Failure as a Success

It ofttimes requires heroic courage to face fruitless effort, to take up the broken strands of a life-work, to look bravely toward the future, and proceed undaunted on our way. But what, to our eyes, may seem hopeless failure is often but the dawning of a greater success. It may contain in its débris the foundation material of a mighty purpose, or the revelation of new and higher possibilities.

It often takes heroic courage to face wasted effort and pick up the broken threads of a life's work. It takes courage to look bravely toward the future and continue on our way without losing heart. But what seems to us like hopeless failure is often only the beginning of a greater success. Its ruins may contain the foundations of a great purpose or reveal new and higher possibilities.

Some years ago, it was proposed to send logs from Canada to New York, by a new method. The ingenious plan of Mr. Joggins was to bind great logs together by cables and iron girders and to tow the cargo as a raft. When the novel craft neared New York and success seemed assured, a terrible storm arose. In the fury of the tempest, the iron bands snapped like icicles and the angry waters scattered the logs far and wide. The chief of the Hydrographic Department at Washington heard of the failure of the experiment, and at once sent word to shipmasters the world over, urging them to watch carefully for these logs which he described; and to note the precise location of each in latitude and longitude and the time the observation was made.

Some years ago, a new method was proposed for shipping logs from Canada to New York. Mr. Joggins had an ingenious plan. He would bind large logs together with cables and iron girders, then tow them as a raft. As the unusual vessel neared New York, success seemed certain. But then a terrible storm arose. In the fury of the storm, the iron bands snapped like icicles, and the raging waters scattered the logs far and wide. The chief of the Hydrographic Department in Washington heard that the experiment had failed. He immediately sent word to shipmasters around the world, describing the logs and urging them to watch carefully for them. He asked them to record each log's exact latitude and longitude and the time they saw it.

Hundreds of captains, sailing over the waters of the earth, noted the logs, in the Atlantic Ocean, in the Mediterranean, in the South Seas--for into all waters did these venturesome ones travel. Hundreds of reports were made, covering a period of weeks and months. These observations were then carefully collated, systematized and tabulated, and discoveries were made as to the course of ocean currents that otherwise would have been impossible. The loss of the Joggins raft was not a real failure, for it led to one of the great discoveries in modern marine geography and navigation.

Hundreds of captains sailing across the world's waters spotted the logs in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the South Seas. These adventurous sailors traveled on all the world's waters. They made hundreds of reports over weeks and months. The observations were then carefully collected, organized, and tabulated. They revealed the paths of ocean currents that could not otherwise have been discovered. The loss of the Joggins raft was not a true failure, because it led to one of the great discoveries in modern marine geography and navigation.

In our superior knowledge we are disposed to speak in a patronizing tone of the follies of the alchemists of old. But their failure to transmute the baser metals into gold resulted in the birth of chemistry. They did not succeed in what they attempted, but they brought into vogue the natural processes of sublimation, filtration, distillation, and crystallization; they invented the alembic, the retort, the sand-bath, the water-bath and other valuable instruments. To them is due the discovery of antimony, sulphuric ether and phosphorus, the cupellation of gold and silver, the determining of the properties of saltpetre and its use in gunpowder, and the discovery of the distillation of essential oils. This was the success of failure, a wondrous process of Nature for the highest growth,--a mighty lesson of comfort, strength, and encouragement if man would only realize and accept it.

With our superior knowledge, we tend to speak patronizingly of the foolishness of the alchemists of old. But their failure to turn base metals into gold gave birth to chemistry. They did not succeed in what they attempted. Yet they popularized the natural processes of sublimation, filtration, distillation, and crystallization. They invented the alembic, the retort, the sand bath, the water bath, and other valuable instruments. They discovered antimony, sulfuric ether, and phosphorus, as well as cupellation for refining gold and silver. They determined the properties of saltpeter and its use in gunpowder. They also discovered how to distill essential oils. This was the success of failure, a wonderful process of nature that leads to the highest growth. It is a powerful lesson of comfort, strength, and encouragement, if only people would recognize and accept it.

Many of our failures sweep us to greater heights of success, than we ever hoped for in our wildest dreams. Life is a successive unfolding of success from failure. In discovering America Columbus failed absolutely. His ingenious reasoning and experiment led him to believe that by sailing westward he would reach India. Every redman in America carries in his name "Indian," the perpetuation of the memory of the failure of Columbus. The Genoese navigator did not reach India; the cargo of "souvenirs" he took back to Spain to show to Ferdinand and Isabella as proofs of his success, really attested his failure. But the discovery of America was a greater success than was any finding of a "back-door" to India.

Many of our failures carry us to greater heights of success than we ever imagined in our wildest dreams. Life is a continual unfolding of success from failure. In discovering America, Columbus failed completely. His clever reasoning and experiment led him to believe that sailing west would bring him to India. Every Indigenous person in America carries a reminder of Columbus's failure in the name "Indian." The Genoese navigator did not reach India. He took a cargo of "souvenirs" back to Spain to show Ferdinand and Isabella as proof of his success. But the cargo really proved his failure. Still, the discovery of America was a greater success than finding a "back-door" to India.

