QuoteProject
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
John Kenneth Galbraith
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Mistakes can lead to lasting recognition if they are significant enough.

This quote suggests that even in failure, there is an opportunity for one to be remembered or achieve a form of immortality through the magnitude of their mistakes. It highlights that making a bold error can sometimes be more memorable and impactful than success, reinforcing the idea that notoriety can come from various forms of action, even if they are not traditionally viewed as positive.

Themes

ImmortalityErrorFailureRecognitionNotoriety

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be shared during a speech about overcoming failures in entrepreneurship.

More from John Kenneth Galbraith

One of the little-celebrated powers of Presidents (and other high government officials) is to listen to their critics with just enough sympathy to ensure their silence.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
All successful revolutions are the kicking in of a rotten door.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
Money differs from an automobile or mistress in being equally important to those who have it and those who do not.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
Were it part of our everyday education and comment that the corporation is an instrument for the exercise of power, that it belongs to the process by which we are governed, there would then be debate on how that power is used and how it might be made subordinate to the public will and need. This debate is avoided by propagating the myth that the power does not exist.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead

Similar quotes

Allah will never disappoint the sincere caller. Even when you think He hasn’t answered you, He plans in your favor.
Omar SuleimanRead
The starting point of discovering who you are, your gifts, your talents, your dreams, is being comfortable with yourself. Spend time alone. Write in a journal. Take long walks in the woods.
Robin S. SharmaRead
The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.
EpictetusRead
The danger that keeps me just a little frightened with every book I write, however, is that I'll overreach myself once too often and try to write a story that I'm just plain not talented or skilful enough to write. That's the dilemma every storyteller faces. It is painful to fail. But it is far sadder when a storyteller stops wanting to try.
Orson Scott CardRead
A little insomnia is not without its value in making us appreciate sleep, in throwing a ray of light upon that darkness.
Marcel ProustRead
The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.
James M. BarrieRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.