--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who is mistaken in an action which he…" description: "\"He who is mistaken in an action which he sincerely believes to be right may be an enemy, but retains our esteem.\" — Jules Verne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/jules-verne-795_action_he-who-is-mistaken-in-an-action-which-he_570980.jpg" --- # He who is mistaken in an action which he sincerely… ![“He who is mistaken in an action which he sincerely believes to be right may be an enemy, but retains our esteem.” quote by Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/jules-verne-795_action_he-who-is-mistaken-in-an-action-which-he_570980.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/jules-verne-795_action_he-who-is-mistaken-in-an-action-which-he_570980.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/jules-verne-795_action_he-who-is-mistaken-in-an-action-which-he_570980.jpg) > “He who is mistaken in an action which he sincerely believes to be right may be an enemy, but retains our esteem.” [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even when one sincerely believes an action is right, it can be mistaken and still earn respect, highlighting the tension between conviction and error. **In simple terms:** Right intentions can be mistaken but still respected. Key Takeaway Balance conviction with humility. Themes ethics judgment respect Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - leadership - decision making - conflict resolution - education Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - When should you question your convictions? - How do you maintain respect after a mistake? A Different Perspective Blind confidence can cause harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [I think every single American believes they have a right to clean air and clean water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-beinecke/i-think-every-single-american-believes-they-have-a-right-to-clean-air/) [Frances Beinecke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-beinecke/) > [That's always been really funny to me - someone who really stridently believes that they're right when they're so wrong in, like, the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/that-s-always-been-really-funny-to-me-someone-who-really-stridently/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [I'm a man who believes that right is right and wrong is wrong. Treat me right, and I will give you my all. Treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-paycheck/i-m-a-man-who-believes-that-right-is-right-and-wrong-is-wrong-treat/) [Johnny Paycheck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-paycheck/) > [Every man, at the bottom of his heart, wants to do right. But only he can do right who knows right; only he knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiorio/every-man-at-the-bottom-of-his-heart-wants-to-do-right-but-only-he/) Tiorio > [The problem with people is, everyone believes that they are right, and no one listens to the ones who are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kyle/the-problem-with-people-is-everyone-believes-that-they-are-right-and/) Steve Kyle > [There is nothing more terrifying than the absoluteness of one who believes he's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-is-nothing-more-terrifying-than-the-absoluteness-of-one-who/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/any-man-worth-his-salt-will-stick-up-for-what-he-believes-right-but/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [Donald Trump believes in a right and a wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-trump/donald-trump-believes-in-a-right-and-a-wrong/) [Eric Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-trump/) > [The golden rule is to act fearlessly upon what one believes to be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-golden-rule-is-to-act-fearlessly-upon-what-one-believes-to-be/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I'm a man who believes that right is right and wrong is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-paycheck/i-m-a-man-who-believes-that-right-is-right-and-wrong-is-wrong/) [Johnny Paycheck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-paycheck/) > [Just because you’re taught that something’s right and everyone believes it’s right, it don’t make it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/just-because-you-re-taught-that-something-s-right-and-everyone/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salmon-p-chase/and-upon-this-act-sincerely-believed-to-be-an-act-of-justice/) [Salmon P. Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salmon-p-chase/) > [The only truth is that I live. Sincerely, I live. Who am I? Well, that's a bit much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/the-only-truth-is-that-i-live-sincerely-i-live-who-am-i-well-that-s-a/) [Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/) > [We're in this strange age where we can't say 'I love you,' at least not sincerely. It's something where, if you simplify it, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoffer-boe/we-re-in-this-strange-age-where-we-can-t-say-i-love-you-at-least-not/) Christoffer Boe > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) ## More by Jules Verne > [Look with all your eyes, look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/look-with-all-your-eyes-look/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“As I remarked before, the Asiatic elephant is smaller than the African, which is frequently twelve feet high, and its tusks are in proportion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/as-i-remarked-before-the-asiatic-elephant-is-smaller-than-the-african/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [As long as a man's heart beats, as long as a man's flesh quivers, I do not allow that a being gifted with thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/as-long-as-a-man-s-heart-beats-as-long-as-a-man-s-flesh-quivers-i-do/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Now, when an American has an idea, he directly seeks a second American to share it. If there be three, they elect a president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/now-when-an-american-has-an-idea-he-directly-seeks-a-second-american/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Well, my friend, this earth will one day be that cold corpse; it will become uninhabitable and uninhabited like the moon, which has long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/well-my-friend-this-earth-will-one-day-be-that-cold-corpse-it-will/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Ah! Young people, travel if you can, and if you cannot - travel all the same!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/ah-young-people-travel-if-you-can-and-if-you-cannot-travel-all-the/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [It is always a vulgar and often an unhealthy pastime, and it is a vice which does not go alone; the man who gambles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/it-is-always-a-vulgar-and-often-an-unhealthy-pastime-and-it-is-a-vice/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“My uncle” is the natives’ usual name for the tiger, they believing that the soul of each of their ancestors is lodged for eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/my-uncle-is-the-natives-usual-name-for-the-tiger-they-believing-that/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“Kâlagani evidently knew this thinly-peopled region perfectly, and guided us across it most admirably. On the 29th September our train began to ascend the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/k-lagani-evidently-knew-this-thinly-peopled-region-perfectly-and/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Well, I feel that we should always put a little art into what we do. It's better that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/well-i-feel-that-we-should-always-put-a-little-art-into-what-we-do-it/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“— Isola in vendita per contanti, più le spese, al miglior offerente! — andava ripetendo a perdifiato Dean Felporg, banditore dell'auction, in cui venivano…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/isola-in-vendita-per-contanti-pi-le-spese-al-miglior-offerente-andava/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [It is certain," exclaimed my uncle in a tone of triumph. "But silence, do you hear me? silence upon the whole subject; and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/it-is-certain-exclaimed-my-uncle-in-a-tone-of-triumph-but-silence-do/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Man, a mere inhabitant of the earth, cannot overstep its boundaries! But though he is confined to its crust, he may penetrate into all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/man-a-mere-inhabitant-of-the-earth-cannot-overstep-its-boundaries-but/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [On the surface of the ocean, men wage war and destroy each other; but down here, just a few feet beneath the surface, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/on-the-surface-of-the-ocean-men-wage-war-and-destroy-each-other-but/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [In presence of Nature's grand convulsions man is powerless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/in-presence-of-nature-s-grand-convulsions-man-is-powerless/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) [Explore all 331 Jules Verne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who is mistaken in an action which he sincerely believes to be right may be an enemy, but retains our esteem.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jules Verne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/he-who-is-mistaken-in-an-action-which-he-sincerely-believes-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/he-who-is-mistaken-in-an-action-which-he-sincerely-believes-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/jules-verne-795_action_he-who-is-mistaken-in-an-action-which-he_570980.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/jules-verne-795_action_he-who-is-mistaken-in-an-action-which-he_570980.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/jules-verne-795_action_he-who-is-mistaken-in-an-action-which-he_570980.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who is mistaken in an action which he sincerely believes to be right may be an enemy, but retains our…” — Jules Verne", "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": "Jules Verne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He who is mistaken in an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/he-who-is-mistaken-in-an-action-which-he-sincerely-believes-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/he-who-is-mistaken-in-an-action-which-he-sincerely-believes-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```