--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The individual who is mistake-free is…" description: "\"The individual who is mistake-free is also probably sitting around doing nothing. And that is a very big mistake.\" — John Wooden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/john-wooden-420_big-mistake_the-individual-who-is-mistake-free-is-al_2575688.png" --- # The individual who is mistake-free is also probably… ![“The individual who is mistake-free is also probably sitting around doing nothing. And that is a very big mistake.” quote by John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/john-wooden-420_big-mistake_the-individual-who-is-mistake-free-is-al_2575688.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/john-wooden-420_big-mistake_the-individual-who-is-mistake-free-is-al_2575688.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/john-wooden-420_big-mistake_the-individual-who-is-mistake-free-is-al_2575688.png) > “The individual who is mistake-free is also probably sitting around doing nothing. And that is a very big mistake.” [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfectionism leads to inactivity; embracing mistakes is essential for progress. **In simple terms:** Being perfect stops you from doing anything. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection to move forward. Themes growth productivity mistakes Mood motivational practical Type self-help inspirational When to use this quote - sports training - creative projects - career development - personal goals Key Concepts Perfectionism risk-taking learning mindset Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle mistakes? - What small step can you take today? A Different Perspective Fear of failure can still hinder action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-mistake/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Doing nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-nothing/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-mistake-1732387/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistake Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-free-1732388/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Probably Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-sitting-1732389/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Sitting around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting-around/) ## Related quotes > [Mistake free it must be. Absolutely no leaks can creep through cracks in the concrete ceiling we have created from nothing. Handmade. Shaky sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-pastor-poe/mistake-free-it-must-be-absolutely-no-leaks-can-creep-through-cracks/) [Nick Pastor Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-pastor-poe/) > [Sometimes music comes across to me just when I am sitting around doing nothing, and then the music makes me think of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/sometimes-music-comes-across-to-me-just-when-i-am-sitting-around/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [There was a certain amount of discipline, I think; my parents wanted to be sure that I was not just sitting around doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/there-was-a-certain-amount-of-discipline-i-think-my-parents-wanted-to/) [Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/) > [Most automobiles spend about 80 percent of their time sitting around doing nothing. They're gasoline powered; they go to very high speeds, which in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-mitchell/most-automobiles-spend-about-80-percent-of-their-time-sitting-around/) [William J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-mitchell/) > [Things like science and technology still leave some gaps, so it's not as if everybody was sitting around doing nothing, but the bureaucracy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-buffett/things-like-science-and-technology-still-leave-some-gaps-so-it-s-not/) [Peter Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-buffett/) > [A lot of people think Heaven is sitting around on a cloud playing a harp all day, doing nothing except being holy - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/a-lot-of-people-think-heaven-is-sitting-around-on-a-cloud-playing-a/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [I think that's part of being a comedy writer. You have to be confident. If you're sitting around worrying about, like, oh my God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mandel/i-think-that-s-part-of-being-a-comedy-writer-you-have-to-be-confident/) [David Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mandel/) > [I don't want to be elected president to sit around and see gridlock just become so dominant that people literally decline in their lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-don-t-want-to-be-elected-president-to-sit-around-and-see-gridlock/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [... Andres Segovia literally created the genre of classical guitar, which hadn't existed before around 1910. There was flamenco, which he borrowed from, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mcguinn/andres-segovia-literally-created-the-genre-of-classical-guitar-which/) [Roger McGuinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mcguinn/) > [The television set's on while the family's sitting around having dinner or talking. Nobody's watching TV; it's there; they're aware of it, but they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-television-set-s-on-while-the-family-s-sitting-around-having/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I've prided myself on being in excellent condition-as good as any man in my profession. Now this doesn't come from sitting around on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilt-chamberlain/i-ve-prided-myself-on-being-in-excellent-condition-as-good-as-any-man/) [Wilt Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilt-chamberlain/) > [I bought a house, it's a two bedroom house, but I think it's up to me to decide how many bedrooms there are. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-bought-a-house-it-s-a-two-bedroom-house-but-i-think-it-s-up-to-me/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I find acting tough, but sitting around chatting - that's easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-frost/i-find-acting-tough-but-sitting-around-chatting-that-s-easy/) [Nick Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-frost/) > [Americans are curious about the texture of everyday life in the Middle East because they rarely get to see it. I wanted readers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annia-ciezadlo/americans-are-curious-about-the-texture-of-everyday-life-in-the/) [Annia Ciezadlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annia-ciezadlo/) > [The most successful people in this world recognize that taking chances to get what they want is much more productive than sitting around being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/the-most-successful-people-in-this-world-recognize-that-taking/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) ## More by John Wooden > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it. -John wooden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-so-important-who-starts-the-game-but-who-finishes-it-john/) [John wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“I remain convinced to this day that compassion like that—sincerely caring for your players and maintaining an active interest in their lives, concerns, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-remain-convinced-to-this-day-that-compassion-like-that-sincerely/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I'm not going to say I was opposed to the Vietnam War. I'm going to say I'm opposed to war. But I'm also opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-m-not-going-to-say-i-was-opposed-to-the-vietnam-war-i-m-going-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating...too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/being-a-role-model-is-the-most-powerful-form-of-educating-too-often/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Each of us has a huge capacity to learn and to achieve. Being ever alert makes the task of becoming all we are capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/each-of-us-has-a-huge-capacity-to-learn-and-to-achieve-being-ever/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Stay the course. When thwarted try again; harder; smarter. Persevere relentlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/stay-the-course-when-thwarted-try-again-harder-smarter-persevere/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Love is the most powerful four letter word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/love-is-the-most-powerful-four-letter-word/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [It takes 10 hands to score a basket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-takes-10-hands-to-score-a-basket/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The best competition I have is against myself to become better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/the-best-competition-i-have-is-against-myself-to-become-better/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, the habits you are developing now will be with you for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/whether-you-know-it-or-not-whether-you-like-it-or-not-the-habits-you/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Intensity makes you stronger. Emotionalism makes you weaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/intensity-makes-you-stronger-emotionalism-makes-you-weaker/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/reputation-is-what-others-perceive-you-as-being-and-their-opinion-may/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) [Explore all 578 John Wooden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## More Big mistake quotes > [If loving you is a big mistake, I will never ever want to be right,i will always make the same mistake over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horla/if-loving-you-is-a-big-mistake-i-will-never-ever-want-to-be-right-i/) [Horla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horla/) > [“You never talk to the pitcher when…” He shook his head. “You just never talk to the pitcher when--” “I just wanted to congratulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/you-never-talk-to-the-pitcher-when-he-shook-his-head-you-just-never/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [If you don't make mistakes, you're not working on hard enough problems. And that's a big mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-wikzek/if-you-don-t-make-mistakes-you-re-not-working-on-hard-enough-problems/) [F Wikzek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-wikzek/) > [“Hitler made only one big mistake when he built his Atlantic Wall,” the paratroopers liked to say. “He forgot to put a roof on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-e-ambrose/hitler-made-only-one-big-mistake-when-he-built-his-atlantic-wall-the/) [Stephen E. Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-e-ambrose/) > [Well I think its safe to say this week has been the worst week EVER I never I never thought I could get so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talyiah/well-i-think-its-safe-to-say-this-week-has-been-the-worst-week-ever-i/) [Talyiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talyiah/) > [One of the big mistakes Republicans made with the Contract with America is that they tried to do too much too fast, and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/one-of-the-big-mistakes-republicans-made-with-the-contract-with/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [The press keep asking me, 'What was your biggest mistake?' But if I had made a big mistake, they'd all be writing about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/the-press-keep-asking-me-what-was-your-biggest-mistake-but-if-i-had/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [We have to keep trying things we're not sure we can pull off. If we just do the things we know we can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/we-have-to-keep-trying-things-we-re-not-sure-we-can-pull-off-if-we/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [“God figured out when he separated us from the rest of the creatures that if we have the power to reason and justify and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/god-figured-out-when-he-separated-us-from-the-rest-of-the-creatures/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [Taking me seriously is a big mistake. I certainly wouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/taking-me-seriously-is-a-big-mistake-i-certainly-wouldn-t/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I've lived so little that I tend to imagine I'm not going to die; it seems improbable that human existence can be reduced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-ve-lived-so-little-that-i-tend-to-imagine-i-m-not-going-to-die-it/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [One big mistake that we made in Delhi is that we made it a low-rise city which means that rich people have nice green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/one-big-mistake-that-we-made-in-delhi-is-that-we-made-it-a-low-rise/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [The feeling of being deceived, completely betrayed by someone so close to your clueless heart. You tell them everything, all the emotions and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-feeling-of-being-deceived-completely-betrayed-by-someone-so-close/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Gift of Gab She continued by saying, “Many people dismiss small talk as being a waste of time. If you think small talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/the-gift-of-gab-she-continued-by-saying-many-people-dismiss-small/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) [Browse all 285 Big mistake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-mistake/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The individual who is mistake-free is also probably sitting around doing nothing. 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