You know, the greatest threat to success is not failure but boredom. It’s the quiet killer of progress that we rarely talk about. We’re so focused on avoiding failure, but the real enemy is the slow, grinding monotony that makes us quit.
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Meaning
The core message here is that the real derailer of long-term goals isn’t a spectacular crash, but the slow, gradual loss of interest and engagement.
Explanation
Let me break this down for you. We’re wired for novelty. When you start a new project, a new diet, a new business—it’s exciting. There’s a rush. But then… the plateau hits. The work becomes repetitive. That’s the boredom James Clear is talking about. It’s not that you can’t do it, it’s that you don’t *feel* like doing it anymore. And that feeling, if you don’t manage it, is what makes you stop. It’s what makes you abandon the consistent, daily actions that actually build success. Failure is loud and obvious; boredom is a silent leak that drains your motivation tank until it’s empty.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Category | Success (341) |
| Topics | consistency (66), discipline (252), motivation (113) |
| Literary Style | concise (408), provocative (37) |
| Emotion / Mood | pragmatic (36) |
| Overall Quote Score | 85 (305) |
Origin & Factcheck
This insight comes straight from James Clear’s 2018 book, Atomic Habits, which was published in the United States. You sometimes see similar sentiments floating around, but this specific, powerful phrasing is his.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | James Clear (42) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones (42) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
James Clear writes and speaks about the science of habits, decision making, and continuous improvement. After studying biomechanics at Denison University, he built jamesclear.com into a global platform and launched the 3-2-1 newsletter. His breakthrough came with Atomic Habits (2018), a bestseller that reframed habits through identity, environment design, and simple rules. He continues to teach practical strategies through speaking, courses, and essays. If you are exploring the James Clear book list, start with Atomic Habits and his curated reading guides and habit-building tools.
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | The greatest threat to success is not failure but boredom |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2018; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9780735211292; Last edition: 2023; Number of pages: 320. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 19, The Goldilocks Rule, page 237 |