A Quote by W. Somerset Maugham

Failure make people bitter and cruel. Success improves the character of the man.

W. Somerset Maugham

Quote Topics

Bitter Character Cruel Failure He Man Make Man People Success

Quote Author

W. Somerset Maugham
British - Novelist
January 25, 1874 - December 16, 1965

Not many people are willing to give failure a second opportunity. They fail once and it is all over. The bitter pill of failure is often more than most people can handle. If you are willing to accept failure and learn from it, if you are willing to consider failure as a blessing in disguise and bounce back, you have got the essential of harnessing one of the most powerful success forces.

Joseph Sugarman

I always assume that nothing that I make is going to be a success, that everything I make is going to be a failure - not a failure but not some huge box- office success. If something is an artistic success, I'll be happy, but I'll maybe be the only person that's happy.

James Ivory

Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success. I've met people who don't want to try for fear of failing.

J. K. Rowling

The chief factor in any man's success or failure must be his own character.

Theodore Roosevelt

Make no cry in failure! Make no noise in success! In failure, silence; in success, silence! Fly with the same attitude both in the high and in the low altitudes!

Mehmet Murat Ildan

Cultivate your desire for success to be greater than the fear of failure; Failure is merely a pitstop between where you stand and success. Failure allows you to learn the fastest; Failure inspires winners and defeats losers.

Fran Tarkenton

The man who lives for himself is a failure. Even if he gains much wealth, position or fortune, he is still a failure. The man who lives for others has achieved true success. A rich man who consecrates his wealth and his position to the good of humanity is a success.

Norman Vincent Peale

The opposite of success is not failure. Unsuccessful efforts are not failures unless they so discourage you that you abandon further efforts to achieve your goal. Even then, the venture or effort may be a failure but you are not. Failure is an event not a character trait.

Michael Josephson

Supporting the people in our businesses is what we need to be thinking about. It's a no-brainer. It improves leadership. It improves productivity. It cultivates this entrepreneurship concept and improves retention.

Meena Harris

What is failure? We can’t possibly know what failure is. Most people think they do, but that’s because they’re judging how their lives should be and what they need it to be: a success. Who is to say what’s a success and what’s a failure? Do your best. Trust. Relax. Do your best. Enjoy yourself.

Gary Zukav

I firmly believe that unless one has tasted the bitter pill of failure, one cannot aspire enough for success.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Failure instructs, failure improves. Failure shouldn't deter you.

Tucker Max

People think that the opposite of success is failure, but it's not. Failure is part of the process of success.

Randy Gage

You can be discouraged by failure, or you can learn from it. So go ahead and make mistakes, make all you can. Because, remember that's where you'll find success - on the far side of failure.

Thomas J. Watson

Success and failure are both difficult to endure. Along with success come drugs, divorce, fornication, bullying, travel, meditation, medication, depression, neurosis and suicide. With failure comes failure.