We have scorched the snake, not killed it. She'll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth.

The only time you don't fail is the last time you try anything--and it works.

Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills.
It is not the effort nor the failure tires.
The waste remains, the waste remains and kills.

All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection. So I rate us on the base of our splendid failure to do the impossible.

And each forgets, as he strips and runs With a brilliant, fitful pace, It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones Who win in the lifelong race. And each forgets that his youth has fled, Forgets that his prime is past, Till he stands one day, with a hope that's dead, In the glare of the truth at last.

The only time you don't fail is the last time you try anything -- and it works.