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About this quote

What does it mean?
Experiencing life, even with failure, is better than never trying.
In plain terms
It is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried.
What can you take from it?
Experience matters more than success.

Where it applies

  • career choices
  • life decisions
  • overcoming fear

Putting it to work

  • take risks
  • accept failure

Questions to consider

  • What would you regret not doing?
  • Is failure always valuable?

Another view

Some risks have high costs beyond regret.

More from James Thurber

  1. Don't get it right, just get it written.

    Permalink to quote #14
  2. Nowadays most men lead lives of noisy desperation.

    Permalink to quote #16
  3. He who hesitates is sometimes saved.

    Permalink to quote #13

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