--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I made any really big…" description: "\"I don't think I made any really big mistakes; it's just that I chose something difficult to do. Looking back, I suppose I should be grateful that I got..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/harvey-pekar-4945_be-grateful_i-don-t-think-i-made-any-really-big-mist_407095.jpg" --- # I don't think I made any really big mistakes; it's just… ![“I don't think I made any really big mistakes; it's just that I chose something difficult to do. Looking back, I suppose I should be grateful that I got as far as I got.” quote by Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/harvey-pekar-4945_be-grateful_i-don-t-think-i-made-any-really-big-mist_407095.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/harvey-pekar-4945_be-grateful_i-don-t-think-i-made-any-really-big-mist_407095.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/harvey-pekar-4945_be-grateful_i-don-t-think-i-made-any-really-big-mist_407095.jpg) > “I don't think I made any really big mistakes; it's just that I chose something difficult to do. Looking back, I suppose I should be grateful that I got as far as I got.” [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accepting that mistakes are often the result of taking on challenging tasks, and feeling gratitude for the progress made despite difficulty. **In simple terms:** Hard choices lead to mistakes, but also to growth. Key Takeaway Appreciate effort, not just outcomes. Themes growth reflection resilience Mood reflective grateful Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - personal projects - creative endeavors - risk taking Key Concepts self-awareness learning from difficulty Questions to Reflect On - What difficult choice taught you the most? - How can you balance ambition with realistic expectations? A Different Perspective Hard choices can still lead to regret if not managed well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-back/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I stubbornly chose the most difficult sport for myself. When I reached the summit, I felt like screaming at the top of my voice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arunima-sinha/i-stubbornly-chose-the-most-difficult-sport-for-myself-when-i-reached/) [Arunima Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arunima-sinha/) > [“Big mistakes are an outstanding opportunity to showcase your ability to recover and have grace under pressure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/big-mistakes-are-an-outstanding-opportunity-to-showcase-your-ability/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [One of the big mistakes I think we make in relationships is that we don't give our best energy to the people that matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-holden/one-of-the-big-mistakes-i-think-we-make-in-relationships-is-that-we/) [Robert Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-holden/) > [I try not to dwell on big mistakes but to move on when I make a mistake. I make mistakes most of the times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklas-zennstrom/i-try-not-to-dwell-on-big-mistakes-but-to-move-on-when-i-make-a/) [Niklas Zennstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklas-zennstrom/) > [Handling covid, we made a lot of big mistakes, and it led to tens of trillions of dollars of economic damage and millions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bankman-fried/handling-covid-we-made-a-lot-of-big-mistakes-and-it-led-to-tens-of/) [Sam Bankman-Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bankman-fried/) > [I wish people used to learn from the small lessons instead of making big mistakes and regretfully crying later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-wish-people-used-to-learn-from-the-small-lessons-instead-of-making/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Like all creatures, humans have made their way in the world by trial and error. Unlike other creatures we have a presence so colossal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-wright/like-all-creatures-humans-have-made-their-way-in-the-world-by-trial/) [Ronald Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-wright/) > [People who don't take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/people-who-don-t-take-risks-generally-make-about-two-big-mistakes-a/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [It's the little mistakes that lead to big mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/it-s-the-little-mistakes-that-lead-to-big-mistakes/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [“Why do we have to make such terrible decisions for our whole lives when we are too young to know what we are doing?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-wynd/why-do-we-have-to-make-such-terrible-decisions-for-our-whole-lives/) Oswald Wynd > [“The truth is that it doesn’t matter how much companies research, how well they plan, how much money they spend, or how smart their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-alvarez/the-truth-is-that-it-doesn-t-matter-how-much-companies-research-how/) [Cindy Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-alvarez/) > [Well, on lots of small things we could have done better, but on all the big things we called it right. You should make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/well-on-lots-of-small-things-we-could-have-done-better-but-on-all-the/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [She had an unequalled gift, usually pen in hand, of squeezing big mistakes into opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/she-had-an-unequalled-gift-usually-pen-in-hand-of-squeezing-big/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [I think one of the big mistakes people make is to have fame as one of their main goals. That is the biggest mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-sandoval/i-think-one-of-the-big-mistakes-people-make-is-to-have-fame-as-one-of/) [Hope Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-sandoval/) > [“I intuitively did well when I was leading the whole team, but once we got past 25 people, you can't do that. And so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-livingston/i-intuitively-did-well-when-i-was-leading-the-whole-team-but-once-we/) [Jessica Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-livingston/) ## More by Harvey Pekar > [Every ethnic group thinks they are the chosen ones. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/every-ethnic-group-thinks-they-are-the-chosen-ones/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [Since about 1980 Kenny Werner has been one of jazz’s unsung heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/since-about-1980-kenny-werner-has-been-one-of-jazz-s-unsung-heroes/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I think that the so-called average person often exhibits a great deal of heroism in getting through an ordinary day . