“Try and fail, but don’t fail to try” is a motivational saying that has been printed on many posters. “Is it not better to try and fail than to fail without trying?” was cited in 1902. “Better to try and fail than to fail to try” was cited in 1904.
“Try and fail, but don’t fail to try - Stephen Kaggwa” was cited in 1999. It’s not certain who Stephen Kaggwa is—his is possibly the Uganda-born chef/owner of Tam Tam’s African Restaurant in Minneapolis, MN)—but the saying had been established for many years before his use.
Chronicling America
27 February 1902, The Fulton County News (McConnellsburg, PA), “Why Are You Not A Communicant?,” pg. 5, col. 1:
Is it not better to try and fail than to fail without trying?
30 June 1904, Marietta (GA) Journal, pg. 4, col. 3:
Better to try and fail than to fail to try.
8 December 1904, Cambridge (OH) Jefferonian, pg. 7, col. 7:
Better to try and fail than to fail to try.
2 April 1906, Watertown (NY) Daily Times, “Close of C. E. Institute,” pg. 6, col. 3:
“It is much better to try and fail than it is to fail to try,” said Mr. Shaw.
(William Shaw of Boston.—ed.)
10 September 1913, St. Johnsbury (VT) Caledonian, pg. 7, col. 4:
Danville Orange will hold its regular meeting, Tuesday evening, Sept. 16. Motto: “Better Try and Fail Than Fail to Try.”
2 March 1915, The Daily Herald (Gulfport, MS), “Wiggins Items,” pg. 5, col. 1:
It is better to try and fail than to fail to try.
12 February 1983, The Oregonian (Portland, OR), “Packwood tells GOP to offer voters security” by Tom Stimmel, pg. C3, col. 4:
‘We never know until we try. I would rather try and fail than fail to try.”
(Oregon Republican Sen. Bob Packwood.—ed.)
Google Groups: rec.sport.swimming
T-shirt slogans/sayings
Chris Lozan
8/24/99
How’s this one:
Try and fail, but don’t fail to try - Stephen Kaggwa
Google Books
The Exceptional Man
By M. S. Shiflett
Xulon Press (XulonPress.com)
2006
Pg. 114:
One of my favorite quotes is “I’d rather try and fail than to fail to try.”
Twitter
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@QuotesDaddy
Try and fail, but don’t fail to try. - Stephen Kaggwa
5:13 AM - 16 Aug 2008
Twitter
Zen Moments
@Zen_Moments
Try and fail, but don’t fail to try. ~ Stephen Kaggawa
10:33 AM - 1 Mar 2015
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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•“I study old buildings because I would rather learn from those who built civilization than those who tore it down” (4/18)
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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