A man can get discouraged many times but he is not a failure until he begins to blame somebody else and stops trying.

In this quote, John Burroughs emphasizes the importance of perseverance and personal responsibility in the face of discouragement. He acknowledges that setbacks and challenges are a natural part of life, but a person is not truly a failure unless they give up and start blaming others for their struggles. The essence of this quote is that failure only becomes real when someone stops making an effort and refuses to take accountability for their own actions.

Burroughs suggests that it’s normal to feel discouraged many times in life, but the key to success lies in resilience—the ability to keep trying despite obstacles. It is not the setbacks themselves that define failure, but rather the attitude a person adopts when facing those challenges. The quote highlights how taking responsibility and continuing to try, even after numerous disappointments, is what ultimately determines success or failure.

The notion of blaming somebody else reflects the destructive behavior that prevents growth. When individuals begin to shift responsibility for their failures onto others, they relinquish control over their own actions and decisions, which further entrenches them in victimhood rather than empowerment. Burroughs encourages a mindset of self-accountability, where one actively works toward improvement instead of seeking external excuses.

Overall, Burroughs' quote is a call for self-reliance and determination. It reminds us that while failure is an inevitable part of life, the true measure of character lies in how we respond to setbacks—whether we take ownership of our actions, keep striving for success, or give in to blame and inaction.