Subject: Problems » Failure (Page 4)

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

Trying is the first step towards failure.

cartoon character in The Simpsons (Dan Castellaneta)
Failure Problems Situations

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

Definitions Failure Problems Things

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.

(1879 – 1935) humorist & social commentator
Accidents Failure Situations

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

(1909 – 1995) American journalist
Failure Government Problems

Everything breaks down.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems

One cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs… but it is amazing how many eggs one can break without making a decent omelette.

(1916 – 2000) Egyptian-American academic economist & historian
Failure Problems Situations

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

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems

I always turn to the sports pages first, which records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man’s failures.

(1891 – 1974) 14th U.S. Chief Justice & politician
Failure Problems Sports

No matter how careful one is in resealing the inner liner in a cereal box, it will tear where it is glued to the box.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems

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

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

No experiment is ever a complete failure – it can always serve as a negative example.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems

If you are attempting the impossible, you will fail

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems

Machines that have broken down will work perfectly when the repairman arrives.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems Things

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 or repair.

(1952 – 2001) English writer, dramatist, & musician
Failure Problems

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

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems

Success can be insured only by devising a defense against failure of the contingency plan.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems Success

Everything put together sooner or later falls apart.

Failure Murphy’s Laws Problems