--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think we often underestimate the power…" description: "\"“I think we often underestimate the power of a sincere sorry. We think our reasons and excuses somehow make the hurt we’ve caused make sense, but the d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/kennedy-ryan-13033_accountability_i-think-we-often-underestimate-the-power_420543.jpg" --- # I think we often underestimate the power of a sincere… ![“I think we often underestimate the power of a sincere sorry. We think our reasons and excuses somehow make the hurt we’ve caused make sense, but the damage is done, and the only thing that makes it any better is admitting how wrong we were.” quote by Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/kennedy-ryan-13033_accountability_i-think-we-often-underestimate-the-power_420543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/kennedy-ryan-13033_accountability_i-think-we-often-underestimate-the-power_420543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/kennedy-ryan-13033_accountability_i-think-we-often-underestimate-the-power_420543.jpg) > ““I think we often underestimate the power of a sincere sorry. We think our reasons and excuses somehow make the hurt we’ve caused make sense, but the damage is done, and the only thing that makes it any better is admitting how wrong we were.”” [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging sincere apologies can heal wounds more than excuses can; true remorse matters more than justification. **In simple terms:** Apologizing sincerely repairs damage more than excuses. Key Takeaway Own up and apologize honestly. Themes forship communication growth Mood reflective empathetic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - personal conflict - relationship repair - team dynamics Key Concepts psychology emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can I show genuine remorse? - What steps follow a sincere apology? A Different Perspective Apologies without change may be empty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) [Damage is done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage-is-done/) ## Related quotes > [There are some spiteful people in the world and I truly feel sorry for them. Think more of yourselves. Do better. We forgive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-some-spiteful-people-in-the-world-and-i-truly-feel-sorry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And I’m sorry . . .” I can’t find the words. “I’m just sorry. I think you made a mistake. A mistake with me.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/and-i-m-sorry-i-can-t-find-the-words-i-m-just-sorry-i-think-you-made/) [Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/) > [I think about how much I miss him, and start to feel sorry for myself…but then I think about all the people who never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-about-how-much-i-miss-him-and-start-to-feel-sorry-for-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm sorry if you don't like me, I'm sorry if you think that I suck, but most of all, I'm NOT sorry that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaine/i-m-sorry-if-you-don-t-like-me-i-m-sorry-if-you-think-that-i-suck-but/) [Shaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaine/) > [You can't feel sorry for yourself because I think all that's going to do is affect the way I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-bortles/you-can-t-feel-sorry-for-yourself-because-i-think-all-that-s-going-to/) [Blake Bortles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-bortles/) > [I sometimes think that we underestimate Trump, but that's just my opinion. I always like to tack the other way, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-hersh/i-sometimes-think-that-we-underestimate-trump-but-that-s-just-my/) [Seymour Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-hersh/) > [“I think you underestimate the appeal of blowing things up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-dunbar/i-think-you-underestimate-the-appeal-of-blowing-things-up/) [Debra Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-dunbar/) > [I don't think you can underestimate how much carers need some support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-logan/i-don-t-think-you-can-underestimate-how-much-carers-need-some-support/) [Phyllis Logan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-logan/) > [I don't think you can underestimate the impact of the gaffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/i-don-t-think-you-can-underestimate-the-impact-of-the-gaffer/) [Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/) > [“I think you underestimate the appeal of blowing shit up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-dunbar/i-think-you-underestimate-the-appeal-of-blowing-shit-up/) [Debra Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-dunbar/) > [I do think there's a certain savviness to be able to recognize the way people want a good story, and I think that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-young/i-do-think-there-s-a-certain-savviness-to-be-able-to-recognize-the/) [Kevin Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-young/) > [“I think you underestimate the stubbornness a crown can press into a man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-think-you-underestimate-the-stubbornness-a-crown-can-press-into-a/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“It takes guts and humility to admit mistakes. Admitting we're wrong is courage, not weakness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-t-bennett/it-takes-guts-and-humility-to-admit-mistakes-admitting-we-re-wrong-is/) [Roy T. Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-t-bennett/) > [Rather than admit a mistake, nations have gone to war, families have separated, and good people have sacrificed everything dear to them. Admitting that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-ward/rather-than-admit-a-mistake-nations-have-gone-to-war-families-have/) [Don Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-ward/) > [“Maybe that is what growing up was all about. It was about changing your mind. Opening it right up. Admitting to yourself that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/maybe-that-is-what-growing-up-was-all-about-it-was-about-changing/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) ## More by Kennedy Ryan > [“But if you don’t ride me hard enough, I’m flipping you over and tearing that ass up. Got it?” “That sounds fair.” I nod…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/but-if-you-don-t-ride-me-hard-enough-i-m-flipping-you-over-and/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“It started at her mouth with just a wobble, a tremble of her lips. Then her hands joined in, fingers shaking until she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/it-started-at-her-mouth-with-just-a-wobble-a-tremble-of-her-lips-then/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“Art, specifically music, is a living thing,” he says. “It isn’t just absorbed by the people who hear it, but it absorbs them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/art-specifically-music-is-a-living-thing-he-says-it-isn-t-just/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“But Bristol is all kinds of things I could not have anticipated or prepared for. Her curiosity, her authenticity, and her honesty hook something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/but-bristol-is-all-kinds-of-things-i-could-not-have-anticipated-or/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“This loving, generous, captivating woman had probably lived through hell and emerged like a butterfly with scorched wings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/this-loving-generous-captivating-woman-had-probably-lived-through/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“Oh, no. By no means.” Grip leans back, considering me from under heavy eyelids. “I don’t care what color a girl is. