---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have taken the stand that nobody can be…"
description: "\"I have taken the stand that nobody can be always wrong, but it does seem to me that I have approximated so highly that I am nothing short of a negative..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/charles-fort-11887_always-wrong_i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-b_503213.jpg"
---

#  I have taken the stand that nobody can be always wrong…

![“I have taken the stand that nobody can be always wrong, but it does seem to me that I have approximated so highly that I am nothing short of a negative genius.” quote by Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/charles-fort-11887_always-wrong_i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-b_503213.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/charles-fort-11887_always-wrong_i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-b_503213.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/charles-fort-11887_always-wrong_i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-b_503213.jpg)

> “I have taken the stand that nobody can be always wrong, but it does seem to me that I have approximated so highly that I am nothing short of a negative genius.”

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

## About This Quote

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

Even a flawed mind can produce valuable insights; embracing errors fuels innovation.

**In simple terms:** Mistakes can spark genius.

Key Takeaway

Learn from errors.

Themes

innovation humility critical thinking

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- scientific research
- problem solving
- writing
- teaching

Key Concepts

Error analysis creative paradox

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn perceived failures into strengths?
- What value do “negative geniuses” bring?

A Different Perspective

Self‑deprecation may undermine confidence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Always wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-wrong/) [Approximated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approximated-4280301/) [Approximated Highly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approximated-highly-4280299/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Does Approximated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-approximated-4280302/) [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative/) [Negative Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-genius-4280300/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/)

## Related quotes

> [People who try to predict the future by extrapolating in a line of more of what exists - they are always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/people-who-try-to-predict-the-future-by-extrapolating-in-a-line-of/)

[Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/)

> [Don't make decisions by majority vote. The majority is almost always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/don-t-make-decisions-by-majority-vote-the-majority-is-almost-always/)

[Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/)

> [So, economics should emulate physics' basic ethos, but its search for precision in physics-like formulas is almost always wrong in economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/so-economics-should-emulate-physics-basic-ethos-but-its-search-for/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [Socialism is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/socialism-is-always-wrong/)

[George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/)

> [People recognize me from everything and as soon as I think I know where they know me from, I'm always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niecy-nash/people-recognize-me-from-everything-and-as-soon-as-i-think-i-know/)

[Niecy Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niecy-nash/)

> [Torturing a human being is almost always wrong, but it is not absolutely wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/torturing-a-human-being-is-almost-always-wrong-but-it-is-not/)

[Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/)

> [Without the instruments and accumulated knowledge of the natural sciences... humans are trapped in a cognitive prison. They are like intelligent fish born in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-the-instruments-and-accumulated-knowledge-of-the-natural/)

[E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/)

> [She didn't give George any too easy a time when she was alive. She was one of those semi-invalids – I believe she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/she-didn-t-give-george-any-too-easy-a-time-when-she-was-alive-she-was/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has the power is always right; the weaker is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/power-is-the-pivot-on-which-everything-hinges-he-who-has-the-power-is/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [you may take it from me, that however hard you try - or don't try; whatever you do - or don't do; for better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-raverat/you-may-take-it-from-me-that-however-hard-you-try-or-don-t-try/)

[Gwen Raverat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-raverat/)

> [Since the majority is always wrong, might we try one election day where all the losers take office?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/since-the-majority-is-always-wrong-might-we-try-one-election-day/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [Apparently, an undocumented side effect of dope is a gross overestimation of one's own intelligence. Dopers become convinced they've hidden their stash so well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/apparently-an-undocumented-side-effect-of-dope-is-a-gross/)

[Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/)

> [Grasshopper always wrong in argument with chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/grasshopper-always-wrong-in-argument-with-chicken/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [After a long life I have come to the conclusion that when all the Establishment is united it is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/after-a-long-life-i-have-come-to-the-conclusion-that-when-all-the/)

[Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/)

