“If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again. - Aaliyah (song lyrics) -% 0r You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence is not an event - it is a habit.”
What this quote means
This quote combines two powerful ideas: perseverance in the face of failure and the power of habit. It teaches us that success is not an isolated event, but the result of repeated practices. Excellence is built through daily actions, and each failure is just a step to learn and start again. It's a call to discipline and resilience.
How to apply it daily
Choose one key habit that moves you toward excellence and practice it daily, even in the face of failure. Track your progress each week.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Aristotle?
Our starting point
Reflecting on happiness, virtues, and the good life
Nicomachean Ethics
It is the richest text for understanding his ideas about habits, the mean, and flourishing.
- Level
- Demanding
- Reading time
- 10–14 hours
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
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