Commit yourself to a dream. . . . Nobody who tries to do something great but fails is a total failure. Why? Because he can always rest assured that he succeeded in life's most important battle--he defeated the fear of trying.

The passage argues that the moral and psychological victory lies in attempting something meaningful, not in guaranteeing success. Schuller separates outcome from character: failing at a “great” endeavor does not make someone a “total failure,” because the decisive achievement is overcoming paralysis—“the fear of trying.” The quote thus redefines success as courage and commitment, casting fear as an inner adversary more consequential than external setbacks. It also implies a hopeful ethic of action: even unsuccessful efforts can yield dignity, resilience, and self-respect, because they prove one’s willingness to risk disappointment in pursuit of a larger purpose.