--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who only tastes his error will long…" description: "\"He who only tastes his error will long dwell with it, will take delight in it as in a singular felicity; while he who drains it to the dregs will, if h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_crazy_he-who-only-tastes-his-error-will-long-d_1541370.jpg" --- # He who only tastes his error will long dwell with it, will… ![“He who only tastes his error will long dwell with it, will take delight in it as in a singular felicity; while he who drains it to the dregs will, if he be not crazy, find it to be what it is.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_crazy_he-who-only-tastes-his-error-will-long-d_1541370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_crazy_he-who-only-tastes-his-error-will-long-d_1541370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_crazy_he-who-only-tastes-his-error-will-long-d_1541370.jpg) > “He who only tastes his error will long dwell with it, will take delight in it as in a singular felicity; while he who drains it to the dregs will, if he be not crazy, find it to be what it is.” [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts two attitudes toward mistakes: one who savors them as a private pleasure, and another who exhausts them completely, seeing them plainly. **In simple terms:** Some people enjoy their mistakes; others confront them fully. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront errors rather than romanticize them. Themes self-awareness error management psychology growth humor Mood reflective analytical wry Type philosophical critical humorous When to use this quote - personal reflection - leadership decisions - creative processes - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive bias self-deception acceptance Questions to Reflect On - Do you tend to romanticize your mistakes? - How can confronting errors improve your decisions? A Different Perspective Over‑indulgence in error can hinder learning and progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) ## Related quotes > [Yes. We both have a bad feeling. Tonight we shall take our bad feelings and share them, and face them. We shall mourn. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/yes-we-both-have-a-bad-feeling-tonight-we-shall-take-our-bad-feelings/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are various methods by which you may achieve ignominy and shame. By murdering a large and respected family in cold blood and afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/there-are-various-methods-by-which-you-may-achieve-ignominy-and-shame/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [The bitter dregs of Fortune's cup to drain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-bitter-dregs-of-fortune-s-cup-to-drain/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [If I am a son of God, nothing but God will satisfy my soul; no amount of comfort, no amount of ease, no amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-studdert-kennedy/if-i-am-a-son-of-god-nothing-but-god-will-satisfy-my-soul-no-amount/) [Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-studdert-kennedy/) > [We cannot master everything, taste everything, understand everything, drain every experience to its last dregs. But if we have the courage to let almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-cannot-master-everything-taste-everything-understand-everything/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Life is like a cocktail, made up for the most part of sweet things, and tinged with a dash of bitters. We must drain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-guest/life-is-like-a-cocktail-made-up-for-the-most-part-of-sweet-things-and/) [Edgar Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-guest/) > [If I can't enjoy the full and total happiness of love, then I want to drain its torments, its tortures to the dregs; then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/if-i-can-t-enjoy-the-full-and-total-happiness-of-love-then-i-want-to/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [O cease! must hate and death return, Cease! must men kill and die? Cease! drain not to its dregs the urn Of bitter prophecy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/o-cease-must-hate-and-death-return-cease-must-men-kill-and-die-cease/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“Inej placed her hands on Nina’s shoulders. “We’ll see each other again.” “Of course we will. You’ve saved my life. I’ve saved yours.” “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-placed-her-hands-on-nina-s-shoulders-we-ll-see-each-other-again/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [I am a Christian because of that moment on the cross when Jesus, drinking the very dregs of human bitterness, cries out, My God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-wiman/i-am-a-christian-because-of-that-moment-on-the-cross-when-jesus/) [Christian Wiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-wiman/) > [London! the needy villain's general home, The common sewer of Paris and of Rome! With eager thirst, by folly or by fate, Sucks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/london-the-needy-villain-s-general-home-the-common-sewer-of-paris-and/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Friends fly away when the cask has been drained to the dregs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/friends-fly-away-when-the-cask-has-been-drained-to-the-dregs/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Christ took your cup of grief, your cup of the curse, pressed it to his lips, drank it to its dregs, then filled it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavius-winslow/christ-took-your-cup-of-grief-your-cup-of-the-curse-pressed-it-to-his/) [Octavius Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavius-winslow/) > [“79. A soul which knows that it is loved, but does not itself love, betrays its sediment: its dregs come up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/79-a-soul-which-knows-that-it-is-loved-but-does-not-itself-love/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Gambling has held human beings in thrall for millennia. It has been engaged in everywhere, from the dregs of society to the most respectable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-bernstein/gambling-has-held-human-beings-in-thrall-for-millennia-it-has-been/) [Peter L. Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-bernstein/) ## More by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Explore all 2,052 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More Crazy quotes > [Im wild Im crazy, I'm wild, Im crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-dot-curve/im-wild-im-crazy-i-m-wild-im-crazy/) Dot Dot Curve > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/) [Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/) > [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [I'm always writing. I'm an obsessive. It's not because I'm a disciplined person. It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) Browse all 9,039 Crazy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who only tastes his error will long dwell with it, will take delight in it as in a singular felicity; while he who drains it to the dregs will, if he be not crazy, find it to be what it is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/he-who-only-tastes-his-error-will-long-dwell-with-it-will-take/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crazy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/he-who-only-tastes-his-error-will-long-dwell-with-it-will-take/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_crazy_he-who-only-tastes-his-error-will-long-d_1541370.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_crazy_he-who-only-tastes-his-error-will-long-d_1541370.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_crazy_he-who-only-tastes-his-error-will-long-d_1541370.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who only tastes his error will long dwell with it, will take delight in it as in a singular felicity…” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "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": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He who only tastes his error...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/he-who-only-tastes-his-error-will-long-dwell-with-it-will-take/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/he-who-only-tastes-his-error-will-long-dwell-with-it-will-take/#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 } } ] } ```