A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

If at first you don’t SUCCEED, try, try, try again
The short poem Try (try) again was often quoted in nineteenth-century children’s literature, especially in the United States (see quot. 1840). It is popularly attributed to W. E. Hickson, who quoted it (with three try’s) in his Moral Songs (1857) p. 8, but Palmer’s use is earlier. The saying was soon used independently as a proverb.

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  1840 T. H. PALMER Teacher’s Manual 223 ‘Tis a lesson you should heed, Try, try again. If at first you do n’t succeed, Try, try again. 1915 E. B. HOLT Freudian Wish iii. The child is frustrated, but not instructed; and it is in the situation where, later on in life, we say to ourselves, ‘If at first you don’t succeed, Try, try, try again!’ a 1979 A. CHRISTIE Miss Marple’s Final Cases 39 You mustn’t give up, Mr. Rossiter, ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.’ 2001 Washington Times 3 Aug. A17 John F. Harris reports, ‘Bill Clinton this week will begin a second attempt at beginning his ex­presidency.’ (If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.) “perseverance; success
  

succeed see also NOTHING succeeds like success.
SUCCESS has many fathers, while failure is an orphan
Cf. 1942 G. CIANO Diary 9 Sept. (1946) II. 196 La vittoria trova cento padri, e nessuno vuole riconoscere l’insuccesso. Victory has a hundred fathers, and no one acknowledges a failure.

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  1961 J. F. KENNEDY News Conference 21 Apr. in Public Papers of Presidents of U.S. (1962) 312 There’s an old saying that victory has 100 fathers and defeat is an orphan. 1991 Washington Times 29 Jan. G1 In the aftermath of the impeccably executed aerial attack that initiated the war with Iraq, the old saw that success has many fathers while failure is an orphan comes to mind. 2002 Times 11 June 19 In war, it has often been noted, victory has a hundred fathers, but defeat is an orphan. ■success