success has many fathers, failure is an orphan en · X
Etymology
Popularized by John F. Kennedy in the context of the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961).
Meanings
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Many people will seek credit for success, but few will accept responsibility for failure.
Success has a thousand fathers, failure is an orphan. Never mind.
2025 June 14, Nigel Andrews, “They don’t come any bigger”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 13:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| success has a thousand fathers, failure is an orphan | alternative | lexicographic | |
| victory has many fathers, defeat is an orphan | alternative | lexicographic | |
| success has a hundred fathers, failure is an orphan | alternative | lexicographic |
Translations (7)
ml വിജയത്തിന് പല പിതാക്കന്മാർ, തോൽവി ഒരു അനാഥനും (many will seek credit for success, few for failure) · fi onnistumisella on monta isää, epäonnistuminen on orpo (many will seek credit for success, few for failure) · pl sukces ma wielu ojców, a porażka jest sierotą (many will seek credit for success, few for failure) · ro succesul are mulți tați, insuccesul e orfan. (many will seek credit for success, few for failure) · he להצלחה אבות רבים, הכשלון הולך יתום (many will seek credit for success, few for failure) · pl sukces ma wielu ojców, a klęska jest sierotą (many will seek credit for success, few for failure) · pl sukces ma wielu ojców (many will seek credit for success, few for failure)
wikipedia: Bay of Pigs Invasion · wikipedia: John F. Kennedy