When David Livingstone had supplemented his theological education by a medical course, he was ready to enter the missionary field. For over three years he had studied tirelessly, with all energies concentrated on one aim,--to spread the gospel in China. The hour came when he was ready to start out with noble enthusiasm for his chosen work, to consecrate himself and his life to his unselfish ambition. Then word came from China that the "opium war" would make it folly to attempt to enter the country. Disappointment and failure did not long daunt him; he offered himself as missionary to Africa,--and he was accepted. His glorious failure to reach China opened a whole continent to light and truth. His study proved an ideal preparation for his labors as physician, explorer, teacher and evangel in the wilds of Africa.

After David Livingstone added medical training to his theological education, he was ready to become a missionary. For over three years, he had studied tirelessly, devoting all his energy to one goal: spreading the gospel in China. At last, he was ready to begin his chosen work with great enthusiasm and devote his life to his unselfish ambition. Then word came from China that the "opium war" would make it foolish to try to enter the country. Disappointment and failure did not discourage him for long. He offered to serve as a missionary in Africa, and he was accepted. His glorious failure to reach China opened a whole continent to light and truth. His studies proved ideal preparation for his work as a physician, explorer, teacher, and evangelist in the wilds of Africa.

Business reverses and the failure of his partner threw upon the broad shoulders and the still broader honor and honesty of Sir Walter Scott a burden of responsibility that forced him to write. The failure spurred him to almost super-human effort. The masterpieces of Scotch historic fiction that have thrilled, entertained and uplifted millions of his fellow-men are a glorious monument on the field of a seeming failure.

Business setbacks and his partner’s failure placed a heavy burden of responsibility on Sir Walter Scott. His shoulders were broad, but his honor and honesty were even greater. The burden forced him to write, and the failure drove him to almost superhuman effort. His masterpieces of Scottish historical fiction have thrilled, entertained, and uplifted millions of his fellow human beings. They stand as a glorious monument amid what seemed to be failure.

When Millet, the painter of the "Angelus" worked on his almost divine canvas, in which the very air seems pulsing with the regenerating essence of spiritual reverence, he was painting against time, he was antidoting sorrow, he was racing against death. His brush strokes, put on in the early morning hours before going to his menial duties as a railway porter, in the dusk like that perpetuated on his canvas,--meant strength, food and medicine for the dying wife he adored. The art failure that cast him into the depths of poverty unified with marvellous intensity all the finer elements of his nature. This rare spiritual unity, this purging of all the dross of triviality as he passed through the furnace of poverty, trial, and sorrow gave eloquence to his brush and enabled him to paint as never before,--as no prosperity would have made possible.

When Millet, the painter of the "Angelus," worked on his almost divine canvas, he was painting against time. The very air in the painting seems to pulse with the renewing spirit of reverence. Millet was fighting sorrow and racing against death. He painted in the early morning, before going to his menial job as a railway porter. He worked in the same dim light he captured on his canvas. His brushstrokes meant strength, food, and medicine for his dying wife, whom he adored. His failure as an artist had plunged him into poverty. Yet it brought together all the finer qualities of his nature with marvelous intensity. As he passed through the furnace of poverty, hardship, and sorrow, all that was trivial fell away. This rare spiritual unity gave eloquence to his brush and enabled him to paint as never before. No prosperity could have made that possible.

Failure is often the turning-point, the pivot of circumstance that swings us to higher levels. It may not be financial success, it may not be fame; it may be new draughts of spiritual, moral or mental inspiration that will change us for all the later years of our life. Life is not really what comes to us, but what we get from it.

Failure is often a turning point that lifts us to a higher level. It may not bring financial success or fame. It may bring fresh spiritual, moral, or mental inspiration that changes us for the rest of our lives. Life is not really about what happens to us, but what we gain from it.

Whether man has had wealth or poverty, failure or success, counts for little when it is past. There is but one question for him to answer, to face boldly and honestly as an individual alone with his conscience and his destiny:

Once they are past, wealth or poverty, failure or success matter little. Each person has only one question to answer. They must face it boldly and honestly, alone with their conscience and their destiny:

"How will I let that poverty or wealth affect me? If that trial or deprivation has left me better, truer, nobler, then,--poverty has been riches, failure has been a success. If wealth has come to me and has made me vain, arrogant, contemptuous, uncharitable, cynical, closing from me all the tenderness of life, all the channels of higher development, of possible good to my fellow-man, making me the mere custodian of a money-bag, then,--wealth has lied to me, it has been failure, not success; it has not been riches, it has been dark, treacherous poverty that stole from me even Myself." All things become for us then what we take from them.

“How will I let that poverty or wealth affect me? If that hardship or deprivation has made me better, truer, and nobler, then poverty has been riches, and failure has been success. But wealth may have made me vain, arrogant, scornful, ungenerous, and cynical. It may have shut me off from all the tenderness of life, all opportunities to grow and do good for others. It may have made me nothing more than a keeper of a money bag. If so, wealth has lied to me. It has been failure, not success. It has not been riches, but a dark, treacherous poverty that stole even my own self from me.” All things become for us what we take from them.

