When you're 0-2 in the Super Bowl, they say unkind things about you. They say, 'He can't win the big one.' And that's the worst thing that can be said about you.
Don ShulaRead
Failure isn't fatal, and success isn't final.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success and failure are temporary conditions, neither of which defines the ultimate outcome.
Don Shula's quote emphasizes the transient nature of both success and failure. It serves as a reminder that encountering setbacks does not mark the end, and achieving success shouldn't lead to complacency. Instead, one should continuously strive for improvement and resilience, understanding that both experiences contribute to personal growth and the journey of life.
Themes
FailureSuccessTemporaryResilienceGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech, a coach might use this quote to inspire athletes before a big game.
More from Don Shula
All quotes βThe one thing that I know is that you win with good people.
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Strive for perfection, but settle for excellence.
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The problem with most leaders today is they don't stand for anything. Leadership implies movement toward something, and convictions provide that direction. If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything
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The thing we found out was, when you get to a Super Bowl, both teams are treated the same, talked about in glowing terms. But when the game is over, only the team that won matters.
Don ShulaRead
You know it's only 50 miles from Grand River to Canton, but it took me 67 years to travel that distance.
Don ShulaRead
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