Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of

Carl Sandburg, poet of the people and singer of America’s soul, declares: “Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen.” In this saying he unveils a secret of life: that failure is not an enemy, but a hidden teacher. Behind every mistaken venture and every bitter defeat there lies a quiet voice, sometimes even a laugh, reminding us that even error can be a gift. But to hear it, one must have ears trained not for despair, but for wisdom.

The ancients too saw this truth. Heraclitus spoke that “character is destiny” and that struggle is the father of all things. Mistakes, trials, and defeats were not accidents but instruments of growth. Even in tragedy, the Greeks believed that wisdom laughed—not in mockery, but in irony—showing mortals the limits of pride and the lessons of humility. Sandburg’s words are the modern echo of that same eternal vision.

History bears powerful witness. Thomas Edison, after thousands of failed attempts to create the lightbulb, did not curse his defeats. Instead, he claimed each “mistaken venture” taught him another way that would not work. In that laughter of wisdom, he persevered, until his invention brought light to the world. The laughter was not cruel but encouraging, whispering that failure was not the end but the path.

Consider also the story of Abraham Lincoln, who suffered repeated political defeats before rising to the presidency. Each loss humbled him, tempered him, and prepared him to lead a nation in its darkest hour. Had he despaired, his story would have ended in obscurity. Instead, he listened for the laughter of wisdom hidden in his failures, and by it, he was strengthened for greatness.

Let the generations remember: failure is not final, and defeat is not death. Behind the ruin of our plans, if we quiet the noise of shame, we may hear a deeper sound—the gentle laughter of wisdom, urging us onward, teaching us resilience, humility, and vision. He who learns to listen to this laughter turns defeat into victory and error into enlightenment. For wisdom, clothed in humor, is always present—waiting to transform our stumbling into strength.