---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we have a chance of succeeding and…"
description: "\"If we have a chance of succeeding and bringing stability and democracy to Iraq, it will mean learning from our mistakes, not denying them and not ignor..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/carl-levin-23108_chance_if-we-have-a-chance-of-succeeding-and-br_3103693.png"
---

#  If we have a chance of succeeding and bringing stability…

![“If we have a chance of succeeding and bringing stability and democracy to Iraq, it will mean learning from our mistakes, not denying them and not ignoring them.” quote by Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/carl-levin-23108_chance_if-we-have-a-chance-of-succeeding-and-br_3103693.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/carl-levin-23108_chance_if-we-have-a-chance-of-succeeding-and-br_3103693.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/carl-levin-23108_chance_if-we-have-a-chance-of-succeeding-and-br_3103693.png)

> “If we have a chance of succeeding and bringing stability and democracy to Iraq, it will mean learning from our mistakes, not denying them and not ignoring them.”

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success in Iraq requires learning from past errors rather than denying or ignoring them.

**In simple terms:** Learn from mistakes to build stability.

Key Takeaway

Apply lessons to improve future actions.

Themes

politics accountability policy democracy

Mood

critical analytical

Type

policy strategic

When to use this quote

- government decision‑making
- military strategy
- NGO work
- public debate

Key Concepts

international relations strategic planning

Questions to Reflect On

- What past mistake offers the biggest lesson?
- How can leaders ensure mistakes are acknowledged?

A Different Perspective

Political realities may limit ideal outcomes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Learning from our mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-from-our-mistakes/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Stability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stability/)

## Related quotes

> [Employee-owned companies play an important role in our economy, bringing stability, increasing productivity and supporting local economies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-scott/employee-owned-companies-play-an-important-role-in-our-economy/)

[Phil Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-scott/)

> [I confess to considerable doubts about the eventual stability of democracy, unless buttressed by constitutional safeguards and a general climate of opinion which thoroughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-robbins-baron-robbins/i-confess-to-considerable-doubts-about-the-eventual-stability-of/)

[Lionel Robbins, Baron Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-robbins-baron-robbins/)

> [Europe tends to favor stability over democracy, America democracy over stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-hannan/europe-tends-to-favor-stability-over-democracy-america-democracy-over/)

[Daniel Hannan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-hannan/)

> [In Israel, free men and women are every day demonstrating the power of courage and faith. Back in 1948 when Isreal was founded, pundits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/in-israel-free-men-and-women-are-every-day-demonstrating-the-power-of/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [We don't know yet how to build a society which is environmentally sustainable, which is shareable with everybody on the planet, which promotes stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-steffen/we-don-t-know-yet-how-to-build-a-society-which-is-environmentally/)

[Alex Steffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-steffen/)

> [We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy as they have in Iraq, I can tell you quite honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-certainly-would-not-want-to-have-the-same-kind-of-democracy-as/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [The Iraqi prime minister is an anti-Semite. We don't need to spend $200 and $300 and $500 billion dollars bringing democracy to Iraq to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/the-iraqi-prime-minister-is-an-anti-semite-we-don-t-need-to-spend-200/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [Ending torture and tyranny in Iraq was not a mistake. Supporting democracy in Iraq is not a mistake. Helping the long-suffering Muslims of Iraq…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-novak/ending-torture-and-tyranny-in-iraq-was-not-a-mistake-supporting/)

[Michael Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-novak/)

> [ \[If President Bush is right about democracy in Iraq\] I may, and I don't know if I can physically do this, implode. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/if-president-bush-is-right-about-democracy-in-iraq-i-may-and-i-don-t/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [The birth of democracy in Iraq is one of the great positive changes of our era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/the-birth-of-democracy-in-iraq-is-one-of-the-great-positive-changes/)

[Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/)

> [That does not mean we won't experience the tragedy of the loss of some American lives. We will have an opportunity to instill a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/that-does-not-mean-we-won-t-experience-the-tragedy-of-the-loss-of/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [Our brave soldiers and support personnel are engaged in a battle as important as any the United States has ever before waged, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-foxx/our-brave-soldiers-and-support-personnel-are-engaged-in-a-battle-as/)

[Virginia Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-foxx/)

> [I am all in favour of democracy in Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/i-am-all-in-favour-of-democracy-in-iraq/)

[John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/)

