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Mistakes Quotes

On mistakes made, owned, and left behind.

This collection focuses on mistakes as part of learning - practicing a new piece and inevitably getting parts of it wrong along the way. Related reading: Better.

When I was new, I didn't know where my career will go. Initially, my films were not even successful, but then I learned a lot from my mistakes.

Quotes by Aamir Khan

Like most of those who study history, he (Napoleon III) learned from the mistakes of the past how to make new ones.

Quotes by A. J. P. Taylor

He was what I often think is a dangerous thing for a statesman to be - a student of history; and like most of those who study history, he learned from the mistakes of the past how to make new...

Quotes by A. J. P. Taylor

The Administration has made critical mistakes and errors in judgment leading up to the war in Iraq. The President refuses to acknowledge these mistakes, and thus, no corrective action has been taken to prevent these problems from happening again.

Quotes by Zoe Lofgren

Mistakes, once owned, apologized for, and buried, need to be an accepted part of life.

Quotes by Zoe Quinn

We made too many wrong mistakes.

Quotes by Yogi Berra

I believe acknowledging our own mistakes is half the problem solved.

Quotes by Yolanda Hadid

We need to realize that our path to transformation is through our mistakes. We're meant to make mistakes, recognize them, and move on to become unlimited.

Quotes by Yehuda Berg

On one hand, we know that everything happens for a reason, and there are no mistakes or coincidences. On the other hand, we learn that we can never give up, knowing that with the right tools and energy, we can...

Quotes by Yehuda Berg

You always learn something from mistakes.

Quotes by Yani Tseng

Harvard makes mistakes too, you know. Kissinger taught there.

Quotes by Woody Allen

The five big mistakes in football are the fumble, the interception, the penalty, the badly called play, the blocked punt - and most of these originate with the quarterback. Find a mistake-proof quarterback and you have this game won.

Quotes by Woody Hayes

I think that's why so many school bands start on guitars: because they hide their mistakes with the distortion.

Quotes by Winston Marshall

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.

Quotes by William Pollard

You know, everybody makes mistakes when they are president.

Quotes by William J. Clinton

I've been doing a lot of learning from mistakes, first and foremost, and building off that.

Quotes by William Green

No one ever became great except through many and great mistakes.

Quotes by William E. Gladstone

No man ever became great or good except through many and great mistakes.

Quotes by William E. Gladstone

Reasoning at every step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way, Whilst meaner things, whom instinct leads, Are rarely known to stray.

Quotes by William Cowper

Going through games, making silly mistakes, you'll need the manager to tell each individual what they are doing wrong.

Quotes by Wilfried Zaha

Frequently Asked Questions

What do these "mistakes" quotes reflect on?
They range from a critique of foreign policy decisions to the value of making mistakes while learning a craft, and the idea that owning up to mistakes is part of moving on.
Is there a quote criticizing U.S. foreign policy?
Yes — one speaker shares their own view that a mistake "the United States consistently made was that it could intervene and somehow adjust people's governments, especially in the Middle East." This is presented as that speaker's personal opinion.
Is there a quote about learning through practice?
There is. One speaker says, "I like to practise. With every new piece, you make mistakes and you learn," adding, "it's important to get on and have another go."
Is there a quote about owning up to mistakes?
Yes — one quote suggests that "Mistakes, once owned, apologized for, and buried, need to be an accepted part of life." Browse more reflective lines on our Better and Life quotes pages.
Is there a quote criticizing a government's handling of the Iraq war?
Yes. One speaker states their own opinion that "The Administration has made critical mistakes and errors in judgment leading up to the war in Iraq," adding a criticism that "The President refuses to acknowledge these mistakes." This is presented strictly as that speaker's own political opinion. For more, see our Always and Good quotes pages.

The recurring idea is that mistakes, once genuinely owned and apologized for, should be allowed to stay buried rather than relitigated forever. See also Good and Life.