## More by Charles Fort

> [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [ \[Wise men\] have tried to understand our state of being, by grasping at its stars, or its arts, or its economics. But, if there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/wise-men-have-tried-to-understand-our-state-of-being-by-grasping-at/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [The ideal state is meekness, or humility, or the semi-invalid state of the old. Year after year I am becoming nobler and nobler. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/the-ideal-state-is-meekness-or-humility-or-the-semi-invalid-state-of/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [Against all the opposition in the world, I make this statement - that once I knew a magician. I was a witness of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/against-all-the-opposition-in-the-world-i-make-this-statement-that/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [“There is a continuity of all things that make classifications fictions. But all human knowledge depends upon arrangements. Then all books--scientific, theological, philosophical--are only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/there-is-a-continuity-of-all-things-that-make-classifications/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [The Earth is a farm. We are someone else's property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/the-earth-is-a-farm-we-are-someone-else-s-property/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [“Is life worth living? Like everybody else, I have many times asked that question, usually deciding negatively, because I am most likely to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/is-life-worth-living-like-everybody-else-i-have-many-times-asked-that/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [All would be well. All would be heavenly--If the damned would only stay damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/all-would-be-well-all-would-be-heavenly-if-the-damned-would-only-stay/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [“I sent letters of enquiry to all persons whose names were given, and received not one reply. There are several ways of explaining. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/i-sent-letters-of-enquiry-to-all-persons-whose-names-were-given-and/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [“We cannot define. Nothing has ever been finally figured out, because there is nothing final to figure out”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/we-cannot-define-nothing-has-ever-been-finally-figured-out-because/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [The fate of all explanation is to close one door only to have another fly wide open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/the-fate-of-all-explanation-is-to-close-one-door-only-to-have-another/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [The history of science is a record of the transformations of contempts amd amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/the-history-of-science-is-a-record-of-the-transformations-of/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [“I am a collector of notes upon subjects that have diversity — such as deviations from concentricity in the lunar crater Copernicus, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/i-am-a-collector-of-notes-upon-subjects-that-have-diversity-such-as/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [“It is our expression that the flux between that which isn't and that which won't be, or the state that is commonly and absurdly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/it-is-our-expression-that-the-flux-between-that-which-isn-t-and-that/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [All biologic phenomena act to adjust: there are no biologic actions other than adjustments. Adjustment is another name for Equilibrium. Equilibrium is the Universal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/all-biologic-phenomena-act-to-adjust-there-are-no-biologic-actions/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

[Explore all 56 Charles Fort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

## More Always wrong quotes

> [People who try to predict the future by extrapolating in a line of more of what exists - they are always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/people-who-try-to-predict-the-future-by-extrapolating-in-a-line-of/)

[Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/)

> [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Grasshopper always wrong in argument with chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/grasshopper-always-wrong-in-argument-with-chicken/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [Apparently, an undocumented side effect of dope is a gross overestimation of one's own intelligence. Dopers become convinced they've hidden their stash so well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/apparently-an-undocumented-side-effect-of-dope-is-a-gross/)

[Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/)

> [Since the majority is always wrong, might we try one election day where all the losers take office?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/since-the-majority-is-always-wrong-might-we-try-one-election-day/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [you may take it from me, that however hard you try - or don't try; whatever you do - or don't do; for better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-raverat/you-may-take-it-from-me-that-however-hard-you-try-or-don-t-try/)

[Gwen Raverat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-raverat/)

> [Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has the power is always right; the weaker is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/power-is-the-pivot-on-which-everything-hinges-he-who-has-the-power-is/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [She didn't give George any too easy a time when she was alive. She was one of those semi-invalids – I believe she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/she-didn-t-give-george-any-too-easy-a-time-when-she-was-alive-she-was/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [Without the instruments and accumulated knowledge of the natural sciences... humans are trapped in a cognitive prison. They are like intelligent fish born in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-the-instruments-and-accumulated-knowledge-of-the-natural/)

[E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/)

> [Torturing a human being is almost always wrong, but it is not absolutely wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/torturing-a-human-being-is-almost-always-wrong-but-it-is-not/)

[Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/)

> [People recognize me from everything and as soon as I think I know where they know me from, I'm always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niecy-nash/people-recognize-me-from-everything-and-as-soon-as-i-think-i-know/)

[Niecy Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niecy-nash/)

> [Socialism is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/socialism-is-always-wrong/)

[George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/)

> [So, economics should emulate physics' basic ethos, but its search for precision in physics-like formulas is almost always wrong in economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/so-economics-should-emulate-physics-basic-ethos-but-its-search-for/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [Don't make decisions by majority vote. The majority is almost always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/don-t-make-decisions-by-majority-vote-the-majority-is-almost-always/)

[Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/)

> [After a long life I have come to the conclusion that when all the Establishment is united it is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/after-a-long-life-i-have-come-to-the-conclusion-that-when-all-the/)

[Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/)

[Browse all 71 Always wrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-wrong/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I have taken the stand that nobody can be always wrong, but it does seem to me that I have approximated so highly that I am nothing short of a negative genius.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Fort"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-be-always-wrong-but-it-does/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Always wrong"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-be-always-wrong-but-it-does/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/charles-fort-11887_always-wrong_i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-b_503213.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/charles-fort-11887_always-wrong_i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-b_503213.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/charles-fort-11887_always-wrong_i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-b_503213.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have taken the stand that nobody can be always wrong, but it does seem to me that I have approximated so…” — Charles Fort",
                "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": "Charles Fort",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I have taken the stand that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-be-always-wrong-but-it-does/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/i-have-taken-the-stand-that-nobody-can-be-always-wrong-but-it-does/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
