--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Atticus makes gigantic mistakes at times…" description: "\"“Atticus makes gigantic mistakes at times. But there are also times like this one when he makes of his life a poem and achieves an apotheosis of sorts,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/kevin-hearne-991_failure_atticus-makes-gigantic-mistakes-at-times_2136417.jpg" --- # Atticus makes gigantic mistakes at times. But there are… ![“Atticus makes gigantic mistakes at times. But there are also times like this one when he makes of his life a poem and achieves an apotheosis of sorts, when his years manifest as wisdom and he spies a path forward that no one else sees until he points it out. And in this case that means not…” quote by Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/kevin-hearne-991_failure_atticus-makes-gigantic-mistakes-at-times_2136417.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/kevin-hearne-991_failure_atticus-makes-gigantic-mistakes-at-times_2136417.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/kevin-hearne-991_failure_atticus-makes-gigantic-mistakes-at-times_2136417.jpg) > ““Atticus makes gigantic mistakes at times. But there are also times like this one when he makes of his life a poem and achieves an apotheosis of sorts, when his years manifest as wisdom and he spies a path forward that no one else sees until he points it out. And in this case that means not allowing swords to fall where they may.”” [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Atticus sometimes errs, yet he also creates profound wisdom, guiding others by revealing unseen paths and preventing danger. **In simple terms:** Even flawed leaders can offer deep insight and protect others. Key Takeaway Value guidance from those who see beyond the obvious. Themes leadership wisdom protection Mood inspirational cautious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - team decision‑making - crisis management - creative problem solving Key Concepts poetic insight strategic foresight mentor dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance trust in a leader with critical thinking? - When should you challenge a seemingly wise suggestion? A Different Perspective Reliance on a single visionary may overlook alternative solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allowing Swords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowing-swords-4428223/) [Atticus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atticus/) [Atticus Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atticus-makes-4428222/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Swords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swords/) [Swords Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swords-fall-4428224/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“real good snub, Atticus, makes you feel like you’re too nasty to associate with people. How they’re as good as they are now is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/real-good-snub-atticus-makes-you-feel-like-you-re-too-nasty-to/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“Words will scratch more hearts than swords.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/words-will-scratch-more-hearts-than-swords/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“You will need to make an effort to appear a little less scruffy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/you-will-need-to-make-an-effort-to-appear-a-little-less-scruffy/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Atticus "three kinds of cat shit, Oberon." Oberon "and an arrogant family of squirrels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/atticus-three-kinds-of-cat-shit-oberon-oberon-and-an-arrogant-family/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“It's only a slight modification of causality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/it-s-only-a-slight-modification-of-causality/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“I quietly cast camouflage on myself, which is the nearest I can come to invisibility. It binds my pigment to my surroundings, so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/i-quietly-cast-camouflage-on-myself-which-is-the-nearest-i-can-come/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Are you going to kick somebody’s ass? I don’t know. Maybe. Well, I’m not going to worry. I’ve watched you spar with that martial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/are-you-going-to-kick-somebody-s-ass-i-don-t-know-maybe-well-i-m-not/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Dude. If that was a Shakespearean quote duel, he just kicked your ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/dude-if-that-was-a-shakespearean-quote-duel-he-just-kicked-your-ass/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [Hey Atticus, do me a quick favour before we go? its easy. Sure. What is it? Hold Granuailes staff for just a minute. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/hey-atticus-do-me-a-quick-favour-before-we-go-its-easy-sure-what-is/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [Oh. Oberon looked at me. I know that has to make you sad. But call to me instead, Atticus. I'll always answer. Your fly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/oh-oberon-looked-at-me-i-know-that-has-to-make-you-sad-but-call-to-me/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Careful with that ego, you could knock somebody over." Atticus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/careful-with-that-ego-you-could-knock-somebody-over-atticus/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Their numbers swell like viruses until they madden someone with a large army.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/their-numbers-swell-like-viruses-until-they-madden-someone-with-a/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Hopefully next time I won't be recovering from an assassination attempt, and then I'll do better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/hopefully-next-time-i-won-t-be-recovering-from-an-assassination/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Canine Psychology 101. Seriously don't look at it, (the T bone steak) Look for the dastardly villain." Atticus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/canine-psychology-101-seriously-don-t-look-at-it-the-t-bone-steak/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Dude is that was a Shakespeare quote duel, he just kicked your ass." Oberon I know, but I slipped in some T.S.Eliot and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/dude-is-that-was-a-shakespeare-quote-duel-he-just-kicked-your-ass/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) ## More by Kevin Hearne > [Whoa. He had ghouls on speed dial. My lawyer kicks so much ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/whoa-he-had-ghouls-on-speed-dial-my-lawyer-kicks-so-much-ass/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“I bet it’s a universal truth: You eat your pie or go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/i-bet-it-s-a-universal-truth-you-eat-your-pie-or-go-home/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Like many silly codes of bravery and manliness, the meat of my father’s instruction on how to die well can be distilled to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/like-many-silly-codes-of-bravery-and-manliness-the-meat-of-my-father/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [Wow you need to get some sun.” “Shut up. I'm Irish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/wow-you-need-to-get-some-sun-shut-up-i-m-irish/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Hence the reason I encourage you to believe what you wish. The heaven of teh Pastafarians is supposed to have beer volcanoes, which sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/hence-the-reason-i-encourage-you-to-believe-what-you-wish-the-heaven/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [Awesome! I'd just bullied Jesus into doing a shot with me. Nobody would ever believe it, but I didn't care. We ordered the insanely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/awesome-i-d-just-bullied-jesus-into-doing-a-shot-with-me-nobody-would/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“I