--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: (...) being right all the time acquires a…" description: "\"(...) being right all the time acquires a huge importance in education, and there is this terror of being wrong. The ego is so tied to being right that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/edward-de-bono-2489_accepting_being-right-all-the-time-acquires-a-huge_2121203.png" --- # (...) being right all the time acquires a huge importance… ![“(...) being right all the time acquires a huge importance in education, and there is this terror of being wrong. The ego is so tied to being right that later on in life you are reluctant to accept that you are ever wrong, because you are defending not the idea but your self-esteem. (...) this…” quote by Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/edward-de-bono-2489_accepting_being-right-all-the-time-acquires-a-huge_2121203.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/edward-de-bono-2489_accepting_being-right-all-the-time-acquires-a-huge_2121203.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/edward-de-bono-2489_accepting_being-right-all-the-time-acquires-a-huge_2121203.png) > “(...) being right all the time acquires a huge importance in education, and there is this terror of being wrong. The ego is so tied to being right that later on in life you are reluctant to accept that you are ever wrong, because you are defending not the idea but your self-esteem. (...) this terror of being wrong means that people have enormous difficulties in changing ideas.” [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The fear of being wrong ties ego to correctness, hindering idea change. **In simple terms:** Fear of error protects ego, blocking growth. Key Takeaway Embrace being wrong to learn. Themes ego learning change Mood anxious thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - classroom debates - business strategy meetings - personal decision making - scientific research Key Concepts Cognitive bias growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs have you clung to out of fear? - How can you separate self-worth from being right? A Different Perspective Overcoming fear may cause temporary discomfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes you gotta shut the hell up, swallow your pride and accept that you're wrong. It's not giving up. It's called growing up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/sometimes-you-gotta-shut-the-hell-up-swallow-your-pride-and-accept/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When a woman says nothing's wrong that means everything is wrong and when a woman says everything's wrong that means everything is wrong. -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-simpsons/when-a-woman-says-nothing-s-wrong-that-means-everything-is-wrong-and/) The Simpsons > [I love being wrong because that means in that instant, I learned something new that day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-love-being-wrong-because-that-means-in-that-instant-i-learned/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“There is nothing that strengthens the ego more than being right. Being right is identification with a mental position - a perspective, an opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/there-is-nothing-that-strengthens-the-ego-more-than-being-right-being/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Oh don't get me wrong, I may have an ego, but what I love most is the thrill of making billions of dollars!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anastasia-slash/oh-don-t-get-me-wrong-i-may-have-an-ego-but-what-i-love-most-is-the/) Anastasia Slash > [I hate it when people can't accept that they're in the wrong so say 'I'm sorry BUT you blah blah.' No. Accept your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-it-when-people-can-t-accept-that-they-re-in-the-wrong-so-say-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To grow, sometimes you have to accept you made the wrong decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/to-grow-sometimes-you-have-to-accept-you-made-the-wrong-decisions/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Sometimes, You have to shut up, Swallow your pride and Accept that you're wrong...Even when you're not! It's not GIVING UP, Its called GROWING…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/sometimes-you-have-to-shut-up-swallow-your-pride-and-accept-that-you-2/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Sometime we've got to shut up, swallow our pride and accept that we were wrong,its not giving up, its growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/sometime-we-ve-got-to-shut-up-swallow-our-pride-and-accept-that-we/) Unknow > [Sometimes you have to shut up , swallow your pride and accept that you're wrong .It's not called giving up , it's called GROWING up .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-shut-up-swallow-your-pride-and-accept-that-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mistakes are natural, accept it, you may be wrong admit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/mistakes-are-natural-accept-it-you-may-be-wrong-admit-it/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [Sometimes you have to shut up, swallow your pride, & accept that you're wrong, it's not giving up, it's called growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-shut-up-swallow-your-pride-accept-that-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we accept all that is wrong about us - and despite it, believe that we are deserving of a happy life - then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/if-we-accept-all-that-is-wrong-about-us-and-despite-it-believe-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Or maybe they just accept that it's wrong in God's eyes, although not in their own, and they'll worry about sorting it out later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/or-maybe-they-just-accept-that-it-s-wrong-in-god-s-eyes-although-not/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [Sometimes you have to realize and accept that you are wrong. It is not giving up, it is growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/sometimes-you-have-to-realize-and-accept-that-you-are-wrong-it-is-not/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) ## More by Edward de Bono > [We still seek to solve conflicts with 'judgement' instead of designing the way forwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/we-still-seek-to-solve-conflicts-with-judgement-instead-of-designing/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Traditional thinking is all about "what is" Future thinking will also need to be about what can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/traditional-thinking-is-all-about-what-is-future-thinking-will-also/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [“In 80% of Socrates' dialogues there was no constructive outcome. He saw his role as simply pointing out what was "wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/in-80-of-socrates-dialogues-there-was-no-constructive-outcome-he-saw/) [Edward De Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God. Both recognize the pivot, that God is at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/the-music-that-really-turns-me-on-is-either-running-toward-god-or/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [People should realize we're jerks just like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/people-should-realize-we-re-jerks-just-like-them/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [The effective thinker treats arrogance as the major sin of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/the-effective-thinker-treats-arrogance-as-the-major-sin-of-thinking/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [To be successful you have to be lucky, or a little mad, or very talented, or find yourself in a rapid growth field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/to-be-successful-you-have-to-be-lucky-or-a-little-mad-or-very/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/argument-is-meant-to-reveal-the-truth-not-to-create-it/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Complexity creates confusion, simplicity focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/complexity-creates-confusion-simplicity-focus/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [The weapons of the positive revolution are not bullets and bombs but simple human perceptions. Bullets and bombs may offer physical power but eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/the-weapons-of-the-positive-revolution-are-not-bullets-and-bombs-but/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [“In real-life situations apparently logical lines of argument are often (not always) based on an inability to see alternative possibilities. In a similar way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/in-real-life-situations-apparently-logical-lines-of-argument-are/) [Edward De Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/an-expert-is-someone-who-has-succeeded-in-making-decisions-and/) [Edward De Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [It wouldn't cost too much to change the rules of trade so that poor countries can work their way out of poverty. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/it-wouldn-t-cost-too-much-to-change-the-rules-of-trade-so-that-poor/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [It has always surprised me how little attention philosophers have paid to humor, since it is a more significant process of mind than reason.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/it-has-always-surprised-me-how-little-attention-philosophers-have/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [The need to be right all the time is the biggest bar to new ideas. It is better to have enough ideas for some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/the-need-to-be-right-all-the-time-is-the-biggest-bar-to-new-ideas-it/) [Edward De Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) [Explore all 161 Edward de Bono quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. 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I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "(...) being right all the time acquires a huge importance in education, and there is this terror of being wrong. The ego is so tied to being right that later on in life you are reluctant to accept that you are ever wrong, because you are defending not the idea but your self-esteem. 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