Mistakes are stepping stones to success.
—Charles E. Popplestone (1901–49) American Self-Help Book Author
It is not easy, but you have to be willing to make mistakes. And the earlier you make those mistakes, the better.
—Jane Cahill Pfeiffer (1932–2019) American Business Executive
It is the nature of every person to error, but only the fool perseveres in error.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
When I reflect, as I frequently do, upon the felicity I have enjoyed, I sometimes say to myself, that were the offer made me, I would engage to run again, from beginning to end, the same career of life. All I would ask, should be the privilege of an author, to correct in a second edition, certain errors of the first.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
No man is beaten until his hope is annihilated, his confidence gone, As long as a man faces life hopefully, confidently, triumphantly, he is not a failure; he is not beaten until he turns his back on life.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
You may make mistakes, but you are not a failure until you start blaming someone else.
—Anonymous
One cannot too soon forget his errors and misdemeanors; for to dwell upon them is to add to the offense.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
In politics… never retreat, never retract… never admit a mistake.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
The cautious seldom err.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
I don’t believe in accidents. There are only encounters in history. There are no accidents.
—Elie Wiesel (1928–2016) Romanian-American Writer, Professor, Activist
Let’s not quibble! I’m the foe of moderation, the champion of excess. If I may lift a line from a die-hard whose identity is lost in the shuffle, “I’d rather be strongly wrong than weakly right.”
—Tallulah Bankhead (1902–68) American Actress
It is always well to accept your own shortcomings with candor but to regard those of your friends with polite incredulity.
—Russell Lynes (1910–91) American Historian, Writer, Editor
A man is fortunate if he encounters living examples of vice, as well as of virtue, to inspire him.
—Brendan Behan (1923–64) Irish Poet, Novelist, Playwright
Since nothing we intend is ever faultless, and nothing we attempt ever without error, and nothing we achieve without some measure of finitude and fallibility we call humanness, we are saved by forgiveness.
—David Augsburger (b.1938) American Mennonite Clergy, Teacher
In examining the potential of individuals, we must focus on their strengths and not just their mistakes. We cannot be limited by what they may have spilled in the kitchen.
—C. William Pollard (b.1938) American Businessman
Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes. Genuine ignorance is profitable because it is likely to be accompanied by humility, curiosity, and open-mindedness; whereas ability to repeat catch-phrases, cant terms, familiar propositions, gives the conceit of learning and coats the mind with varnish waterproof to new ideas.
—John Dewey (1859–1952) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Educator
Our friends don’t see our faults, or conceal them, or soften them.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
We learn courageous action by going forward whenever fear urges us back. A little boy was asked how he learned to skate. “By getting up every time I fell down,” he answered.
—David Seabury (1885–1960) American Psychologist
If you don’t make mistakes, you’re not working on hard enough problems. And that’s a big mistake.
—Frank Wilczek (b.1951) American Physicist, Nobel Laureate
A benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The study of error is not only in the highest degree prophylactic, but it serves as a stimulating introduction to the study of truth.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator
Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else’s can shorten it.
—Cullen Hightower (b.1923) American Humorist
Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make yourself a happier and more productive person.
—David M. Burns
The politician who never made a mistake never made a decision.
—John Major (b.1943) British Head of State
We forget our faults easily when they are known to ourselves alone.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
He who knows much makes many mistakes.
—Turkish Proverb
Man approaches the unattainable truth through a succession of errors.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Satirist, Short Story Writer
The best brewer sometimes makes bad beer.
—German Proverb
If you’re not failing, you’re not trying anything.
—Woody Allen (b.1935) American Film Actor, Director
Leave a Reply