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.

'Tis a lesson you should heed, Try, try again. If at first you do n't succeed, Try, try again.
[1840 T. H. Palmer Teacher's Manual 223]

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!’
[1915 E. B. Holt Freudian Wish iii.]

You mustn't give up, Mr. Rossiter, ‘If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again.’
[a 1979 A. Christie Miss Marple's Final Cases 39]

John F. Harris reports, ‘Bill Clinton this week will begin a second attempt at beginning his ex-presidency.’ (If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.)
[2001 Washington Times 3 Aug. A17]

Related to: perseverance; success

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.

The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs. Copyright © 1982, 1992, 1998, 2003, 2004 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.