--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: what I’ve learnt over my life is that…" description: "\"“what I’ve learnt over my life is that people don’t do things by mistake. We know what we’re doing, whether we admit that or not”\" — Caroline Overington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/caroline-overington-52474_failure_what-i-ve-learnt-over-my-life-is-that-pe_2680062.jpg" --- # what I’ve learnt over my life is that people don’t do… ![“what I’ve learnt over my life is that people don’t do things by mistake. We know what we’re doing, whether we admit that or not” quote by Caroline Overington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/caroline-overington-52474_failure_what-i-ve-learnt-over-my-life-is-that-pe_2680062.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/caroline-overington-52474_failure_what-i-ve-learnt-over-my-life-is-that-pe_2680062.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/caroline-overington-52474_failure_what-i-ve-learnt-over-my-life-is-that-pe_2680062.jpg) > ““what I’ve learnt over my life is that people don’t do things by mistake. We know what we’re doing, whether we admit that or not”” [Caroline Overington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-overington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People act with intent, even if they deny it, revealing hidden motivations. **In simple terms:** People act deliberately, even when they claim otherwise. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden motives. Themes psychology intent accountability Mood analytical skeptical Type observational critical When to use this quote - personal relationships - business negotiations - political analysis Key Concepts motivation self‑deception Questions to Reflect On - What evidence shows intent? - How do you address unacknowledged motives? A Different Perspective Assumes all actions are purposeful, ignoring accidents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Know Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-doing/) [Learnt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learnt/) [Learnt Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learnt-life-294623/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistake Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-know-2572633/) [Ve Learnt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-learnt/) ## Related quotes > [I've learnt from my life experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/i-ve-learnt-from-my-life-experience/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [“one thing I’ve learnt is that life isn’t about doing the right thing. It’s about not doing the wrong thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-neill/one-thing-i-ve-learnt-is-that-life-isn-t-about-doing-the-right-thing/) [Fiona Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-neill/) > [If I am able to pass on what I've learnt in my life, that's really wonderful, especially after losing Dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bindi-irwin/if-i-am-able-to-pass-on-what-i-ve-learnt-in-my-life-that-s-really/) [Bindi Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bindi-irwin/) > [I've learnt that you tend most to make a div of yourself when you're trying to cover up the fact that you don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/i-ve-learnt-that-you-tend-most-to-make-a-div-of-yourself-when-you-re/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [“One thing I’ve learnt in life is that you only know where things start. You never know where it’s going to end up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-mcauley/one-thing-i-ve-learnt-in-life-is-that-you-only-know-where-things/) [Vicki McAuley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-mcauley/) > [The moral values I've learnt in my life I've learnt through football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/the-moral-values-i-ve-learnt-in-my-life-i-ve-learnt-through-football/) [Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/) > [I guess I have learnt now that life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celina-jaitly/i-guess-i-have-learnt-now-that-life-becomes-easier-when-you-learn-to/) [Celina Jaitly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celina-jaitly/) > [“One thing I have learnt in this life, is that you got to have Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evans-biya/one-thing-i-have-learnt-in-this-life-is-that-you-got-to-have-jesus/) [Evans Biya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evans-biya/) > [I have learnt that life is something so preious & it may change in a blind of an eye …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-x-w/i-have-learnt-that-life-is-something-so-preious-it-may-change-in-a/) [Cheyenne X W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-x-w/) > [I learnt in life what to do besides learning what not to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shatrughan-sinha/i-learnt-in-life-what-to-do-besides-learning-what-not-to-do/) [Shatrughan Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shatrughan-sinha/) > [I have learnt that life is full of ups and downs. And even though I've had rough times, I can't complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/i-have-learnt-that-life-is-full-of-ups-and-downs-and-even-though-i-ve/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) > [I've learnt so much from Mithunda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/i-ve-learnt-so-much-from-mithunda/) [Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/) > [I've learnt that, even though I've travelled about, I haven't changed that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/i-ve-learnt-that-even-though-i-ve-travelled-about-i-haven-t-changed/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [The biggest thing I've learnt is not to limit myself by the norm or what I should be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-buchanan/the-biggest-thing-i-ve-learnt-is-not-to-limit-myself-by-the-norm-or/) [Caroline Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-buchanan/) > [Remember when you used to be her everything? How does it feel to be nothing? Did she ever tell you the world is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-when-you-used-to-be-her-everything-how-does-it-feel-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Caroline Overington > [“Goddamn it, that’s your family you’re talking about there, and if family means anything to you, make up. You don’t have to see each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-overington/goddamn-it-that-s-your-family-you-re-talking-about-there-and-if/) [Caroline Overington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-overington/) > [“Obviously, children die every day, and it is surely conceivable to every one of us that one of our children will pre-decease us. Nevertheless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-overington/obviously-children-die-every-day-and-it-is-surely-conceivable-to/) [Caroline Overington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-overington/) > [“Dr Bell clears his throat : "Matilda showed unambiguous excitement at the prospect of seeing her father and when the two were brought together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-overington/dr-bell-clears-his-throat-matilda-showed-unambiguous-excitement-at/) [Caroline Overington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-overington/) > [“It's okay, Harley. I'm just down the hall." He didn't say anything but I could tell he was afraid. I closed the door gently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-overington/it-s-okay-harley-i-m-just-down-the-hall-he-didn-t-say-anything-but-i/) [Caroline Overington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-overington/) > [“I see that both her parents are here. I'm pleased that they are, because I'd like to take the opportunity, early in what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-overington/i-see-that-both-her-parents-are-here-i-m-pleased-that-they-are/) [Caroline Overington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-overington/) > [“I said to the social worker "Would you stop me from having a child of my own?" Of course, they wouldn't have been able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-overington/i-said-to-the-social-worker-would-you-stop-me-from-having-a-child-of/) [Caroline Overington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-overington/) [Explore all 7 Caroline Overington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-overington/) ## More Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“what I’ve learnt over my life is that people don’t do things by mistake. 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