--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the biggest mistake I made was…" description: "\"I think the biggest mistake I made was this wretched ability to see both sides of an argument.\" — John Major" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/john-major-8314_ability_i-think-the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-t_2318911.png" --- # I think the biggest mistake I made was this wretched… ![“I think the biggest mistake I made was this wretched ability to see both sides of an argument.” quote by John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/john-major-8314_ability_i-think-the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-t_2318911.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/john-major-8314_ability_i-think-the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-t_2318911.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/john-major-8314_ability_i-think-the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-t_2318911.png) > “I think the biggest mistake I made was this wretched ability to see both sides of an argument.” [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing both sides can paralyze decision‑making and dilute conviction. **In simple terms:** Seeing both sides can cause indecision. Key Takeaway Embrace a clear stance when needed. Themes decision‑making confidence perspective Mood reflective concerned Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - personal relationships - business negotiations - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts cognitive bias critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When does considering all angles become a hindrance? - How can you balance empathy with decisiveness? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis may hinder action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Biggest mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-mistake/) [Both sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both-sides/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistake Wretched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-wretched-5535742/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Sides Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides-argument-1643955/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wretched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wretched/) [Wretched Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wretched-ability-5535743/) ## Related quotes > [Always be willing to look at both sides of the argument. Understanding the other side is the best way to strengthen your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/always-be-willing-to-look-at-both-sides-of-the-argument-understanding/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The inhabitants will always see both sides of an argument so long as it can result in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-donleavy-2/the-inhabitants-will-always-see-both-sides-of-an-argument-so-long-as/) [J. P. Donleavy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-p-donleavy-2/) > [A fair-minded person tries to see both sides of an argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/a-fair-minded-person-tries-to-see-both-sides-of-an-argument/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [“There are two sides to any argument. Does one side always have all the answers? Give it some thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alder/there-are-two-sides-to-any-argument-does-one-side-always-have-all-the/) [Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alder/) > [There are two sides to every argument, unless a person is personally involved, in which case there is only one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cutler-webster/there-are-two-sides-to-every-argument-unless-a-person-is-personally/) [Cutler Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cutler-webster/) > [Never choose sides if the argument has nothing to do with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-choose-sides-if-the-argument-has-nothing-to-do-with-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Look, Aerin, preparation is only half the challenge of winning a debate.” “And the other half?” He had her now. “You have to choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-osterlund/look-aerin-preparation-is-only-half-the-challenge-of-winning-a-debate/) [Anne Osterlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-osterlund/) > [Sometimes a song becomes rhetoric, but you have to really empathise. You also have to leave room for both sides of the argument: even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/sometimes-a-song-becomes-rhetoric-but-you-have-to-really-empathise/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I don't believe there are two sides to every argument. I think the facts are the center. And watching the news abandon the facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/i-don-t-believe-there-are-two-sides-to-every-argument-i-think-the/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [Adults get more confused by social worker jargon. Unlike children, they are also less likely to see two sides of an argument, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bawden/adults-get-more-confused-by-social-worker-jargon-unlike-children-they/) [Nina Bawden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bawden/) > [There Are Always Two Sides To An Argument And Two Perspectives To Consider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/there-are-always-two-sides-to-an-argument-and-two-perspectives-to/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [A fair-minded man tries to see both sides of an argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/a-fair-minded-man-tries-to-see-both-sides-of-an-argument/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [There are three sides to every argument. Yours. The other guy's. And the right side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordecai-richler/there-are-three-sides-to-every-argument-yours-the-other-guy-s-and-the/) [Mordecai Richler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordecai-richler/) > [“Whenever somebody challenges me with the notion that killing carrots is no different to killing cows, I make a point of pointing out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mango-wodzak/whenever-somebody-challenges-me-with-the-notion-that-killing-carrots/) [Mango Wodzak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mango-wodzak/) > [There are three sides to an argument, your side, my side, and the right side, which is still my side!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-three-sides-to-an-argument-your-side-my-side-and-the-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John Major > [I think it's extremely unlikely that the European Union will fracture with nations dropping off the edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-it-s-extremely-unlikely-that-the-european-union-will-fracture/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [The politician who never made a mistake never made a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/the-politician-who-never-made-a-mistake-never-made-a-decision/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [A consensus politician is someone who does something that he doesn't believe is right because it keeps people quiet when he does it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/a-consensus-politician-is-someone-who-does-something-that-he-doesn-t/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I'm very proud of what my parents achieved and what they stood for. They didn't have much, but in many ways they were richer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-m-very-proud-of-what-my-parents-achieved-and-what-they-stood-for/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [You cannot think of Margaret without Denis. There comes a time when every Prime Minister needs someone to give him or her the unvarnished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/you-cannot-think-of-margaret-without-denis-there-comes-a-time-when/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I am not running as Son of Margaret Thatcher. I have my own priorities and my own programmes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-am-not-running-as-son-of-margaret-thatcher-i-have-my-own-priorities/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I inherited a sick economy and passed on a sound one. But one abiding regret for me is that, in between, I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-inherited-a-sick-economy-and-passed-on-a-sound-one-but-one-abiding/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I like the best of the British press. The best of the British press is very good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-like-the-best-of-the-british-press-the-best-of-the-british-press-is/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I think we can get respect for Parliament back providing governments and oppositions are frank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-we-can-get-respect-for-parliament-back-providing-governments/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [When the euro was born, it was born in the wrong economic circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/when-the-euro-was-born-it-was-born-in-the-wrong-economic-circumstances/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I want to see us build a country that is at ease with itself, a country that is confident and a country that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-want-to-see-us-build-a-country-that-is-at-ease-with-itself-a/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [If is a very big preposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/if-is-a-very-big-preposition/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [It is time to return to those core values, time to get back to basics: to self-discipline and respect for the law, to consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/it-is-time-to-return-to-those-core-values-time-to-get-back-to-basics/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I don't have a shred of regret about entering the exchange-rate mechanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-don-t-have-a-shred-of-regret-about-entering-the-exchange-rate/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [Disunity costs votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/disunity-costs-votes/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) [Explore all 82 John Major quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the biggest mistake I made was this wretched ability to see both sides of an argument.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Major" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-this-wretched-ability-to-see/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-this-wretched-ability-to-see/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/john-major-8314_ability_i-think-the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-t_2318911.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/john-major-8314_ability_i-think-the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-t_2318911.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/john-major-8314_ability_i-think-the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-t_2318911.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the biggest mistake I made was this wretched ability to see both sides of an argument.” — John Major", "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 Major", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the biggest mistake I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-this-wretched-ability-to-see/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-this-wretched-ability-to-see/#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 } } ] } ```