be happy and contented as long as he lives is working for the ones who will come after him rather than working for himself... One can reach the true delight and happiness in the life only by working for the existence, honor, and happiness of the future generations.
Mustafa Kemal AtaturkRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.