Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
Context
Winston Churchill provides a balanced and enduring perspective on life's two greatest outcomes. He deconstructs the extreme emotions we attach to success and failure, revealing both to be transient states, not permanent destinations.
"Success is not final" is a warning against complacency and resting on your laurels. "Failure is not fatal" is an assurance that setbacks are not the end, but rather instructive parts of the journey. The true measure of a person, therefore, is not in their peaks or valleys, but in their "courage to continue."
This quote champions resilience and perseverance as the ultimate virtues. It teaches us that the unbroken will to keep moving forward, regardless of temporary outcomes, is what truly defines a successful life.