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-think-that-the-so-called-average-person-often-exhibits-a-great-deal/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [It's real easy for me to write a lot of stories. I just go and I live through something, and I go home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/it-s-real-easy-for-me-to-write-a-lot-of-stories-i-just-go-and-i-live/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I've just been writing stuff down as it comes to me. I haven't thought, 'Let me write some major opus here.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-ve-just-been-writing-stuff-down-as-it-comes-to-me-i-haven-t-thought/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I'm always shook up and nervous and I've got the hospital record to prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-m-always-shook-up-and-nervous-and-i-ve-got-the-hospital-record-to/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I'm a guy that likes to sit in one place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-m-a-guy-that-likes-to-sit-in-one-place/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [People who are readers of fiction aren't particularly interested in comic books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/people-who-are-readers-of-fiction-aren-t-particularly-interested-in/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [When you're dead, it robs life of many of it's pleasures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/when-you-re-dead-it-robs-life-of-many-of-it-s-pleasures/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [My parents' work ethic amazed me. How could they put in such long hours, day after day? Part of the reason was to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/my-parents-work-ethic-amazed-me-how-could-they-put-in-such-long-hours/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I think you can find all the elements that you can find in great literature in mundane experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-think-you-can-find-all-the-elements-that-you-can-find-in-great/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [Life is about women, gigs, an' bein' creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/life-is-about-women-gigs-an-bein-creative/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [The film's success so far involves winning a couple of prizes at Cannes and Sundance, and getting some very nice reviews in newspapers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/the-film-s-success-so-far-involves-winning-a-couple-of-prizes-at/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I just continue to be kind of disappointed that people don't realize that and try and diversify the kind of work they are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-just-continue-to-be-kind-of-disappointed-that-people-don-t-realize/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I'm kind of concerned about 'Ego & Hubris' because I'm thinking that people will read it and maybe even be entertained by it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-m-kind-of-concerned-about-ego-hubris-because-i-m-thinking-that/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) [Explore all 104 Harvey Pekar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) ## More Be grateful quotes > [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/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Kenny G, I have to be grateful to him for proving that the instrument can be played all different kinds of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/kenny-g-i-have-to-be-grateful-to-him-for-proving-that-the-instrument/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Often I'm told I'm an inspiration to people which I will forever be grateful for. But the reality is that I'm only able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/often-i-m-told-i-m-an-inspiration-to-people-which-i-will-forever-be/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [Focus on being grateful for what you have already .. enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/focus-on-being-grateful-for-what-you-have-already-enjoy-it-then/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [My first encounter with yoga was in 1969 with my older brother Doug. I was thirteen years old, and he was eighteen. He'd learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-swensen/my-first-encounter-with-yoga-was-in-1969-with-my-older-brother-doug-i/) [David F. Swensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-swensen/) > [Just remember: to be grateful and thank the people who are there and support you along the way is a great start to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/just-remember-to-be-grateful-and-thank-the-people-who-are-there-and/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [Be calm, be strong, be grateful, and become a lamp full of light, that the darkness of sorrows be annihilated, and that the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/be-calm-be-strong-be-grateful-and-become-a-lamp-full-of-light-that/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another for there will always be others whose lives on the face of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/enjoy-your-own-life-without-comparing-it-with-that-of-another-for/) [Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/) > [Speak what I have to be grateful for when I get up and when I lie down to sleep. Meditation and prayer. I pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-taylor/speak-what-i-have-to-be-grateful-for-when-i-get-up-and-when-i-lie/) [Regina Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-taylor/) > [Be grateful for the love you have to share-share it, and it will return to you ten times over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/be-grateful-for-the-love-you-have-to-share-share-it-and-it-will/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [There are those who say that trees shade the garden too much, and interfere with the growth of the vegetables. There may be something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/there-are-those-who-say-that-trees-shade-the-garden-too-much-and/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [Kids aint supposed to be grateful! They're supposed to eat your food, break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/kids-aint-supposed-to-be-grateful-they-re-supposed-to-eat-your-food/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [...Be grateful for what you have to be thankful for instead of complaining about the little things that annoy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/be-grateful-for-what-you-have-to-be-thankful-for-instead-of/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) Browse all 602 Be grateful quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think I made any really big mistakes; it's just that I chose something difficult to do. 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