Stephen Pile > Quotes

“Success is overrated. We all crave it despite daily evidence that our real genius lies in exactly the opposite direction. Incompetence is what we are good at. It is what marks us off from the animals. We should learn to revere it. All successful people are the same. You know, drive, will to win, determination … it is just too dull to contemplate, whereas everyone who messes up big time does so in a completely individual way. Doing something badly requires skill, panache, genius, exquisite timing and real style.”
― Stephen Pile, The Ultimate Book of Heroic Failures

“Many of his early engines were quite astounding. They were no faster or more powerful than other designs, and yet they were more expensive, less efficient, and much worst at starting. Despite this, he improved on them in such a way that they would frequently not start at all.”
― Stephen Pile, The Book of Heroic Failures: The Official Handbook of the Not Terribly Good Club of Great Britain

“My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes.’ MAHATMA GANDHI ”
― Stephen Pile, The Ultimate Book of Heroic Failures

“I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.’ GEORGE BURNS”
― Stephen Pile, The Ultimate Book of Heroic Failures

“The happy people are failures because they are on such good terms with themselves they don’t give a damn.’ AGATHA CHRISTIE”
― Stephen Pile, The Ultimate Book of Heroic Failures