Success and Failure

Finagle's Fourth Law: Once a job is fouled up, anything done to improve it only makes it worse.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

If you wish to reach the highest, begin at the lowest.

Publilius Syrus, in Success and Failure

Victory goes to the player who makes the next-to-last mistake.

Savielly Grigorievitch Tartakower, in Success and Failure

When one burns one's bridges, what a very nice fire it makes.

Dylan Thomas, in Success and Failure

Try a thing you haven't done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time, to figure out whether you like it or not.

Virgil Thomson, in Success and Failure

He is the best sailor who can steer within fewest points of the wind, and exact a motive power of the greatest obstacle.

Henry David Thoreau, in Success and Failure

Sometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world.

Lily Tomlin, in Success and Failure

If you cannot convince them, confuse them.

Harry S Truman, in Success and Failure

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence -- and then success is sure.

Mark Twain, in Success and Failure

If I traveled to the end of the rainbow
As Dame Fortune did intend,
Murphy would be there to tell me
The pot's at the other end.

Bert Whitney, in Success and Failure

Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.

Oscar Wilde, in Success and Failure and Vice and Virtue

The basis of optimism is sheer terror.

Oscar Wilde, in Success and Failure

Make voyages! Attempt them... there's nothing else.

Tennessee Williams, in Success and Failure

Nonchalance is the ability to remain down to earth when everything else is up in the air.

Earl Wilson, in Success and Failure

If you want to make enemies, try to change something.

Woodrow Wilson, in Success and Failure

A pessimist is one who builds dungeons in the air.

Walter Winchell, in Success and Failure

Nothing recedes like success.

Walter Winchell, in Success and Failure

Just because you've been wiping your ass for twenty years, that doesn't mean you've been doing it right.

John Winsett, (said at a training seminar), in Success and Failure and Wisdom and Ignorance

Where there is no vision, there is no achievment.

Chris Y., in Success and Failure

Don't let fear stop you.

William F. Light, (to someone threatening to knock him out), in Success and Failure