thought for the longest time that chicken-fried steak was steak that had been fried by specially trained chickens,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/i-thought-for-the-longest-time-that-chicken-fried-steak-was-steak/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [When he said to give him the sword, I don’t think he meant for you to stick it in his guts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/when-he-said-to-give-him-the-sword-i-don-t-think-he-meant-for-you-to/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Oh sweet kraken tits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/oh-sweet-kraken-tits/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“No. See, when you throw up you're vomiting, but when you throw down you're starting a fight, as in throwing down the gauntlet." "Ohhhh,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/no-see-when-you-throw-up-you-re-vomiting-but-when-you-throw-down-you/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“The grin on his face wasn’t the affable, friendly sort; instead, it was the sociopathic rictus of the irretrievably, bug-fuckeringly insane”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/the-grin-on-his-face-wasn-t-the-affable-friendly-sort-instead-it-was/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“What sealed the deal for me was that the cloak wouldn't come off without a generous donation of my tears. Those used to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/what-sealed-the-deal-for-me-was-that-the-cloak-wouldn-t-come-off/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [On a Creep Scale from Hello Kitty to Cthulhu, I award it a Freddy Krueger. Granuaile MacTiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/on-a-creep-scale-from-hello-kitty-to-cthulhu-i-award-it-a-freddy/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“So this means you're spoiling me right?" Can't Help it. You're the best hound ever. Oberon's tail thumped a few times and his mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/so-this-means-you-re-spoiling-me-right-can-t-help-it-you-re-the-best/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune!" I cried with all the venom of Charlton Heston. Oberon asked. "It's a Shakespearean word for whore." ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/out-out-thou-strumpet-fortune-i-cried-with-all-the-venom-of-charlton/) [kevin hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) [Explore all 311 Kevin Hearne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) ## More Atticus quotes > [“It was her chaos that made her beautiful. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/it-was-her-chaos-that-made-her-beautiful/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“Atticus adjusted his glasses as he peered down at the blanket. “Hey, is that the book Nellie told us about?” Jake’s eyes flicked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-watson/atticus-adjusted-his-glasses-as-he-peered-down-at-the-blanket-hey-is/) [Jude Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-watson/) > [“She knew she was really sad when she stopped loving the things she loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/she-knew-she-was-really-sad-when-she-stopped-loving-the-things-she/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“She was afraid of heights but she was much more afraid of never flying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/she-was-afraid-of-heights-but-she-was-much-more-afraid-of-never-flying/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“The universe is exactly the size that your soul can encompass. Some people live in extremely small worlds, and some live in a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-hounded-the-iron-druid-chronicles-by-kevin-hearne/the-universe-is-exactly-the-size-that-your-soul-can-encompass-some/) [Atticus Hounded The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-hounded-the-iron-druid-chronicles-by-kevin-hearne/) > [“Art takes time— Monet grew his gardens before he painted them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/art-takes-time-monet-grew-his-gardens-before-he-painted-them/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“She was cool— the whole world seemed to spin around her in smooth jazz.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/she-was-cool-the-whole-world-seemed-to-spin-around-her-in-smooth-jazz/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“Do not fall in love with me, for I will break your heart, long before you realize, you were going to break mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/do-not-fall-in-love-with-me-for-i-will-break-your-heart-long-before/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/atticus-was-feeble-he-was-nearly-fifty/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“One day I’ll paint the perfect sunset-- if I can only find the words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/one-day-i-ll-paint-the-perfect-sunset-if-i-can-only-find-the-words/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“A few drinks and the world was hers— she wore her whiskey like a loaded gun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/a-few-drinks-and-the-world-was-hers-she-wore-her-whiskey-like-a/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [hold your head high and keep those fists down - Atticus Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/hold-your-head-high-and-keep-those-fists-down-atticus-finch/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“From the moment I saw her I knew this one was worth the broken heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/from-the-moment-i-saw-her-i-knew-this-one-was-worth-the-broken-heart/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“There are magnets in my bones for that iron in her blood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/there-are-magnets-in-my-bones-for-that-iron-in-her-blood/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards." - Atticus Finch”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee-to-kill-a-mockingbird/no-code-mattered-to-her-before-she-broke-it-but-it-came-crashing-down/) [Harper Lee To Kill A Mockingbird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee-to-kill-a-mockingbird/) [Browse all 178 Atticus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atticus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Atticus makes gigantic mistakes at times. But there are also times like this one when he makes of his life a poem and achieves an apotheosis of sorts, when his years manifest as wisdom and he spies a path forward that no one else sees until he points it out. And in this case that means not allowing swords to fall where they may.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin Hearne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/atticus-makes-gigantic-mistakes-at-times-but-there-are-also-times/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atticus" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/atticus-makes-gigantic-mistakes-at-times-but-there-are-also-times/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/kevin-hearne-991_failure_atticus-makes-gigantic-mistakes-at-times_2136417.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/kevin-hearne-991_failure_atticus-makes-gigantic-mistakes-at-times_2136417.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/881/kevin-hearne-991_failure_atticus-makes-gigantic-mistakes-at-times_2136417.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Atticus makes gigantic mistakes at times. But there are also times like this one when he makes of his life a…” — Kevin Hearne", "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": "Kevin Hearne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Atticus makes gigantic mistakes at times....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/atticus-makes-gigantic-mistakes-at-times-but-there-are-also-times/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/atticus-makes-gigantic-mistakes-at-times-but-there-are-also-times/#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 } } ] } ```