--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A collection of mistakes either can be…" description: "\"A collection of mistakes either can be the source of your happiness or suicide.\" — John Elwin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/john-elwin-18302_failure_a-collection-of-mistakes-either-can-be-t_122066.jpg" --- # A collection of mistakes either can be the source of your… ![“A collection of mistakes either can be the source of your happiness or suicide.” quote by John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/john-elwin-18302_failure_a-collection-of-mistakes-either-can-be-t_122066.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/john-elwin-18302_failure_a-collection-of-mistakes-either-can-be-t_122066.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/john-elwin-18302_failure_a-collection-of-mistakes-either-can-be-t_122066.jpg) > “A collection of mistakes either can be the source of your happiness or suicide.” [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repeated errors can either become the foundation for personal growth and joy or lead to destructive outcomes, depending on how one responds. **In simple terms:** Mistakes can build happiness or cause ruin. Key Takeaway Response to errors determines outcome. Themes mistakes growth psychology resilience risk Mood thoughtful cautious Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - recovering from a failed project - overcoming a personal habit - navigating a relationship crisis Key Concepts learning theory mental health Practical Applications - reframe errors as learning opportunities - seek supportive feedback Questions to Reflect On - What mindset turns a mistake into a source of happiness? - When should one seek professional help after repeated failures? A Different Perspective Not all mistakes are equally consequential; some may be trivial and not impact happiness or suicide. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-suicide-1419975/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Mistakes Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes-source-1419976/) [Source Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source-happiness/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) ## Related quotes > [To others, being wrong is a source of shame; to me, recognizing my mistakes is a source of pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/to-others-being-wrong-is-a-source-of-shame-to-me-recognizing-my/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [One should never learn from one's mistakes. Making the same mistakes, over and over again, is a source of unremitting pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-york/one-should-never-learn-from-one-s-mistakes-making-the-same-mistakes/) [Peter York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-york/) > [My work is my ultimate source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/my-work-is-my-ultimate-source-of-happiness/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [The greatest source of happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-greatest-source-of-happiness-is-the-ability-to-be-grateful-at-all/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [If you have easy self-contentment, you might have a very, very cheap source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/if-you-have-easy-self-contentment-you-might-have-a-very-very-cheap/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [he is both the source of my happiness and the one i want to share it with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/he-is-both-the-source-of-my-happiness-and-the-one-i-want-to-share-it/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [There's no greater source of happiness than giving yourself to other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamman-rucker/there-s-no-greater-source-of-happiness-than-giving-yourself-to-other/) [Lamman Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamman-rucker/) > [These days, in our materialistic culture, many people are led to believe that money is the ultimate source of happiness. Consequently, when they don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/these-days-in-our-materialistic-culture-many-people-are-led-to/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“I always consider myself personally one of the seven billion human beings. Nothing special. So, on that level, I have tried to make people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv-desmond-tutu-douglas-abrams/i-always-consider-myself-personally-one-of-the-seven-billion-human/) [Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, Douglas Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv-desmond-tutu-douglas-abrams/) > [Philosophical self-examination is not a reliable source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/philosophical-self-examination-is-not-a-reliable-source-of-happiness/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [So the greatest source of happiness is other people- and what does money do? It isolates us from other people. It enables us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/so-the-greatest-source-of-happiness-is-other-people-and-what-does/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [The source of all happiness lies in thinking of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/the-source-of-all-happiness-lies-in-thinking-of-others/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [Since inner peace is the source of all happiness, we can see how important meditation is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/since-inner-peace-is-the-source-of-all-happiness-we-can-see-how/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Doing what we like to do is the ultimate source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/doing-what-we-like-to-do-is-the-ultimate-source-of-happiness/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More by John Elwin > [Freedom is not what to do but it's how to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/freedom-is-not-what-to-do-but-it-s-how-to-improve/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [Love is when you give your all and friendship is when you take your all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/love-is-when-you-give-your-all-and-friendship-is-when-you-take-your/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [Victories are measured by great personalities and great personalities are measured by real decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/victories-are-measured-by-great-personalities-and-great-personalities/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [Don't change your direction on advice, let the people change their advice on your direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/don-t-change-your-direction-on-advice-let-the-people-change-their/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [Accelerate your conference until you don't reach on your destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/accelerate-your-conference-until-you-don-t-reach-on-your-destination/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [If you don't know the difference between past and present, you will not understand the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/if-you-don-t-know-the-difference-between-past-and-present-you-will/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [I like those who create problems in my way instead of giving solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/i-like-those-who-create-problems-in-my-way-instead-of-giving-solutions/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [Do not share your decision before you make it, let the people share after you prove your decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/do-not-share-your-decision-before-you-make-it-let-the-people-share/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [If you want to make others feel great, try to make yourself first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/if-you-want-to-make-others-feel-great-try-to-make-yourself-first/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [A dream is mandatory for those who follow it and optional for those who ignore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/a-dream-is-mandatory-for-those-who-follow-it-and-optional-for-those/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [When you speak lie, you feel like there is nothing but when you speak truth you feel like there is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/when-you-speak-lie-you-feel-like-there-is-nothing-but-when-you-speak/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [Always change your directions before people will change your direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/always-change-your-directions-before-people-will-change-your-direction/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [We do not need love to fall in, but love itself needs a perfect person to make him fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/we-do-not-need-love-to-fall-in-but-love-itself-needs-a-perfect-person/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [At the beginning, love makes a king but at the end it makes you a beggar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/at-the-beginning-love-makes-a-king-but-at-the-end-it-makes-you-a/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) > [Don't judge me until you meet, don't underestimate me until you challenge, don't hate me until you explain, don't love me until you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/don-t-judge-me-until-you-meet-don-t-underestimate-me-until-you/) [John Elwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) [Explore all 35 John Elwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/) ## More Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [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/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A collection of mistakes either can be the source of your happiness or suicide.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Elwin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/a-collection-of-mistakes-either-can-be-the-source-of-your-happiness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/a-collection-of-mistakes-either-can-be-the-source-of-your-happiness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/john-elwin-18302_failure_a-collection-of-mistakes-either-can-be-t_122066.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/john-elwin-18302_failure_a-collection-of-mistakes-either-can-be-t_122066.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/john-elwin-18302_failure_a-collection-of-mistakes-either-can-be-t_122066.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A collection of mistakes either can be the source of your happiness or suicide.” — John Elwin", "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": "John Elwin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elwin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A collection of mistakes either can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/a-collection-of-mistakes-either-can-be-the-source-of-your-happiness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elwin/a-collection-of-mistakes-either-can-be-the-source-of-your-happiness/#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 } } ] } ```