One big disappointment in my life was One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I bought the rights to the book, but no one wanted to make it into a movie. So I paid to have it made into a Broadway play. There was one line in there that was so beautiful. McMurphy is trying to help all these people on the ward. There was a sink, and he tried to lift it out of the wall, but he couldn't. He tried really hard, but it wouldn't budge. As he was leaving the room, with all the guys watching, he turned around and said, 'But I tried, goddammit, I tried!' Sometimes I think I should have that as my epitaph.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Effort and integrity matter more than success in the end.
- In plain terms
- Trying your best is something to be proud of.
- What can you take from it?
- Value the attempt, not just the outcome.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What matters more: trying or winning?
- How do you measure success?
Another view
Results often determine reward in the real world.
More from Kirk Douglas
Mistakes that are perceived as mistakes are often not mistakes at all.
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Permalink to quote #16 No matter how bad things are, they can always be worse. So what if my stroke left me with a speech impediment? Moses had one, and he did all right.
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