--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was a mistake. I was wrong, but I…" description: "\"It was a mistake. I was wrong, but I discovered this many years later. I was acting on the basis of this mandate given me by the most important leaders..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/boutros-boutros-ghali-19672_acting_it-was-a-mistake-i-was-wrong-but-i-disco_1435570.png" --- # It was a mistake. I was wrong, but I discovered this many… ![“It was a mistake. I was wrong, but I discovered this many years later. I was acting on the basis of this mandate given me by the most important leaders of the world: President Bush's father, prime minister of France, President Mitterand, the Chinese, everybody.” quote by Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/boutros-boutros-ghali-19672_acting_it-was-a-mistake-i-was-wrong-but-i-disco_1435570.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/boutros-boutros-ghali-19672_acting_it-was-a-mistake-i-was-wrong-but-i-disco_1435570.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/boutros-boutros-ghali-19672_acting_it-was-a-mistake-i-was-wrong-but-i-disco_1435570.png) > “It was a mistake. I was wrong, but I discovered this many years later. I was acting on the basis of this mandate given me by the most important leaders of the world: President Bush's father, prime minister of France, President Mitterand, the Chinese, everybody.” [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admits past errors, recognizing that decisions were influenced by powerful leaders, leading to later realization. **In simple terms:** He realized mistakes were caused by leaders' directives. Key Takeaway Acknowledge influence, learn from errors. Themes politics leadership humility Mood reflective critical Type political historical When to use this quote - policy analysis - leadership training - personal growth Key Concepts accountability historical context Questions to Reflect On - What leaders shape your decisions? - How can you balance obedience and personal ethics? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitical factors may obscure personal responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/france/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Mandate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mandate/) [Minister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minister/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Prime minister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prime-minister/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The mandate given to me was one of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benigno-aquino-iii/the-mandate-given-to-me-was-one-of-change/) [Benigno Aquino III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benigno-aquino-iii/) > [“You have received a mandate not given by man, but given and empowered by God, to bring justice to the people and godliness on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-have-received-a-mandate-not-given-by-man-but-given-and-empowered/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [In a democracy, nothing is more sacred than the mandate given by the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-nath-kovind/in-a-democracy-nothing-is-more-sacred-than-the-mandate-given-by-the/) [Ram Nath Kovind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-nath-kovind/) > [I also recognise that the mandate was given by hundreds of thousands of ordinary people joining in the political process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/i-also-recognise-that-the-mandate-was-given-by-hundreds-of-thousands/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [Managers make you feel they are important. Leaders make you feel you are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-den-heijer/managers-make-you-feel-they-are-important-leaders-make-you-feel-you/) [Alexander Den Heijer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-den-heijer/) > [I do think that it's really important for leaders of countries to be very clear and careful in the statements they make because their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-do-think-that-it-s-really-important-for-leaders-of-countries-to-be/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Our party is not like the Congress, where leaders are more important than the party and ethics. In our party, people and workers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pinarayi-vijayan/our-party-is-not-like-the-congress-where-leaders-are-more-important/) [Pinarayi Vijayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pinarayi-vijayan/) > [I conclude where I began, I was elected by the people of Australia to do a job. I was not elected by the factional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudd/i-conclude-where-i-began-i-was-elected-by-the-people-of-australia-to/) [Kevin Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudd/) > [They say loving you is my biggest mistake but how can it be so wrong if it feels so right? If ever I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee/they-say-loving-you-is-my-biggest-mistake-but-how-can-it-be-so-wrong/) [Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee/) > [Make no mistake there is nothing wrong with fear. The only mistake is to let it stop you in your tracks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/make-no-mistake-there-is-nothing-wrong-with-fear-the-only-mistake-is/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [“Screwing up is hardly a major mistake. Sometimes your wrong choices bring you to the right places.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/screwing-up-is-hardly-a-major-mistake-sometimes-your-wrong-choices/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [There's nothing wrong with making a mistake, what's wrong is not taking the effort to make it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-making-a-mistake-what-s-wrong-is-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They say loving you is my biggest mistake but how can I be wrong if it feels so right?If I ever make a mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-bear/they-say-loving-you-is-my-biggest-mistake-but-how-can-i-be-wrong-if/) Candy Bear > [Never regret, if something has been gone wrong.Every thing happens for a reason.Mistake or wrong done exposes some sort of weakness, mend your ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/never-regret-if-something-has-been-gone-wrong-every-thing-happens-for/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [I Let You Know That You're My Good Thang Even If You, Make A Mistake And Do The Wrong Thang I'll Forgive You, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amera/i-let-you-know-that-you-re-my-good-thang-even-if-you-make-a-mistake/) [Amera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amera/) ## More by Boutros Boutros-Ghali > [We must rid the world of the scourge of these agents of death and destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/we-must-rid-the-world-of-the-scourge-of-these-agents-of-death-and/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [It has long been recognized that an essential element in protecting human rights was a widespread knowledge among the population of what their rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/it-has-long-been-recognized-that-an-essential-element-in-protecting/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [Water will be more important than oil this century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/water-will-be-more-important-than-oil-this-century/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [The real problem was not the troops; the real problem was that only the United States had the infrastructure to do the transport of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/the-real-problem-was-not-the-troops-the-real-problem-was-that-only/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [I believe it will take time to find a solution to the problem. Thus we must have patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/i-believe-it-will-take-time-to-find-a-solution-to-the-problem-thus-we/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [While the broad principles of democracy are universal, the fact remains that their application varies considerably ... We are at the beginning of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/while-the-broad-principles-of-democracy-are-universal-the-fact/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [Democracy is an objective. Democratization is a process. Democratization serves the cause of peace because it offers the possibility of justice and of progressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/democracy-is-an-objective-democratization-is-a-process/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [The problem is when you are writing something in retrospective, it needs a lot of courage not to change, or you will forget a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/the-problem-is-when-you-are-writing-something-in-retrospective-it/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [So this is why I'm always say happy that somebody mentions Rwanda, because behind Rwanda, we have Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/so-this-is-why-i-m-always-say-happy-that-somebody-mentions-rwanda/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [But I believe that the DPKO at this time was very much involved with American administration and was acting, taking on consideration the demand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/but-i-believe-that-the-dpko-at-this-time-was-very-much-involved-with/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [When you have an accident, they will save their own people, and those who have worked with you or with the NGOs are left.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/when-you-have-an-accident-they-will-save-their-own-people-and-those/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [There is a greater fatigue concerning the African problem today than five or 10 years ago. The situation now in Africa is worse today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/there-is-a-greater-fatigue-concerning-the-african-problem-today-than/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [Co-operative enterprises provide the organisational means whereby a significant proportion of humanity is able to take into its own hands the tasks of creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/co-operative-enterprises-provide-the-organisational-means-whereby-a/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [Only stupid people don't change their minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/only-stupid-people-don-t-change-their-minds/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) > [I used to say I never talk about my successor, neither about my predecessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boutros-boutros-ghali/i-used-to-say-i-never-talk-about-my-successor-neither-about-my/) [Boutros Boutros-Ghali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) [Explore all 32 Boutros Boutros-Ghali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boutros-boutros-ghali/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was a mistake. I was wrong, but I discovered this many years later. 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