> [You cannot possibly expect even the most illiterate person on Earth to believe that you really want a democracy in Iraq while you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scheuer/you-cannot-possibly-expect-even-the-most-illiterate-person-on-earth/)

[Michael Scheuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scheuer/)

> [And we are grateful to the American young men and women who are risking their lives to give the Iraqi people this chance, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-chalabi/and-we-are-grateful-to-the-american-young-men-and-women-who-are/)

[Ahmed Chalabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-chalabi/)

## More by Carl Levin

> [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [We shouldn't knee jerk anything. The Iraqi government a few years back, when they had a chance to sign an agreement that would keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/we-shouldn-t-knee-jerk-anything-the-iraqi-government-a-few-years-back/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [Dr. Rice's record on Iraq gives me great concern. In her public statements she clearly overstated and exaggerated the intelligence concerning Iraq before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/dr-rice-s-record-on-iraq-gives-me-great-concern-in-her-public/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [We have a hope of succeeding if we learn from our past mistakes and pull together to make the hard choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/we-have-a-hope-of-succeeding-if-we-learn-from-our-past-mistakes-and/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [Even top caliber hospitals cannot escape medical mistakes that sometimes result in irreparable damage to patients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/even-top-caliber-hospitals-cannot-escape-medical-mistakes-that/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [Common sense should tell us that there is no reason for civilians to have access to easily concealable handguns with the capability to shoot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/common-sense-should-tell-us-that-there-is-no-reason-for-civilians-to/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [If you like what Wall Street did for the housing market, you'll love what Wall Street is doing for commodities. Goldman's ability to influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/if-you-like-what-wall-street-did-for-the-housing-market-you-ll-love/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [While it is clear that we need to make some adjustments to protect Social Security for the long term, it is disingenuous to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/while-it-is-clear-that-we-need-to-make-some-adjustments-to-protect/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [We should be hell bent on getting those weapons of mass destruction, hell bent on having a credible approach to them, but we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/we-should-be-hell-bent-on-getting-those-weapons-of-mass-destruction/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/we-begin-with-the-common-belief-that-saddam-hussein-is-a-tyrant-and-a/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [When a decision is made to go to war based on intelligence, it is a fateful decision. It has ramifications and impacts way beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/when-a-decision-is-made-to-go-to-war-based-on-intelligence-it-is-a/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [Safe storage and child access prevention laws are critical steps as we seek to reduce the occurrence of accidental shootings and suicides involving guns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/safe-storage-and-child-access-prevention-laws-are-critical-steps-as/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [I am 100 percent supportive of the stand-alone bill to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' that Sens. Lieberman and Collins have now proposed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/i-am-100-percent-supportive-of-the-stand-alone-bill-to-repeal-don-t/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [Firefighters are essential to the safety and security of our local communities. We owe it to these men and women to provide them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/firefighters-are-essential-to-the-safety-and-security-of-our-local/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

> [Restoring responsibility and accountability is essential to the economic and fiscal health of our nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/restoring-responsibility-and-accountability-is-essential-to-the/)

[Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

[Explore all 26 Carl Levin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/)

## More Chance quotes

> [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/)

[Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/)

> [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/)

[Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/)

> [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/)

[Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/)

> [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/)

[Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/)

> [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/)

[Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/)

[Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/)

> [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/)

[Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/)

> [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/)

Alejandro Taubas

> [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/)

[Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/)

> [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/)

[Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/)

> [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/)

[Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/)

[Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If we have a chance of succeeding and bringing stability and democracy to Iraq, it will mean learning from our mistakes, not denying them and not ignoring them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Carl Levin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/if-we-have-a-chance-of-succeeding-and-bringing-stability-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Chance"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/if-we-have-a-chance-of-succeeding-and-bringing-stability-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/carl-levin-23108_chance_if-we-have-a-chance-of-succeeding-and-br_3103693.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/carl-levin-23108_chance_if-we-have-a-chance-of-succeeding-and-br_3103693.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/carl-levin-23108_chance_if-we-have-a-chance-of-succeeding-and-br_3103693.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If we have a chance of succeeding and bringing stability and democracy to Iraq, it will mean learning from…” — Carl Levin",
                "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": "Carl Levin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If we have a chance of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/if-we-have-a-chance-of-succeeding-and-bringing-stability-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/if-we-have-a-chance-of-succeeding-and-bringing-stability-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