Failure is one of God's educators. It is experience leading man to higher things; it is the revelation of a way, a path hitherto unknown to us. The best men in the world, those who have made the greatest real successes look back with serene happiness on their failures. The turning of the face of Time shows all things in a wondrously illuminated and satisfying perspective.

Failure is one of God's teachers. It is experience leading us to higher things. It reveals a path we did not know before. The best people in the world, those who have achieved the greatest real successes, look back on their failures with calm happiness. As time passes, it casts everything in a wonderfully clear and satisfying perspective.

Many a man is thankful to-day that some petty success for which he once struggled, melted into thin air as his hand sought to clutch it. Failure is often the rock-bottom foundation of real success. If man, in a few instances of his life can say, "Those failures were the best things in the world that could have happened to me," should he not face new failures with undaunted courage and trust that the miraculous ministry of Nature may transform these new stumbling-blocks into new stepping-stones?

Many people are thankful today that some small success they once fought for slipped away just as they reached for it. Failure is often the foundation of real success. Sometimes a person can say, "Those failures were the best things in the world that could have happened to me." If so, shouldn't that person face new failures with courage? Shouldn't they trust that Nature's miraculous work may turn these new stumbling blocks into stepping stones?

Our highest hopes, are often destroyed to prepare us for better things. The failure of the caterpillar is the birth of the butterfly; the passing of the bud is the becoming of the rose; the death or destruction of the seed is the prelude to its resurrection as wheat. It is at night, in the darkest hours, those preceding dawn, that plants grow best, that they most increase in size. May this not be one of Nature's gentle showings to man of the times when he grows best, of the darkness of failure that is evolving into the sunlight of success. Let us fear only the failure of not living the right as we see it, leaving the results to the guardianship of the Infinite.

Our highest hopes are often shattered to prepare us for better things. The caterpillar’s failure is the butterfly’s birth. The bud’s passing is the rose’s coming into being. The death or destruction of the seed comes before its rebirth as wheat. Plants grow best at night, in the darkest hours before dawn. That is when they increase most in size. Could this be one of Nature’s gentle ways of showing us when we grow best? Could it show us how the darkness of failure is turning into the sunlight of success? Let us fear only failing to live by what we believe is right, and leave the results in the care of the Infinite.

If we think of any supreme moment of our lives, any great success, any one who is dear to us, and then consider how we reached that moment, that success, that friend, we will be surprised and strengthened by the revelation. As we trace each one, back, step by step, through the genealogy of circumstances, we will see how logical has been the course of our joy and success, from sorrow and failure, and that what gives us most happiness to-day is inextricably connected with what once caused us sorrow. Many of the rivers of our greatest prosperity and growth have had their source and their trickling increase into volume among the dark, gloomy recesses of our failure.

Think of a defining moment in your life, a great success, or someone dear to you. Then consider how you reached that moment, achieved that success, or found that friend. What you discover will surprise and strengthen you. Trace each one back, step by step, through the chain of circumstances. You will see how logically sorrow and failure led to joy and success. You will also see that what makes you happiest today is inseparably connected to what once caused you sorrow. Many of the rivers of our greatest prosperity and growth began as trickles in the dark, gloomy depths of failure.

There is no honest and true work, carried along with constant and sincere purpose that ever really fails. If it sometime seem to be wasted effort, it will prove to us a new lesson of "how" to walk; the secret of our failures will prove to us the inspiration of possible successes. Man living with the highest aims, ever as best he can, in continuous harmony with them, is a success, no matter what statistics of failure a near-sighted and half-blind world of critics and commentators may lay at his door.

No honest, genuine work carried out with steady and sincere purpose ever truly fails. If it sometimes seems wasted, it will teach us a new lesson in "how" to move forward. The reasons for our failures will inspire us with the possibility of success. A person who lives by the highest aims, always doing their best to remain true to them, is a success. It does not matter how many failures a shortsighted, half-blind world of critics and commentators may count against them.

High ideals, noble efforts will make seeming failures but trifles, they need not dishearten us; they should prove sources of new strength. The rocky way may prove safer than the slippery path of smoothness. Birds cannot fly best with the wind but against it; ships do not progress in calm, when the sails flap idly against the unstrained masts.

High ideals and noble efforts make apparent failures seem minor. They need not discourage us. Instead, they should become sources of new strength. A rocky road may be safer than a smooth, slippery path. Birds fly best against the wind, not with it. Ships make no progress in calm weather, when their sails flap idly against the unstressed masts.

The alchemy of Nature, superior to that of the Paracelsians, constantly transmutes the baser metals of failure into the later pure gold of higher success, if the mind of the worker be kept true, constant and untiring in the service, and he have that sublime courage that defies fate to its worst while he does his best.

Nature’s alchemy is greater than that of the Paracelsians. It constantly turns the base metals of failure into the pure gold of later, greater success. But this happens only if the worker remains true, steadfast, and tireless in the work. The worker must also have the sublime courage to defy fate at its worst while doing his best.