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Fails Quotes

Wit and lessons drawn from what goes wrong

These short, punchy quotes twist the usual failure cliches into something sharper, arguing that both failure and success can fail in their own way. One line jokes about a backup plan that's really no different from the original, a wink our Could page shares in tone.

If all else fails, birdie the last.

Quotes by Adam Derek Scott

More can be learned from what works than from what fails.

Quotes by Rene Dubos

If Plan A fails, they could always revert to Plan A.

Quotes by Mark Lawrenson

Nothing fails like failure.

Quotes by Margaret Drabble

Always Quotes

Nothing fails like success.

Quotes by Lincoln Steffens

Sometimes one succeeds, sometimes one fails.

Quotes by Harold Bloom

I'm interested in when language fails, when it is opaque.

Quotes by Glenn Ligon

Everybody fails.

Quotes by Chris Coleman

One fails forward toward success.

Quotes by Charles Kettering

Birdie Quotes

If the euro fails, Europe fails.

Quotes by Angela Merkel

Frequently Asked Questions

What tone do these fails quotes take?
They're short and witty, twisting the usual language around failure into something more ironic, like the idea that even success can fail.
Why do people search for fails quotes?
Sharp, quotable lines about failure tend to get shared often, especially when they offer a fresh or humorous take rather than a cliche.
Is there a serious quote mixed in with the humor?
Yes, one closes on a thoughtful note, arguing that the real lessons tend to come from what succeeds rather than from what goes wrong, balancing the wit elsewhere on the page.
Does any quote play with the idea of backup plans?
One does, joking that if Plan A fails, the fallback is simply reverting to Plan A, poking fun at the illusion of having options.
Where can I read more in this vein?
Browse Could for more on possibility and hesitation, or Always for the habits that stay constant.

The final quote turns serious, suggesting there is more to learn from success than from failure itself. For related takes on things that dont quite land, see Else, or browse Always for the habits that hold steady regardless.