Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Failure is not the real problem; having low goals is. In bold endeavors, even failing is honorable.
In plain terms
Don't fear failing; fear aiming too low instead.
What can you take from it?
Aim high and accept failure as part of great attempts.

Where it applies

  • career goals
  • creative projects
  • personal growth

Putting it to work

  • set stretch goals
  • review risk tolerance
  • reframe setbacks

Questions to consider

  • What goal would you pursue if failure didn't matter?
  • Is low aim safer than high failure?

Another view

Some fields punish failure harshly regardless of intent.

More from Bruce Lee

  1. A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.

    Permalink to quote #73
  2. All types of knowledge, ultimately self knowledge.

    Permalink to quote #75
  3. Cease negative mental chattering. - If you think a thing is impossible, you'll make it impossible. Pessimism blunts the tools you need to succeed.

    Permalink to quote #72

Related quotes

  1. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much…

    Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt quote #5
  2. In order to achieve anything, you must be brave enough to fail.

    Kirk DouglasKirk Douglas quote #1
  3. If you don't fail at least 90 percent of the time, you're not aiming high enough.

    Alan KayAlan Kay quote #2