--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It takes a truly great man to see that…" description: "\"“It takes a truly great man to see that he’s been wrong and to apologize for it, even in the face of the obvious.”\" — Amy Lane" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/amy-lane-2185_apologize_it-takes-a-truly-great-man-to-see-that-h_2480051.jpg" --- # It takes a truly great man to see that he’s been wrong and… ![“It takes a truly great man to see that he’s been wrong and to apologize for it, even in the face of the obvious.” quote by Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/amy-lane-2185_apologize_it-takes-a-truly-great-man-to-see-that-h_2480051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/amy-lane-2185_apologize_it-takes-a-truly-great-man-to-see-that-h_2480051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/amy-lane-2185_apologize_it-takes-a-truly-great-man-to-see-that-h_2480051.jpg) > ““It takes a truly great man to see that he’s been wrong and to apologize for it, even in the face of the obvious.”” [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True greatness includes admitting mistakes and apologizing, even when it’s obvious. **In simple terms:** Great people own their errors. Key Takeaway Practice humility and apologize when wrong. Themes leadership humility integrity self‑awareness growth accountability Mood reflective inspirational candid Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - team management - public speaking - conflict resolution - personal relationships - organizational culture Key Concepts ethical leadership psychology of apology personal development Questions to Reflect On - When is it hardest to admit you’re wrong? - How does apology affect trust? A Different Perspective Apologies can be seen as weakness in competitive environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apologize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologize/) [Apologize Face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologize-face-854301/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Man Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-wrong-360270/) [Romance-novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance-novels/) [Wrong Apologize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-apologize-338616/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that when you're wrong, own it and apologize, and so I do and put it on the equivalent of my front page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-coyote/i-believe-that-when-you-re-wrong-own-it-and-apologize-and-so-i-do-and/) [Peter Coyote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-coyote/) > [“If I have to err, it’s on the side of assuming the worst. This way, if I’m wrong, I can always apologize. Or send…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/if-i-have-to-err-it-s-on-the-side-of-assuming-the-worst-this-way-if-i/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [STOP, if know it's wrong.. THINK, when you don't know if it's wrong.. APOLOGIZE, if you did something wrong.. FORGIVE, if they've done something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristos07/stop-if-know-it-s-wrong-think-when-you-don-t-know-if-it-s-wrong/) [Cristos07](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristos07/) > [If you have done something wrong apologize. If someone has done you wrong forgive. Life is too short for hastening and too long for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-have-done-something-wrong-apologize-if-someone-has-done-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel like when you're wrong you should admit you're wrong and apologize . Why lose somebody you care/cared about for nothing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-feel-like-when-you-re-wrong-you-should-admit-you-re-wrong-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I love you," "I was wrong," and "I apologize" are powerful words. They can save marriages, deepen friendships, and change lives. Don't be afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hawkins/i-love-you-i-was-wrong-and-i-apologize-are-powerful-words-they-can/) [John Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hawkins/) > [Don't apologize for what you think you did wrong. Apologize for what they think you did wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/don-t-apologize-for-what-you-think-you-did-wrong-apologize-for-what/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“He silently thanked Avery and their six years of marriage for teaching him a very valuable lesson. Know when you're wrong. And when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-l-hawk/he-silently-thanked-avery-and-their-six-years-of-marriage-for/) [Steven L. Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-l-hawk/) > [I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my, or any, sense of right and wrong. