Explain this

Posted by ESC on July 08, 2005

In Reply to: Explain this posted by Steve E on July 07, 2005

: : : : explain this if you don't suceed then try and try again

: : : "Explain this if you don't suceed?" "Explain this if you don't suceed?" That makes no sense. Ok, wait, it's succeed. And maybe he means "Explain this: 'if ...'" Yeah, that must be it. Ok, here goes: If you fail at a task (say, punctuating) then you should persist. Try, and try again, because eventually you will succeed. In theory.

: : Except if you subscribe to the despair.com way of thinking. If at first you don't succeed, quit. There's no sense making a fool of yourself. Also: www.despair.com/ demotivators/los24x30prin.html

: Not to put too fine a point on it, but I believe the expression is: "If at first you don't succeed, then try, try again."

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY AGAIN. Don't give up too easily; persistence pays off in the end. The proverb has been traced back to 'Teacher's Manual' by American educator Thomas H. Palmer and 'The Children of the New Forest' by English novelist Frederick Maryat (1792-1848). Originally a maxim used to encourage American schoolchildren to do their homework. Palmer (1782-1861) wrote in his 'Teacher's Manual': 'Tis a lesson you should heed, try, try again. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.' The saying was popularized by Edward Hickson (1803-70) in his 'Moral Song' and is now applicable to any kind of activity." From Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996, Page 154).