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best quotations about

Mistakes


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Mistakes

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Quotations

TalleyrandThis is worse than a crime, it's a mistake.

—  Talleyrand, 1754-1838, French statesman & diplomat

71 likes
CiceroAny man can make a mistake; only a fool keeps making the same one.

—  Cicero, 106-43 BC, Roman orator & statesman

44 likes
Otto von BismarckOnly a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.

—  Otto von Bismarck, 1815-1898, German chancellor

27 likes
NapoleonNever interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

24 likes
Oscar WildeExperience is merely the name men give to their mistakes.

—  Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900, Irish writer

20 likes
Harry TrumanNever kick a fresh turd on a hot day.

—  Harry Truman, 1884-1972, American President [1945-1953]

17 likes
Friedrich NietzscheWhich? Is man one of God's blunders or is God one of man's blunders?

—  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher

14 likes
NapoleonIn politics... never retreat, never retract... never admit a mistake.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

14 likes
Theodore RooseveltThe only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything.

—  Theodore Roosevelt, 1858-1919, American President [1901-1909]

13 likes
Winston ChurchillYou can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the other possibilities.

—  Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister, Nobel 1953

13 likes
George Bernard ShawA life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

12 likes
George Bernard ShawSuccess does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

11 likes
André MalrauxIn politics, as in grammar, the mistake that everyone makes is declared the rule.

—  André Malraux, 1901-1976, French writer & statesman

10 likes
Jim RohnFailure is not a single, cataclysmic event. You don’t fail overnight. Instead, failure is a few errors in judgment, repeated every day.

—  Jim Rohn, 1930-2009, American self-help speker

10 likes
Elbert HubbardThe greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.

—  Elbert Hubbard, 1856-1915, American writer

10 likes
Victor FranklLive as if you were living for the second time and as if you had made a lot of mistakes the first time.

—  Victor Frankl, 1905-1997, Austrian neurologist

9 likes
Friedrich NietzscheWoman was God’s second mistake.

—  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher

8 likes
Lord ChesterfieldHonest error is to be pitied not ridiculed.

—  Lord Chesterfield, 1694-1773, English statesman & writer

8 likes
Sigmund FreudFrom error to error one discovers the entire truth.

—  Sigmund Freud, 1856-1939, Austrian psychologist, founder of psychoanalysis

8 likes
Charles DarwinTo kill an error is as good a service as, and sometimes even better than the establishing of a new truth or fact.

—  Charles Darwin, 1809-1882, British scientist

8 likes
Eleanor RooseveltLearn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

—  Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884-1962, Wife of the 32nd USA president

8 likes
Will DurantForget mistakes. Forget failure. Forget everything except what you're going to do now and do it. Today is your lucky day.

—  Will Durant, 1885-1981, American historian & philosopher

7 likes
Mahatma GandhiFreedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.

—  Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948, Indian leader of independence

6 likes
Martin HeideggerHe who thinks great thoughts often makes great errors.

—  Martin Heidegger, 1889-1976, German philosopher

6 likes
Ashleigh BrilliantIt's human to make mistakes and some of us are more human than others.

—  Ashleigh Brilliant, 1933-, British cartoonist & epigrammatist

6 likes
Henry FordThe only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.

—  Henry Ford, 1863-1947, American industrialist, founder of FORD

5 likes
Doug LarsonThere are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 am. It could be a right number.

—  Doug Larson, 1926-2017, American columnist

5 likes
Douglas AdamsA learning experience is one of those things that say, “You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.”

—  Douglas Adams, 1952-2001, British Sci-Fi writer

5 likes
Jules VerneScience, my lad, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make, because they lead little by little to the truth.

—  Jules Verne, 1826-1905, French writer

5 likes
David HumeGenerally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous.

—  David Hume, 1711-1776, Scottish philosopher

4 likes
VoltaireLove truth, but pardon error.

—  Voltaire, 1694-1778, French philosopher & writer

4 likes
Yogi BerraWe made too many wrong mistakes.

—  Yogi Berra, 1925-2015, American baseball player & humorist

4 likes
Peter DruckerThe better a man is, the more mistakes will he make - for the more new things he will try. I would never promote a man into a top level job who had not made mistakes, and big ones at that.

