--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've done dumb things." description: "\"I've done dumb things.\" — Erik Prince" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/erik-prince-5732_done_i-ve-done-dumb-things-1982542_1982542.jpg" --- # I've done dumb things. ![“I've done dumb things.” quote by Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/erik-prince-5732_done_i-ve-done-dumb-things-1982542_1982542.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/erik-prince-5732_done_i-ve-done-dumb-things-1982542_1982542.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/erik-prince-5732_done_i-ve-done-dumb-things-1982542_1982542.jpg) > “I've done dumb things.” [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledges past mistakes, implying growth through self‑awareness. **In simple terms:** He admits to making foolish choices. Key Takeaway Learn from errors and improve. Themes self‑reflection growth mistakes leadership accountability Mood introspective motivational honest Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - public statements - personal coaching - team management Key Concepts personal development learning from failure humility Questions to Reflect On - What lesson did you take from your mistakes? - How do you prevent repeating them? A Different Perspective Admitting errors can be strategic, not just honest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb/) [Dumb things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb-things/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Ve Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-dumb-3393232/) ## Related quotes > [Any time you employ thousands of people, some people do dumb things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/any-time-you-employ-thousands-of-people-some-people-do-dumb-things/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Sometimes I lie awake at night thinking about all the dumb things I do every day... If I live to be eighty and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/sometimes-i-lie-awake-at-night-thinking-about-all-the-dumb-things-i/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [“It is wrong that we associate the word 'dumb', especially pertaining to animals, with the inability to communicate in a common communal 'tongue' -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stafford-samuel-lakay/it-is-wrong-that-we-associate-the-word-dumb-especially-pertaining-to/) [Stafford Samuel Lakay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stafford-samuel-lakay/) > [ \[I made in army\] all sorts of dumb things, but it did teach me a lot about the silk-screen process. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mackenzie/i-made-in-army-all-sorts-of-dumb-things-but-it-did-teach-me-a-lot/) [Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mackenzie/) > [We have Democrats saying dumb things every single day, and Republicans as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-cleaver/we-have-democrats-saying-dumb-things-every-single-day-and-republicans/) [Emanuel Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-cleaver/) > [I've done a lot of dumb things in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-ve-done-a-lot-of-dumb-things-in-my-life/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [I have a skeptical and cranky side, and I'm forever puzzled why people believe the, seeming to me, dumb things that they choose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/i-have-a-skeptical-and-cranky-side-and-i-m-forever-puzzled-why-people/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“When smart people do dumb things it’s usually due to one of two things. The two things are greed and fear. They want something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/when-smart-people-do-dumb-things-it-s-usually-due-to-one-of-two/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [There is nothing Modern about doing dumb things for dumb reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-is-nothing-modern-about-doing-dumb-things-for-dumb-reasons/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [And sometimes it happened, for a time. That kind of love comes and goes and is hard to remember afterwards, like pain. You would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/and-sometimes-it-happened-for-a-time-that-kind-of-love-comes-and-goes/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I will build a great, great wall on our southern border. And I will have Mexico pay for that wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-will-build-a-great-great-wall-on-our-southern-border-and-i-will/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We do dumb things while we're young so we have something to smile about when we're old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-do-dumb-things-while-we-re-young-so-we-have-something-to-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Poor dog! I've a strange feeling about the dumb things as if they wanted to speak, and it was a trouble to 'em because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/poor-dog-i-ve-a-strange-feeling-about-the-dumb-things-as-if-they/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [It's in the nature of stock markets to go way down from time to time. There's no system to avoid bad markets. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/it-s-in-the-nature-of-stock-markets-to-go-way-down-from-time-to-time/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes and I see many of them in the audience here today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-nation-honors-its-unbroken-line-of-fallen-heroes-and-i-see-many/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Erik Prince > [We now know that gun-free zones, though well intentioned, do not prevent attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-now-know-that-gun-free-zones-though-well-intentioned-do-not/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [The video game industry is constantly evolving. The sheer creativity matched with cutting-edge technologies gives me the comfort that innovation is alive and well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/the-video-game-industry-is-constantly-evolving-the-sheer-creativity/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Blackwater's work with the CIA began when we provided specialized instructors and facilities that the Agency lacked. In the years that followed, the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/blackwater-s-work-with-the-cia-began-when-we-provided-specialized/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Video games are an exciting medium. The creativity of design, the technology and the interaction represent the best of American innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/video-games-are-an-exciting-medium-the-creativity-of-design-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [There are some phone calls where it's not even worth wasting the electrons on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/there-are-some-phone-calls-where-it-s-not-even-worth-wasting-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Why should I pay for business? Fly coach, you arrive at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/why-should-i-pay-for-business-fly-coach-you-arrive-at-the-same-time/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and treasure endlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot-spend-blood-and-treasure/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [You pretty much remove the entire political texture from Blackwater when you come to China. What they look at is our 100 per cent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/you-pretty-much-remove-the-entire-political-texture-from-blackwater/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Limited government is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/limited-government-is-best/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [In Joe Yorio you find a guy who's smarter at business than I am. I'm an entrepreneur and idea guy; he's a professional businessman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/in-joe-yorio-you-find-a-guy-who-s-smarter-at-business-than-i-am-i-m/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [One of the real core competencies of Blackwater, or companies like Blackwater, is we can operate in difficult places without any outside support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/one-of-the-real-core-competencies-of-blackwater-or-companies-like/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm painted as this war profiteer by Congress. Meanwhile I'm paying for all sorts of intelligence activities to support American national security, out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-painted-as-this-war-profiteer-by-congress-meanwhile-i-m-paying/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm an American working for America. Anything we do is to support U.S. policy. You know the definition of a mercenary is a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-an-american-working-for-america-anything-we-do-is-to-support-u-s/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Our failed population-centric approach to Afghanistan has only led to missed opportunities, which is why Afghanistan depends on donors for 90% of government revenues.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/our-failed-population-centric-approach-to-afghanistan-has-only-led-to/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [President Trump should appoint a special presidential envoy and empower them to wage an unconventional war against Taliban and Daesh forces, to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/president-trump-should-appoint-a-special-presidential-envoy-and/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) [Explore all 100 Erik Prince quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [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/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) [Browse all 25,653 Done quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've done dumb things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erik Prince" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-ve-done-dumb-things/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Done" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-ve-done-dumb-things/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/erik-prince-5732_done_i-ve-done-dumb-things-1982542_1982542.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/erik-prince-5732_done_i-ve-done-dumb-things-1982542_1982542.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/erik-prince-5732_done_i-ve-done-dumb-things-1982542_1982542.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've done dumb things.” — Erik Prince", "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": "Erik Prince", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've done dumb things.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-ve-done-dumb-things/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-ve-done-dumb-things/#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 } } ] } ```