The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (531 page)
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If at first you don't SUCCEED, try, try, try again
The short poem Try (
try
) again was often quoted in nineteenth-century children's literature, especially in the United States (see quot. 1840). It is popularly attributed to W. E. Hickson, who quoted it (with three
try
's) in his
Moral Songs
(1857) p. 8, but Palmer's use is earlier. The saying was soon used independently as a proverb.
1840
Teacher's Manual
223
'Tis a lesson you should heed, Try, try again. If at first you do n't succeed, Try, try again.
1915
Freudian Wish
iii.
The child is frustrated, but not instructed; and it is in the situation where, later on in life, we say to ourselves, ‘If at first you don't succeed, Try, try, try again!’
a
1979
Miss Marple's Final Cases
39
You mustn't give up, Mr. Rossiter, ‘If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again.’
1997
Washington Times
19 Oct B1
Growing up, I remember my parents telling me, ‘You can do anything you set your mind to,’ and ‘If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.’
perseverance
;
success
try
) again was often quoted in nineteenth-century children's literature, especially in the United States (see quot. 1840). It is popularly attributed to W. E. Hickson, who quoted it (with three
try
's) in his
Moral Songs
(1857) p. 8, but Palmer's use is earlier. The saying was soon used independently as a proverb.
1840Teacher's Manual
223
'Tis a lesson you should heed, Try, try again. If at first you do n't succeed, Try, try again.
1915
Freudian Wish
iii.
The child is frustrated, but not instructed; and it is in the situation where, later on in life, we say to ourselves, ‘If at first you don't succeed, Try, try, try again!’
a
1979
Miss Marple's Final Cases
39
You mustn't give up, Mr. Rossiter, ‘If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again.’
1997
Washington Times
19 Oct B1
Growing up, I remember my parents telling me, ‘You can do anything you set your mind to,’ and ‘If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.’
perseverance;
success
SUCCESS has many fathers, while failure is an orphan
Cf.
1942
G. CIANO
Diary
9 Sept. (1946) II. 196
La vittoria trova cento padri
,
e nessuno vuole riconoscere l'insuccesso
. Victory has a hundred fathers, and no one acknowledges a failure.
1961
News Conference
21 Apr. in
Public Papers of Presidents of U.S
. (1962) 312
There's an old saying that victory has 100 fathers and defeat is an orphan.
1991
Washington Times
29 Jan. G1
In the aftermath of the impeccably executed aerial attack that initiated the war with Iraq, the old saw that success has many fathers while failure is an orphan comes to mind.
success
1942
G. CIANO
Diary
9 Sept. (1946) II. 196
La vittoria trova cento padri
,
e nessuno vuole riconoscere l'insuccesso
. Victory has a hundred fathers, and no one acknowledges a failure.
1961News Conference
21 Apr. in
Public Papers of Presidents of U.S
. (1962) 312
There's an old saying that victory has 100 fathers and defeat is an orphan.
1991
Washington Times
29 Jan. G1
In the aftermath of the impeccably executed aerial attack that initiated the war with Iraq, the old saw that success has many fathers while failure is an orphan comes to mind.
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