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-spitzer/i-have-acted-in-a-way-that-violates-my-obligations-to-my-family-and/) [Eliot Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-spitzer/) > [“She fell silent, remembering the jolt of envy and longing she’d felt when she’d framed the Browns in her viewfinder. Now, weeks and miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/she-fell-silent-remembering-the-jolt-of-envy-and-longing-she-d-felt/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“If it feels good, enjoy it. If it doesn’t, adjust your position until it does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/if-it-feels-good-enjoy-it-if-it-doesn-t-adjust-your-position-until-it/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“The army don’t teach enlisted men how to fly,” I said, trying to hold onto my dignity. “We gotta do that for ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/the-army-don-t-teach-enlisted-men-how-to-fly-i-said-trying-to-hold/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [If you cannot prove a man wrong, don't panic. You can always call him names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-you-cannot-prove-a-man-wrong-don-t-panic-you-can-always-call-him/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The only thing to do when a man is wrong is to be right by ceasing to be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lauriston-livermore/the-only-thing-to-do-when-a-man-is-wrong-is-to-be-right-by-ceasing-to/) [Jesse Lauriston Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lauriston-livermore/) > [If any man has done wrong, the harm is his own. But perhaps he has not done wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-any-man-has-done-wrong-the-harm-is-his-own-but-perhaps-he-has-not/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More by Amy Lane > [“Dawson looked at him, his jaw clenched earnestly, and remembered when he thought Jared was the leader of the two of them. He should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/dawson-looked-at-him-his-jaw-clenched-earnestly-and-remembered-when/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“Kaden gave another one of those unexpected barks of humor. “Yeah. And I’m telling you, my sister is a shameless, shameless woman, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/kaden-gave-another-one-of-those-unexpected-barks-of-humor-yeah-and-i/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“It was like when a midde-aged woman, happily married, found out that her favorite movie star was gay. It broke her heart just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/it-was-like-when-a-midde-aged-woman-happily-married-found-out-that/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“I thought your boyfriend died?" Nicky asked, and it was actually a good question, and I was so mad that I wasn't even embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/i-thought-your-boyfriend-died-nicky-asked-and-it-was-actually-a-good/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“Jeremy laughed. "Well, there was food, a gift, and you spent your time shopping. I'd say it was a date!" Aiden squinted at Jeremy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/jeremy-laughed-well-there-was-food-a-gift-and-you-spent-your-time/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“But strong isn’t suits and a stupidly expensive lifestyle.” “No?” “No. Strong is having the faith to run after a guy you’ve fallen for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/but-strong-isn-t-suits-and-a-stupidly-expensive-lifestyle-no-no/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“Krissa, tough Lady Krissa, who had stood by impassively while Areau vomited out ten years of bitter addiction, wiped her eyes and offered Areau…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/krissa-tough-lady-krissa-who-had-stood-by-impassively-while-areau/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“The point is, they have a public thing against the overweight and the underbeautiful. Those are my people there, Jared. Those are the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/the-point-is-they-have-a-public-thing-against-the-overweight-and-the/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“You nervous about doing this on camera?” Chance tilted his head a little, considering. “Well, yeah, of course. You don’t know what you look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/you-nervous-about-doing-this-on-camera-chance-tilted-his-head-a/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“You do like me, don’t you? Even though I’m apparently communicatively handicapped and socially retarded?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/you-do-like-me-don-t-you-even-though-i-m-apparently-communicatively/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“Whiskey to himself "God, please let this kid be legal, just to make that whole wood thing less disgusting”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/whiskey-to-himself-god-please-let-this-kid-be-legal-just-to-make-that/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“If you’re decent to people, you’ll usually find out they’re decent people, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/if-you-re-decent-to-people-you-ll-usually-find-out-they-re-decent/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“They made love until Chris had to leave for the airport, without sleeping at all. After Chris had left, wearing wrinkled jeans and Xander’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/they-made-love-until-chris-had-to-leave-for-the-airport-without/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“Anyone who says things like "Happy Ever After" as though that end to a love story is a given, is cooking up a right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/anyone-who-says-things-like-happy-ever-after-as-though-that-end-to-a/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“Whatcha doing, Lieu?" she asked cautiously. "Praying," he muttered. "I suck at it." "Your doing it wrong," she said flatly. "I'm not big on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/whatcha-doing-lieu-she-asked-cautiously-praying-he-muttered-i-suck-at/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) [Explore all 180 Amy Lane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) ## More