Who said “If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.”?

Verified

Franklin D. Roosevelt. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceOglethorpe University Commencement Address (22 May 1932)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Oglethorpe University Commencement Address (22 May 1932).

APA

Roosevelt, F. D. (n.d.). If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14579-if-it-fails-admit-it-frankly-and-try/

MLA

Roosevelt, Franklin D. “If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14579-if-it-fails-admit-it-frankly-and-try/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Roosevelt, Franklin D. “If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14579-if-it-fails-admit-it-frankly-and-try/.

Related quotes

More quotes by Roosevelt

“The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.”
VerifiedLetter to all State Governors on a Uniform Soil Conservation Law (26 February 1937)); this statement has sometimes been paraphrased and prefixed to an earlier FDR statement of 29 January 1935 to read: "A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. · evidenceDetails & citeEcology
All 55 Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes →