Who said “He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great.”?

Verified

Herman Melville. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceHawthorne and His Mosses (1850)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Hawthorne and His Mosses (1850).

APA

Melville, H. (n.d.). He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16322-he-who-has-never-failed-somewhere-that-man/

MLA

Melville, Herman. “He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16322-he-who-has-never-failed-somewhere-that-man/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Melville, Herman. “He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16322-he-who-has-never-failed-somewhere-that-man/.