Who said “Our business in this world is not to succeed, but to continue to fail, in good spirits.”?

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Robert Louis Stevenson. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceComplete Works, vol. 26, Reflections and Remarks on Human Life, section 4.

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“Our business in this world is not to succeed, but to continue to fail, in good spirits.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson
VerifiedComplete Works, vol. 26, Reflections and Remarks on Human Life, section 4. · evidenceFailure
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Complete Works, vol. 26, Reflections and Remarks on Human Life, section 4..

APA

Stevenson, R. L. (n.d.). Our business in this world is not to succeed, but to continue to fail, in good spirits. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14599-our-business-in-this-world-is-not-to/

MLA

Stevenson, Robert Louis. “Our business in this world is not to succeed, but to continue to fail, in good spirits.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14599-our-business-in-this-world-is-not-to/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Stevenson, Robert Louis. “Our business in this world is not to succeed, but to continue to fail, in good spirits.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14599-our-business-in-this-world-is-not-to/.

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“For God's sake give me the young man who has brains enough to make a fool of himself!”
VerifiedVirginibus Puerisque and Other Papers (1881) · evidenceDetails & citeYouth
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