--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best mistake I ever made was…" description: "\"The best mistake I ever made was believing that I was stupid. It was a childhood thing, but it played out big-time as an adult. It scorned me the rest ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/barbara-corcoran-4101_adult_the-best-mistake-i-ever-made-was-believi_2442693.png" --- # The best mistake I ever made was believing that I was… ![“The best mistake I ever made was believing that I was stupid. It was a childhood thing, but it played out big-time as an adult. It scorned me the rest of my life - in a good way.” quote by Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/barbara-corcoran-4101_adult_the-best-mistake-i-ever-made-was-believi_2442693.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/barbara-corcoran-4101_adult_the-best-mistake-i-ever-made-was-believi_2442693.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/barbara-corcoran-4101_adult_the-best-mistake-i-ever-made-was-believi_2442693.png) > “The best mistake I ever made was believing that I was stupid. It was a childhood thing, but it played out big-time as an adult. It scorned me the rest of my life - in a good way.” [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Believing in oneself despite perceived low intelligence can lead to unexpected success and personal growth. **In simple terms:** Self‑belief transforms perceived weakness into strength. Key Takeaway Embrace confidence to overcome self‑doubt. Themes self‑esteem growth resilience Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - education - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology mindset personal development Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs have limited you? - How can you test your confidence constructively? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can blind one to real limitations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) ## Related quotes > [I was basically a broke student, and I moved to Asia and was making some money to go back to school. One thing led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-q/i-was-basically-a-broke-student-and-i-moved-to-asia-and-was-making/) [Maggie Q](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-q/) > [“No. It was the best mistake I ever made.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-hart/no-it-was-the-best-mistake-i-ever-made/) [Megan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-hart/) > [But it was also the best mistake I've ever made, because what it did was hopefully allow a whole new generation to make up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sweeney/but-it-was-also-the-best-mistake-i-ve-ever-made-because-what-it-did/) [John Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sweeney/) > [Even If My Heart Should Break, You'd Be The Best Mistake I'd Ever Make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enis/even-if-my-heart-should-break-you-d-be-the-best-mistake-i-d-ever-make/) [Enis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enis/) > [“Loving you was the best mistake I ever made”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-m-cameron/loving-you-was-the-best-mistake-i-ever-made/) [Chelsea M. Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-m-cameron/) > [My father always told me that in this world we are going to make a truckload of mistakes, but the best mistake we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/my-father-always-told-me-that-in-this-world-we-are-going-to-make-a/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [“Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will spend its whole life believing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert/everyone-is-a-genius-but-if-you-judge-a-fish-by-its-ability-to-climb/) Albert > [Don't be such a fool, believing stupid promises which would only lead you to extreme insanity when it isn't accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-andos/don-t-be-such-a-fool-believing-stupid-promises-which-would-only-lead/) [Dimple Andos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-andos/) > [Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everybody-is-a-genius-but-if-you-judge-a-fish-by-its-ability-to-climb/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone is a genius. But if u judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree,it will live its whole life believing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everyone-is-a-genius-but-if-u-judge-a-fish-on-its-ability-to-climb-a/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troublemaker/everybody-is-a-genius-but-if-you-judge-a-fish-by-its-ability-to-climb-3/) Troublemaker > [Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree then it will live it's whole life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everybody-is-a-genius-but-if-you-judge-a-fish-by-it-s-ability-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-jameson/everyone-is-a-genius-but-if-you-judge-a-fish-on-its-ability-to-climb-2/) [Lee Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-jameson/) > [Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish on it's ability to climb a fish, it will live it's whole life believing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everyone-is-a-genius-but-if-you-judge-a-fish-on-it-s-ability-to-climb/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“All men have a natural fear of making a mistake--by believing too well of a person. However, the error of believing too ill of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/all-men-have-a-natural-fear-of-making-a-mistake-by-believing-too-well/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) ## More by Barbara Corcoran > [I like to wake up and just feel gratitude. Gratitude for waking up, for my health, for my kids, for my family. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/i-like-to-wake-up-and-just-feel-gratitude-gratitude-for-waking-up-for/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [So many people are good at starts and not so good at finishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/so-many-people-are-good-at-starts-and-not-so-good-at-finishing/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [If I could set a world record, it would be that I have 150 business partners, all with thriving businesses of their own that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/if-i-could-set-a-world-record-it-would-be-that-i-have-150-business/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [I'm never in control of my time during the workday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/i-m-never-in-control-of-my-time-during-the-workday/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [It's rumored that doing well in real estate is to be able to close a deal. I did not find that to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/it-s-rumored-that-doing-well-in-real-estate-is-to-be-able-to-close-a/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [I have found, whether you have a tiny business or a big business, if you don't jump on something right away, it's like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/i-have-found-whether-you-have-a-tiny-business-or-a-big-business-if/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [My greatest strength as a child, I realize now, was my imagination. While every other kid was reading and writing, I had seven whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/my-greatest-strength-as-a-child-i-realize-now-was-my-imagination/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [Sex appeal is in the workplace every day of the week. I'm not saying that's the only calling card, but it's a whole crayon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/sex-appeal-is-in-the-workplace-every-day-of-the-week-i-m-not-saying/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [If you get labeled a winner, people come along for the ride. Might as well enjoy it and they should too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/if-you-get-labeled-a-winner-people-come-along-for-the-ride-might-as/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [You can't study to be an entrepreneur. Sometimes, you just have to jump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/you-can-t-study-to-be-an-entrepreneur-sometimes-you-just-have-to-jump/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [When you're building a business, you're either all in, or you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/when-you-re-building-a-business-you-re-either-all-in-or-you-re-not/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [The story of my billion-dollar business starts like this. I borrowed $1,000 from a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/the-story-of-my-billion-dollar-business-starts-like-this-i-borrowed-1/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [If you want to have a creative culture, you can't get it by reading books. You get it by example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/if-you-want-to-have-a-creative-culture-you-can-t-get-it-by-reading/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [You may not like the idea of putting money into a home when you're moving out. But it's demanded by the market. You need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/you-may-not-like-the-idea-of-putting-money-into-a-home-when-you-re/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [Confidence is overrated. It's when we're uncomfortable and looking for answers that we learn and grow the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/confidence-is-overrated-it-s-when-we-re-uncomfortable-and-looking-for/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) [Explore all 116 Barbara Corcoran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) ## More Adult quotes > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland. The fool will try to plant them in the same flowerbox.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/the-cactus-thrives-in-the-desert-while-the-fern-thrives-in-the/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [I have spent my entire adult life trying to make Liberty University the world-class Christian university that was envisioned at its founding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-falwell-jr/i-have-spent-my-entire-adult-life-trying-to-make-liberty-university/) [Jerry Falwell, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-falwell-jr/) > [“To love was a privilege not afforded to those of us born in these trying times when survival was never guaranteed. We were products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-x-chang/to-love-was-a-privilege-not-afforded-to-those-of-us-born-in-these/) Molly X. Chang > [Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/adults-look-upon-a-child-as-something-empty-that-is-to-be-filled/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“English: "Being an adult doesn't mean killing the child we once were; it means being able to protect him." Česky: „Být dospělým neznamená zabít…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebasti-n-wortys/english-being-an-adult-doesn-t-mean-killing-the-child-we-once-were-it/) [Sebastián Wortys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebasti-n-wortys/) > [You know, children philosophize more than adults - and they are critical of adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/you-know-children-philosophize-more-than-adults-and-they-are-critical/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“There's such an intimate kind of beauty in the act of listening to music being created right in front of your eyes, watching the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-frank/there-s-such-an-intimate-kind-of-beauty-in-the-act-of-listening-to/) [M.C. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-frank/) > [Whether we think of Disney's blonde beauty and her pumpkin carriage or Marissa Meyer's recent recasting of 'Cinderella' as a cyborg in the young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-rutkoski/whether-we-think-of-disney-s-blonde-beauty-and-her-pumpkin-carriage/) [Marie Rutkoski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-rutkoski/) > [You have, unfortunately, a K-12 educational system where the requirements to graduate are not the requirements to be college and career-ready. So if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-chertavian/you-have-unfortunately-a-k-12-educational-system-where-the/) [Gerald Chertavian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-chertavian/) > [Child actors going on to become adult actors never really works, apart from a few. Jodie Foster was the exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lester/child-actors-going-on-to-become-adult-actors-never-really-works-apart/) Mark Lester > [Being an adult is the ability to postpone a want for the sake of a family need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/being-an-adult-is-the-ability-to-postpone-a-want-for-the-sake-of-a/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [“Oh, I don’t mean to infer that you’re not a great guy. I’m sure you’re the exception to the rule.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaye-frances/oh-i-don-t-mean-to-infer-that-you-re-not-a-great-guy-i-m-sure-you-re/) Jaye Frances Browse all 1,153 Adult quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best mistake I ever made was believing that I was stupid. It was a childhood thing, but it played out big-time as an adult. It scorned me the rest of my life - in a good way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara Corcoran" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/the-best-mistake-i-ever-made-was-believing-that-i-was-stupid-it-was-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adult" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/the-best-mistake-i-ever-made-was-believing-that-i-was-stupid-it-was-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/barbara-corcoran-4101_adult_the-best-mistake-i-ever-made-was-believi_2442693.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/barbara-corcoran-4101_adult_the-best-mistake-i-ever-made-was-believi_2442693.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/barbara-corcoran-4101_adult_the-best-mistake-i-ever-made-was-believi_2442693.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The best mistake I ever made was believing that I was stupid. It was a childhood thing, but it played out…” — Barbara Corcoran", "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": "Barbara Corcoran", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The best mistake I ever made...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/the-best-mistake-i-ever-made-was-believing-that-i-was-stupid-it-was-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/the-best-mistake-i-ever-made-was-believing-that-i-was-stupid-it-was-a/#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 } } ] } ```