Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition… — Booker T. Washington | Printable Wall Art

“Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.”

Words by Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) — Educator and author.

About this quote

True achievement is defined by the obstacles a person overcomes rather than final status or material wealth. It shifts the focus from easy results to inner resilience and moral strength. When someone faces immense hardship yet continues to strive with courage, their character and progress carry far greater value than success achieved without any real struggle.

This passage appears in Booker T. Washington’s 1901 autobiography, Up from Slavery. Writing as a former enslaved person who founded the Tuskegee Institute, he reflected on the profound systemic obstacles faced by African Americans during Reconstruction.

People often hang this in a home office or study as a daily reminder to persevere through challenges.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 18 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Tracked Caps Unsigned · Editorial Justified

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.