—  Peter Drucker, 1909–2005, Austrian management guru

4 likes
Elbert HubbardExperience is the name everyone gives to his mistakes.

—  Elbert Hubbard, 1856-1915, American writer

4 likes
Vincent Van GoghWhen you want to be active, do not be afraid to do some things wrong, do not be afraid to make some mistakes.

—  Vincent Van Gogh, 1853-1890, Dutch painter

4 likes
Dr. Thomas FullerIt is for want of thinking that most Men are done.

—  Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734,  English physician and adage collector

4 likes
HoraceSome faults may claim forgiveness.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

3 likes
Samuel JohnsonThere are, in every age, new errors to be rectified and new prejudices to be opposed.

—  Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, English writer

3 likes
Charles Caleb ColtonThe mistakes of the fool are known to the world, but not to himself. The mistakes of the wise man are known to himself, but not to the world.

—  Charles Caleb Colton, 1780-1832, English cleric & writer

3 likes
Edmund BurkeNobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.

—  Edmund Burke, 1729-1797, British statesman & philosopher

3 likes
Zig ZiglarYou have made some mistakes and you may not be where you want to be, but that has nothing to do with your future.

—  Zig Ziglar, 1926-2012, American self-help writer

3 likes
Saul BellowYou can spend the entire second half of your life recovering from the mistakes of the first half.

—  Saul Bellow, 1914-2005, Canadian-American writer, Nobel 1976

3 likes
George Bernard ShawPolitical necessities sometimes turn out to be political mistakes.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

3 likes
Carl SandburgBack of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen.

—  Carl Sandburg, 1878-1967, American poet

2 likes
Georg Christoph LichtenbergTo err is human also in so far as animals seldom or never err, or at least only the cleverest of them do so.

—  Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, 1742-1799, German author of maxims

2 likes
Duc de LevisIn confessing one’s mistakes, one puts reason in the present and wrong in the past.

—  Duc de Levis, 1764-1830, French politician & author of maxims

2 likes
Samuel JohnsonMen do not suspect faults which they do not commit.

—  Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, English writer

2 likes
Peter DruckerThe most serious mistakes are not being made as a result of wrong answers. The true dangerous thing is asking the wrong question.

—  Peter Drucker, 1909–2005, Austrian management guru

2 likes
Zig ZiglarSome of us learn from other people’s mistakes and the rest of us have to be other people.

—  Zig Ziglar, 1926-2012, American self-help writer

2 likes
Francis Scott FitzgeraldExperience is the name so many people give to their mistakes.

—  Francis Scott Fitzgerald, 1896-1940, American writer

1 likes
Bob RossWe don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.

—  Bob Ross, 1942-1995, American painter & TV personality

Cesare PaveseWe commit two wrongs when we fail to right a wrong.

—  Cesare Pavese, 1908-1950, Italian writer

Ludwig WittgensteinTo convince someone of the truth, it is not enough to state it, but rather one must find the path from error to truth.

—  Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951, Austrian philosopher

Kin HubbardLots of folks confuse bad management with destiny.

—  Kin Hubbard, 1868-1930, American cartoonist

Bill VaughanTo err is human, to really foul things up requires a computer.

—  Bill Vaughan, 1915-1977, American journalist

Marie von Ebner-EschenbachHe who has trusted where he ought not will surely mistrust where he ought not.

—  Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, 1830-1916, German author of maxims

John SteinbeckA journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.

—  John Steinbeck, 1902-1968, American writer, Nobel 1962

BouddhaThere are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.

—  Bouddha, 563-483 BC, Indian founder of Buddhism

Honoré de BalzacA husband, like a government, should never confess wrongdoing.

—  Honoré de Balzac, 1799-1850, French writer

Bertolt BrechtThe aim of science is not to open the door to infinite wisdom, but to set some limit on infinite error.

—  Bertolt Brecht, 1898-1956, German writer

Earl WarrenIf it is a mistake of the head and not the heart don’t worry about it, that’s the way we learn.

—  Earl Warren, 1891-1974, American Chief Justice

Bernard BaruchIf you have made a mistake cut your losses as quickly as possible.

