Subject: Problems » Failure

It is not enough to succeed, others must fail.

(1925 – 2012) author, playwright, essayist & screenwriter
Failure Success

The theory seems to be that as long as a man is a failure he is one of God's children, but that as soon as he succeeds he is taken over by the Devil.

(1880 – 1956) journalist, essayist, editor & satirist
Beliefs Failure God Success

Experiments should be reproducible… they should all fail in the same way.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems

Mistakes are often the stepping stones to utter failure.

Failure Mistakes Problems Proverbs

I have not failed… I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

(1847 – 1931) American inventor, scientist & businessman
Failure Problems

The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.

(1952 – 2001) English writer, dramatist, & musician
Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems Situations Things

If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems Success

To err is human to forgive, infrequent.

(1881 – 1960) American columnist
Characteristics Failure Mistakes Problems

Byrne's Law: In any electrical circuit, appliances and wiring will burn out to protect fuses.

(1930 – ) American author and billiard player, teacher & commentator
Failure Murphy’s Laws Things

A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success!

(1926 – ) newspaper columnist
Failure Friends Old People Success

Washing machines only break down during the wash cycle.
Corollary: All breakdowns occur on the plumber's day off.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems

A government is the only known vessel that leaks from the top.

(1909 – 1995) American journalist
Failure Government Problems

A component’s degree of reliability is directly proportional to its ease of accessibility (i.e., the harder it is to get to, the more often it breaks down).

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems Things

If your project doesn't work, look for the part you didn't think was important.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems

Percussive Maintenance: Striking a recalcitrant piece of electronic hardware in order to facilitate a successful reboot, and repeating as necessary.

Definitions Failure Problems Things

Success doesn’t teach as many lessons as failure does.


Failure Success

The new hardware will break down as soon as the old is disconnected and out.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems Situations Things

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

(1937 – 2008) stand-up comedian, social critic, actor & author
Failure Success

Informed decision-making comes from a long tradition of guessing and then blaming others for inadequate results.

(1957 – ) cartoonist (Dilbert)
Characteristics Failure Intelligence Mistakes People

Everything breaks down.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems

If it jams, force it; if it breaks, it needed replacing anyway.

Accidents Failure Murphy’s Laws