Apologize quotes > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He wished he could somehow go back and find the iPhone people whom he'd jostled on the sidewalk earlier, apologize to them - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-st-john-mandel/he-wished-he-could-somehow-go-back-and-find-the-iphone-people-whom-he/) [Emily St. John Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-st-john-mandel/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) [Elizabeth Tambascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tambascio/) > [“Sorry I wish you could apologize to something you broke and it brings it back to what it was without losing its core I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rania-naim/sorry-i-wish-you-could-apologize-to-something-you-broke-and-it-brings/) [Rania Naim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rania-naim/) > [I'm sorry I want to apologize for being careless and hurting your feelings. Please forgive me ! I'm a jerk your friendship means a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/i-m-sorry-i-want-to-apologize-for-being-careless-and-hurting-your/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [A jerk will keep hurting you then apologize to keep you from leaving them, and then do it all over again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/a-jerk-will-keep-hurting-you-then-apologize-to-keep-you-from-leaving/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [To apologize for what you most wanted to do, to concede that it was obnoxious, boring, 'vulgar and unsafe' --- that was the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hollinghurst/to-apologize-for-what-you-most-wanted-to-do-to-concede-that-it-was/) [Alan Hollinghurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hollinghurst/) > [To truly repent of a big thing, you have to go into it with your heart open and force yourself to deal with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-wilkinson/to-truly-repent-of-a-big-thing-you-have-to-go-into-it-with-your-heart/) [Bruce Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-wilkinson/) > [I would like to publicly apologize to anyone I have NOT offended¦I will get to you shortly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-like-to-publicly-apologize-to-anyone-i-have-not-offended-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have a responsibility, and it's something that I did wrong, and if I could personally apologize to every single person that has lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/i-have-a-responsibility-and-it-s-something-that-i-did-wrong-and-if-i/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [To the millions of Americans whove attempted to use HealthCare.gov to shop and enroll in health-care coverage, I want to apologize to you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-tavenner/to-the-millions-of-americans-whove-attempted-to-use-healthcare-gov-to/) [Marilyn Tavenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-tavenner/) > [“When someone says that it's too late for apologize when you have to do it anyway because it's your duty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-teris-bit-ns/when-someone-says-that-it-s-too-late-for-apologize-when-you-have-to/) [Pēteris Bitāns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-teris-bit-ns/) > [Life is short so, kiss slowly, forgive quickly, and love deeply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney/life-is-short-so-kiss-slowly-forgive-quickly-and-love-deeply/) [Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney/) > [Life is too short to worry about stupid things. Have fun, fall in love, and regret nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/life-is-too-short-to-worry-about-stupid-things-have-fun-fall-in-love/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I ain't never going to apologize for a 21-point win over a state rival, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/i-ain-t-never-going-to-apologize-for-a-21-point-win-over-a-state/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) [Browse all 900 Apologize quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologize/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It takes a truly great man to see that he’s been wrong and to apologize for it, even in the face of the obvious.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Amy Lane" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/it-takes-a-truly-great-man-to-see-that-he-s-been-wrong-and-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apologize" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/it-takes-a-truly-great-man-to-see-that-he-s-been-wrong-and-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/amy-lane-2185_apologize_it-takes-a-truly-great-man-to-see-that-h_2480051.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/amy-lane-2185_apologize_it-takes-a-truly-great-man-to-see-that-h_2480051.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/amy-lane-2185_apologize_it-takes-a-truly-great-man-to-see-that-h_2480051.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It takes a truly great man to see that he’s been wrong and to apologize for it, even in the face of the…” — Amy Lane", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Amy Lane", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It takes a truly great man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/it-takes-a-truly-great-man-to-see-that-he-s-been-wrong-and-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/it-takes-a-truly-great-man-to-see-that-he-s-been-wrong-and-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```