--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's so easy to screw up. To make a…" description: "\"“It's so easy to screw up. To make a choice that seems right. Then time passes and you look back and you say, 'How the hell did I do that?' Attitudes c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/kelley-armstrong-581_change_it-s-so-easy-to-screw-up-to-make-a-choic_2506973.png" --- # It's so easy to screw up. To make a choice that seems… ![“It's so easy to screw up. To make a choice that seems right. Then time passes and you look back and you say, 'How the hell did I do that?' Attitudes change. Insights change. Eventually things you were so damned sure were right become...incomprehensible.” quote by Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/kelley-armstrong-581_change_it-s-so-easy-to-screw-up-to-make-a-choic_2506973.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/kelley-armstrong-581_change_it-s-so-easy-to-screw-up-to-make-a-choic_2506973.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/kelley-armstrong-581_change_it-s-so-easy-to-screw-up-to-make-a-choic_2506973.png) > ““It's so easy to screw up. To make a choice that seems right. Then time passes and you look back and you say, 'How the hell did I do that?' Attitudes change. Insights change. Eventually things you were so damned sure were right become...incomprehensible.”” [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often make choices we think are right, then later realize they were mistaken as our perspective shifts. **In simple terms:** Choices seem right then feel wrong later. Key Takeaway Question assumptions before acting. Themes decisionmaking selfreflection growth Mood reflective uncertain Type philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - career decisions - relationships - personal projects - financial choices - health choices Key Concepts cognitive bias selfdeception learning Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions led you to that choice? - How can you create checks to avoid hindsight regret? A Different Perspective Humans are prone to hindsight bias, making it hard to learn from past errors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Attitudes change once the die is cast,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/attitudes-change-once-the-die-is-cast/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [America is a remarkable place in that social attitudes change almost imperceptibly, and then you wake up the next day and they've changed. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/america-is-a-remarkable-place-in-that-social-attitudes-change-almost/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [“If we change our station in life, people’s attitudes towards us may change. True, but the people who genuinely love us, care about us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-owen/if-we-change-our-station-in-life-people-s-attitudes-towards-us-may/) [Sam Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-owen/) > [What I've learned is not to change who you are, because eventually you're going to run out of new things to become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/what-i-ve-learned-is-not-to-change-who-you-are-because-eventually-you/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Where there's no progress, there's no growth. If there's no growth, there's no life. Environments void of change are eventually void of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/where-there-s-no-progress-there-s-no-growth-if-there-s-no-growth/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Attitudes can change, character is forever. Make your words and actions directly connected to ethical solutions and reasonable choices, let others boast and brag,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-white/attitudes-can-change-character-is-forever-make-your-words-and-actions/) [Jill White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-white/) > [I believe that through positive thoughts, speech, action and attitudes, we change things for the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/i-believe-that-through-positive-thoughts-speech-action-and-attitudes/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [Did people's attitudes towards me change after I appeared on TV? Yeah, definitely. During my career I've had some flak - particularly doing television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/did-people-s-attitudes-towards-me-change-after-i-appeared-on-tv-yeah/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [Some people do not change, they are eventually revealed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-do-not-change-they-are-eventually-revealed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do creative, social, and civic attitudes change depending on where we live? Yes, I think so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/do-creative-social-and-civic-attitudes-change-depending-on-where-we/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [The sad thing is, our foreign policy WILL change eventually, as Rome's did, when all budgetary and monetary tricks to fund it are exhausted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-sad-thing-is-our-foreign-policy-will-change-eventually-as-rome-s/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Learning to adjust to change is hard. Its hard to see. Its hard to hear. But goodness comes in change eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kju/learning-to-adjust-to-change-is-hard-its-hard-to-see-its-hard-to-hear/) Kju > [When you're with someone you think that feeling will never change but with time it will change eventually. If you meet your soulmate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mctjc/when-you-re-with-someone-you-think-that-feeling-will-never-change-but/) Mctjc > [“Our lives are constantly in a state of change and evolution. The things that cause you to identify as “you” are temporary, moving foundations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-overby/our-lives-are-constantly-in-a-state-of-change-and-evolution-the/) [Eric Overby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-overby/) > [I'm not trying to recruit anyone. I think minds can be changed, but I also think they don't have to be changed. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/i-m-not-trying-to-recruit-anyone-i-think-minds-can-be-changed-but-i/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) ## More by Kelley Armstrong > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He turned my way, and I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice for a second. Then I realized I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-turned-my-way-and-i-was-so-engrossed-in-my-thoughts-that-i-didn-t/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Nuh-uh. No deals with the devil. I’ve learned my lesson on that one. ~Jaime Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nuh-uh-no-deals-with-the-devil-i-ve-learned-my-lesson-on-that-one/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I said turning to Rafe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Believe me, I have better things to do than sabotage your friendships. No one else's world revolves around you, Cassandra." -Paige to Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/believe-me-i-have-better-things-to-do-than-sabotage-your-friendships/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Reviews are great. I can read negative reviews and say, 'You know that point they made... they were dead on.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/reviews-are-great-i-can-read-negative-reviews-and-say-you-know-that/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When a series is doing well, it's very tempting to keep writing it, even when the creative well is drying up. It's tempting because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-a-series-is-doing-well-it-s-very-tempting-to-keep-writing-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [You bat your baby blues at tall, dark, and gruesome, and next thing you know, he's trailing you like a lost puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/you-bat-your-baby-blues-at-tall-dark-and-gruesome-and-next-thing-you/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [With no chance to take off, I had to play my role, searching for the rendezvous spot, which gave me the excuse to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/with-no-chance-to-take-off-i-had-to-play-my-role-searching-for-the/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When I glanced at the chair, it started to shake. I’d like to think it was scared of me, but I rarely invoked that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-i-glanced-at-the-chair-it-started-to-shake-i-d-like-to-think-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Nonsense, Chloe. I certainly hope you aren't afraid of cemeteries" "Um, no" Tori said. "It's the bodies buried in them that worry her. Uh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nonsense-chloe-i-certainly-hope-you-aren-t-afraid-of-cemeteries-um-no/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I was...a journalist...though my typical beat was freelancing articles on Canadian politics, which never included any mention of demonic phenomena, though it might explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-was-a-journalist-though-my-typical-beat-was-freelancing-articles-on/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I found something" Simon said as he walked in. He whipped out an old-fashioned key from his pocket and grinned at me. "It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-found-something-simon-said-as-he-walked-in-he-whipped-out-an-old/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He laughed and tugged me down in a kiss. Then, lips still close enough to feel them tickle mine, he said, "You know this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-laughed-and-tugged-me-down-in-a-kiss-then-lips-still-close-enough/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) [Explore all 458 Kelley Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's so easy to screw up. 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