“We may stumble and fall, but shall rise again; it should be enough if we did not run away from the battle.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Attributed to Gandhi (perseverance / satyagraha theme); no confirmed dated primary located for this exact wording.
About this quote
Resilience gets measured by return, not by an unbroken record. Falling isn't the failure; refusing to re-enter the struggle is. That reframes a setback as a normal beat in a longer effort, so a person can lose ground repeatedly and still be doing exactly what's asked by staying in it.
When to use it
- A founder's third company finally works, built on the wreckage of two that collapsed.
- A recovering addict relapses, then walks back into the meeting instead of disappearing.
- A student fails the exam twice, retakes the course, and passes on the third sitting.