—  Bernard Baruch, 1870-1965, American businessman & statesman

Bernard BaruchI have known men who could see through the motivations of others with the skill of a clairvoyant; only to prove blind to their own mistakes. I have been one of those men.

—  Bernard Baruch, 1870-1965, American businessman & statesman

Anatole FranceI prefer the errors of enthusiasm to the wisdom of indifference.

—  Anatole France, 1844-1924, French writer, Nobel 1921

Donald RumsfeldIn politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it.

—  Donald Rumsfeld, American politician

Marshall McLuhanThe specialist is one who never makes small mistakes while moving toward the grand fallacy.

—  Marshall McLuhan, 1911-1980, Canadian academic & media theorist

Marshall McLuhanNobody ever made a grammatical error in a non-literate society.

—  Marshall McLuhan, 1911-1980, Canadian academic & media theorist

Sri AurobindoBy your stumbling, the world is perfected.

—  Sri Aurobindo, 1872-1950, Indian nationalist, yogi & philosopher

Henry de MontherlantYouth: time of failures.

—  Henry de Montherlant, 1895-1972, French writer

Franklin P. JonesExperience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

—  Franklin P. Jones, 1908-1980, American columnist

Henry KissingerI am being frank about myself in this book. I tell of my first mistake on page 850.

—  Henry Kissinger, 1923-2023, American politician

Salvador DaliMistakes are almost always sacred. Never try to correct them.

—  Salvador Dali, 1904-1989, Spanish painter

Arthur KoestlerThe fact is: I no longer believe in my own infallibility. That is why I am lost.

—  Arthur Koestler, 1905-1983, Hungarian-British writer

Nikola TeslaWe all make mistakes, and it is better to make them before we begin.

—  Nikola Tesla, 1856-1943, Serbian-American inventor

Marty RubinTake a wrong turn. Get lost in something you love.

—  Marty Rubin, 1930-1994, Canadian gay activist, author & journalist

Frank HerbertShow me a completely smooth operation and I'll show you someone who's covering mistakes. Real boats rock.

—  Frank Herbert, 1920-1986, American sci-fi writer

Nicolas ChamfortIntelligent people make many mistakes because they cannot believe the world is really as foolish as it is.

—  Nicolas Chamfort, 1740-1794, French writer

Joseph ConradIt's only those who do nothing that make no mistakes, I suppose.

—  Joseph Conrad, 1857-1924, British-Polish writer

Charles BukowskiIt began as a mistake.

—  Charles Bukowski, 1920-1994, American writer

Latin Quotes

OvidWho is allowed to make mistakes, makes fewer mistakes.

Cui peccare licet, peccat minus.

—  Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet

76 likes
Latin proverbTo err is human.

Errare Humanum est.

—  Latin proverb

22 likes
HoraceSplendidly false.

Splendide mendax.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

11 likes

Ancient Greek

MenanderTo make the same mistake twice is not wise.

Το δις εξαμαρτείν τ’ αυτόν ουκ ανδρός σοφού.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

10 likes
MenanderIt’s a shame to stumble on the same rock twice.

Δις προς τον αυτόν αισχρόν προσκρούσαι λίθον.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

9 likes
MenanderA slip of the tongue speaks the truth.

Η γλώσσα λανθάνουσα τ’ αληθή λέγει.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

7 likes
DemocritusThe cause of error is ignorance of what is better.

Αμαρτίης αιτίη η αμαθίη του κρέσσονος.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

5 likes
EuripidesHe who does much makes the most mistakes.

Ο πλείστα πράττων, πλείσθ’ αμαρτάνει βροτών.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Oenomaus

3 likes
MenanderA wrong word can turn your whole life upside down.

Ρήμα παράκαιρον τον όλον ανατρέπει βίον.

—  Menander, 4th cent. BC, Ancient Greek dramatist (New Comedy)

3 likes

Proverbs

Japanese proverbEven monkeys fall from trees.

—  Japanese proverb

5 likes
English proverbIt's no use crying over spilt milk.

—  English proverb

4 likes
International proverbDon't put the cart before the horse.

—  International proverb

2 likes

Movie Quotes

She Done Him Wrong (1933)When women go wrong, men go right after them.

—  from the film She Done Him Wrong (1933)

9 likes



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