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/oh-no-by-no-means-grip-leans-back-considering-me-from-under-heavy/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“Grief handed me a heart of iron, and I rusted it with my tears, a muscle not made of flesh, not pumping blood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/grief-handed-me-a-heart-of-iron-and-i-rusted-it-with-my-tears-a/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“However imperfect she appears to some, she is ours, and we already love her deeply and will treasure any time we have with her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/however-imperfect-she-appears-to-some-she-is-ours-and-we-already-love/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“We feel the things we need to know instead of say them. With my chest pressed to his back, forgiveness, love, understanding, and tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/we-feel-the-things-we-need-to-know-instead-of-say-them-with-my-chest/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“Marlon James, you better fix her.” It takes the rest of the day to reprogram Nina...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/marlon-james-you-better-fix-her-it-takes-the-rest-of-the-day-to/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“We just tiptoe around things, afraid we’ll offend or look ignorant, be misunderstood. Honesty is a risk few are willing to take.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/we-just-tiptoe-around-things-afraid-we-ll-offend-or-look-ignorant-be/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“When I thought of my husband, I didn’t dream in color, I dreamt in character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/when-i-thought-of-my-husband-i-didn-t-dream-in-color-i-dreamt-in/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“When we are alone, you and I, through years, through pain, my heart will answer again and again, still.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/when-we-are-alone-you-and-i-through-years-through-pain-my-heart-will/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“Still?” she asks with a watery smile. “Yeah.” Always. Evermore. Even after. “Still.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/still-she-asks-with-a-watery-smile-yeah-always-evermore-even-after/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [“I always thought Walsh would fall in love with some girl no one saw coming. He's a closet romantic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/i-always-thought-walsh-would-fall-in-love-with-some-girl-no-one-saw/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) [Explore all 52 Kennedy Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) ## More Accountability quotes > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [Democracy is not being well served as we're accustomed to. There is less information, there's less investigation, there's less analysis, there's less accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-greenspon/democracy-is-not-being-well-served-as-we-re-accustomed-to-there-is/) Edward Greenspon > [I come from a world where accountability and accomplishments matter, and where titles and rhetoric take a back seat to results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-come-from-a-world-where-accountability-and-accomplishments-matter/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-particular-principles-of-religion-are-a-subject-of-accountability/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) Philip Alston > [Responsible Development shares many practices with XP but the roots are different. Responsible Development's values are honesty, transparency, accountability and responsibility. These lead me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/responsible-development-shares-many-practices-with-xp-but-the-roots/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bullard/opinion-is-really-the-lowest-form-of-human-knowledge-it-requires-no/) Bill Bullard > [The American people deserve accountability over wasteful spending, and we accomplish that by prioritizing taxpayer dollars in a responsive and responsible manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/the-american-people-deserve-accountability-over-wasteful-spending-and/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [“There are many professions that require individuals, on an ongoing basis, to pass drug tests, physicals and psychological evaluations in order to keep their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/there-are-many-professions-that-require-individuals-on-an-ongoing/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [“Expecting accountability from the UN system was akin to expecting a blind dog to catch a flying Frisbee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-soussan/expecting-accountability-from-the-un-system-was-akin-to-expecting-a/) Michael Soussan [Browse all 860 Accountability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I think we often underestimate the power of a sincere sorry. We think our reasons and excuses somehow make the hurt we’ve caused make sense, but the damage is done, and the only thing that makes it any better is admitting how wrong we were.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kennedy Ryan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/i-think-we-often-underestimate-the-power-of-a-sincere-sorry-we-think/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accountability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/i-think-we-often-underestimate-the-power-of-a-sincere-sorry-we-think/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/kennedy-ryan-13033_accountability_i-think-we-often-underestimate-the-power_420543.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/kennedy-ryan-13033_accountability_i-think-we-often-underestimate-the-power_420543.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/kennedy-ryan-13033_accountability_i-think-we-often-underestimate-the-power_420543.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think we often underestimate the power of a sincere sorry. We think our reasons and excuses somehow make…” — Kennedy Ryan", "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": "Kennedy Ryan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I think we often underestimate the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/i-think-we-often-underestimate-the-power-of-a-sincere-sorry-we-think/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/i-think-we-often-underestimate-the-power-of-a-sincere-sorry-we-think/#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 } } ] } ```