Admit Quote by Atul Gawande
“You want to ensure people can do it right 99 percent of time. When we have to fire one of our surgical trainees, it is never because they dont have the physical skills but because they dont have the moral skills - to practise and admit failure.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Better, 2010
Technical skill alone isn’t enough; moral courage to admit mistakes is essential for safe practice.
In simple terms: Moral skill matters most.
Key Takeaway
Embrace moral responsibility.
Themes
ethics
medical training
leadership
Mood
serious
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- clinical practice
- training programs
- performance reviews
Key Concepts
integrity
accountability
failure management
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions support moral courage?
- What systems encourage transparent error reporting?
A Different Perspective
Admitting failure can damage reputation.
