A thought on what makes failure actually succeed

“This thing that we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.”
— Mary Pickford

Today’s quote o’ the day is from the Toronto-born actor and producer who became one of America’s biggest stars. It originates from this synidcated essay Pickford wrote in 1936, extolling religious belief. (It must have a year of searching for Pickford, a massive star in the silent movie era; her divorce from Douglas Fairbanks went through earlier that year.)

Let’s look at the quote in a fuller context. Here’s the start of the paragraph it comes from:

However, if you have made mistakes, even serious mistakes, there is always a chance for you. And supposing you have tried and failed again and again, you may have a fresh start at any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.

This kind of thinking must have been in the air in 1936. It was still indeed the Great Depression, and surely millions of people were wondering if they would ever escape the mire.

For instance, a song released that same year has a refrain that is still hummable, 90 years later. Pick Yourself Up tells us to do just that, dust ourselves off, and start all over again. Here’s Ginger Rogers giving Fred Astaire that advice in Swing Time:

Like these quotations? I’ve got more, and intermittently some extra thoughts to accompany them.