“Much has been said about failure. It is more interesting than success.” — Max Beerbohm (British satirical cartoonist and writer)
Who was Max Beerbohm?
Max Beerbohm (1872–1956) was a prominent British satirical cartoonist, essayist, and novelist in the early 20th century. He gained fame for his sharp yet sophisticated caricatures of prominent figures in the literary and social circles of his time. His work was not merely malicious; it was filled with refined humor that pierced through the inner lives of his subjects and the context of the era, earning him high praise from artists like Oscar Wilde.
As a writer, his novels and witty, precise essays remain highly regarded. By rejecting trends and adhering to his own aesthetic and cold, observational eye, he became known as a “master of learned cynicism,” a figure still beloved by intellectual readers today.
My Thoughts
When I first encountered this quote by Max Beerbohm, it struck a chord with me.
When we open social media, we see someone’s “blunders” being shared, roasted, and consumed. Meanwhile, someone’s “success” is briefly celebrated and then quickly forgotten. Why are we so much more drawn to stories of failure than tales of success?
Today, for those of you suffering while chasing success, and for those of you safely watching and laughing at others’ failures from the sidelines, I’d like to offer a new way to relate to “failure” based on this quote.
1. Why is “Success” Not Interesting?
The reason we tend to end our reaction to someone’s success with a simple “Oh, that’s nice” is because there is no “narrative space” left in it.
Success is a result—a finish line. Looking at a completed puzzle isn’t very exciting. However, failure is packed with “unexpected developments,” “gritty struggles,” and “unforeseen outcomes.”
When Beerbohm says failure is “interesting,” he doesn’t just mean it’s funny; he likely means it is “overflowing with humanity.” Perfect, successful people can feel like distant figures, but those who fail feel more like us, making them endearing. We are drawn to tales of failure because they offer us a chance to project ourselves onto them.
2. To Those Who Want to Succeed: Don’t Fear the “Scars”
If you are currently seeking perfection in order to succeed, why not loosen your shoulders a little?
If you make “not failing” your top priority, you will inevitably end up making safe, uninspired choices. However, the stories that truly make an impact on the world and are passed down to future generations are always about people who “grabbed something after a spectacular failure.”
Failure is proof that you took a challenge. Instead of just chasing the “result” of success, try walking a “compelling process” that you’ll want to tell others about. Your failures will eventually become a human, relatable story that encourages someone else.
3. To Those Who Laugh at Others’ Failures: Move from the Stands to the Field
On the flip side, some people find comfort in others’ failures, thinking, “I won’t end up like that.”
Laughing at others’ failures might provide a temporary sense of superiority. However, while you are laughing, you remain nothing more than a “spectator” to the story. The stands are safe, but nothing is ever created there.
If you find others’ failures interesting, it is proof that you understand the “intrigue of life’s drama.” Instead of using that sensitivity to pick at others’ flaws, use it to take risks and move to the “side that gets laughed at” (the side that challenges).
By stumbling yourself, getting muddy, and standing back up on your own—only then do you transform from a “spectator laughing at others” into the “protagonist of your own story.”
Conclusion: What “Interesting Failure” Will You Have Today?
To borrow Max Beerbohm’s words, failure is the ultimate spice that makes life rich.
Living in fear of failure is like keeping the pages of your life’s story blank. Instead of marking time while aiming for perfect success, why not try something new today and embrace a small failure?
You might get laughed at, or things might not go as planned. But that is the real thrill of a life that is “more interesting than success.”
