Success1 Means DON'T QUIT

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When life goes wrong as it sometimes will
When the road we're marching seems all uphill
When the cash is low and the debts are high
And we wish to smile but have to sigh
When care is pressing us down a bit

Rest if we must but don't quit

Life is odd with its twists and turns
As many of us so often learn
And many a failure turns about
When we might have won had we stuck it out
Don't give up though the pace seems slow 
We may succeed with another blow

Often a goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and fading plan
Often we give up
When we might have snatched the victor's cup
And we learned too late when the night came down
How close we were to the golden crown

Success is failure turned inside out 
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt 
We can never tell how close we are 
We may be near when it seem afar 
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit 
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit 

Note

1  This poetic piece was made many many moons ago.  While several have claimed its fame, the authentic author remains unknown.  During my time as a provincially-funded public school classroom teacher and elementary school principal, I often used these words of encouragement to increase levels of self-confidence, self-efficacy, and self-esteem within many of my students.  And, as my above title suggests, the interpretation of this poem tended to push numerous pupils to persevere in their quest for victory, often in the face of seemingly failure and against nearly all odds.  In short, its overall message has encouraged, inspired, and motivated quite a few youngsters.


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This page was last revised by Clifford Morris on Wednesday, 02 May, 2012