Failure is not having the courage to try. It’s a powerful reframing that puts the power back in your hands. Let’s break down what makes this idea so transformative.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote redefines failure. It’s not an outcome, it’s an inaction. The real failure happens in the mind, the moment you decide not to begin.
Explanation
Look, I’ve worked with this concept for years, and here’s the thing. We’re conditioned to see failure as a bad result—a collapsed business, a rejected proposal. But Sharma flips the script. He’s saying the only true, unforgivable failure is the one that happens before you even start. It’s the business you never launched because you were scared of the market. It’s the conversation you didn’t have because you feared the answer. That initial lack of courage is the real enemy. Everything else? That’s just data. That’s just feedback. It’s the difference between being *in the arena* and just watching from the stands. And honestly, the view from the stands is pretty safe, but it’s also incredibly boring.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (4111) |
| Category | Personal Development (740) |
| Topics | courage (171), effort (82), failure (57) |
| Literary Style | concise (462) |
| Emotion / Mood | encouraging (325) |
| Overall Quote Score | 86 (300) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes straight from Robin Sharma’s 1999 bestseller, *The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari*. It’s a Canadian-authored book that sparked a global personal development movement. You sometimes see this sentiment floating around unattributed, but its true origin is firmly in Sharma’s work, a cornerstone of his philosophy on living a meaningful life.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Robin Sharma (51) |
| Source Type | Book (4592) |
| Source/Book Name | The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari (51) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1733) |
| Original Language | English (4111) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4592) |
Author Bio
Robin Sharma built a second career from the courtroom to the bookshelf, inspiring millions with practical ideas on leadership and personal mastery. After leaving law, he self-published The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, which became a global sensation and launched a prolific writing and speaking journey. The Robin Sharma book list features titles like Who Will Cry When You Die?, The Leader Who Had No Title, The 5AM Club, and The Everyday Hero Manifesto. Today he mentors top performers and organizations, sharing tools for deep work, discipline, and meaningful impact.
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Failure is not having the courage to try, nothing more and nothing less |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 1997; ISBN: 9780062515674; Latest Edition: HarperSanFrancisco Edition (2011); Number of Pages: 198 |
| Where is it? | Chapter: Lessons on Courage, Approximate page from 2011 edition: 110 |