--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Public health relies on public trust…" description: "\"Public health relies on public trust. Admitting mistakes and explaining prompt corrective actions engender that trust.\" — Leana S. Wen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/leana-s-wen-5829_failure_public-health-relies-on-public-trust-adm_2086713.jpg" --- # Public health relies on public trust. Admitting mistakes… ![“Public health relies on public trust. Admitting mistakes and explaining prompt corrective actions engender that trust.” quote by Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/leana-s-wen-5829_failure_public-health-relies-on-public-trust-adm_2086713.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/leana-s-wen-5829_failure_public-health-relies-on-public-trust-adm_2086713.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/leana-s-wen-5829_failure_public-health-relies-on-public-trust-adm_2086713.jpg) > “Public health relies on public trust. Admitting mistakes and explaining prompt corrective actions engender that trust.” [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transparency and swift action rebuild trust after errors in health systems **In simple terms:** Admitting mistakes builds public trust Key Takeaway Be transparent and act quickly when errors occur Themes trust accountability public health Mood trustful professional Type ethical institutional When to use this quote - hospital management - vaccination campaigns - public health emergencies Key Concepts error disclosure crisis communication policy implementation Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations balance speed and accuracy? - What incentives promote honest reporting? A Different Perspective May be costly to implement rapid corrections ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admitting Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admitting-mistakes/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Public health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-health/) [Public trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-trust/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [Our health relies entirely on the vitality of our fellow species on Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/our-health-relies-entirely-on-the-vitality-of-our-fellow-species-on/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [The nation relies upon public discussion as one of the indispensable means to attain correct solutions to problems of social welfare. Curtailment of free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-forman-reed/the-nation-relies-upon-public-discussion-as-one-of-the-indispensable/) Stanley Forman Reed > [I'm not better than the next trader, just quicker at admitting my mistakes and moving on to the next opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/i-m-not-better-than-the-next-trader-just-quicker-at-admitting-my/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [... the approach of admitting our errors, besides being most true to a gospel of grace, is also most effective at expressing who we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/the-approach-of-admitting-our-errors-besides-being-most-true-to-a/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Admitting your mistakes is not a sign of weakness. It shows you have the courage to know your wrong, and that you have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-decamp/admitting-your-mistakes-is-not-a-sign-of-weakness-it-shows-you-have/) [Aaron DeCamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-decamp/) > [“To err is human, to admit it is divine. It is absolutely human to commit mistakes. To admit, without any guilt—you are simply admitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/to-err-is-human-to-admit-it-is-divine-it-is-absolutely-human-to/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Admitting our mistakes is a sign of maturity and wisdom. We learn more from knowing our mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/admitting-our-mistakes-is-a-sign-of-maturity-and-wisdom-we-learn-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who wants to educate himself in Chess must evade what is dead in Chess... the habit of playing with inferior opponents; the custom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/he-who-wants-to-educate-himself-in-chess-must-evade-what-is-dead-in/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [I'm not one that hides from making mistakes or admitting mistakes, and I've been doing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-m-not-one-that-hides-from-making-mistakes-or-admitting-mistakes-and/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [We're often afraid of looking at our shadow because we want to avoid the shame or embarrassment that comes along with admitting mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/we-re-often-afraid-of-looking-at-our-shadow-because-we-want-to-avoid/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“If we misread the blueprint of our life, we need not be ashamed of backtracking on our chosen options. Admitting to mistakes may make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/if-we-misread-the-blueprint-of-our-life-we-need-not-be-ashamed-of/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [I'm not one that hides from making mistakes or admitting mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-m-not-one-that-hides-from-making-mistakes-or-admitting-mistakes/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [There is no harm in admitting one's mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherlyn-chopra/there-is-no-harm-in-admitting-one-s-mistakes/) [Sherlyn Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherlyn-chopra/) > [“Instead of admitting mistakes, he lashes out, demeans, and insults others—often projecting by accusing others of doing what he himself has done or is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/instead-of-admitting-mistakes-he-lashes-out-demeans-and-insults/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [Admitting your mistakes seems like giving up, but more than that, we need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/admitting-your-mistakes-seems-like-giving-up-but-more-than-that-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Leana S. Wen > [Over and over again, I have also seen our health care system fail women because of discriminatory policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/over-and-over-again-i-have-also-seen-our-health-care-system-fail/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [When I finally addressed my stuttering - I was almost through with medical school by the time that I finally sought therapy for speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/when-i-finally-addressed-my-stuttering-i-was-almost-through-with/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [It is imperative that we address the barriers to access and the systemic racism that we know is contributing to our astronomically high maternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/it-is-imperative-that-we-address-the-barriers-to-access-and-the/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [The higher the rate of covid-19 in a community, the more likely any one individual you come into contact with has the virus and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/the-higher-the-rate-of-covid-19-in-a-community-the-more-likely-any/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [It's unrealistic to expect that your doctor will be at your beck and call 24/7; however, before you leave your doctor's office, he or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/it-s-unrealistic-to-expect-that-your-doctor-will-be-at-your-beck-and/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [A covid-19 patient who experiences a substantial drop in oxygen saturation is unstable. It was correct to transfer him to the hospital to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/a-covid-19-patient-who-experiences-a-substantial-drop-in-oxygen/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [To be clear, from an epidemiological perspective, there shouldn't be any mass gatherings during a pandemic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/to-be-clear-from-an-epidemiological-perspective-there-shouldn-t-be/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Public health works by using evidence to lessen harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-works-by-using-evidence-to-lessen-harm/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Every time I am on air, I will receive actually quite a few messages that specifically tie me to the Chinese Communist Party -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/every-time-i-am-on-air-i-will-receive-actually-quite-a-few-messages/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [An effective public-health response requires that those leading the response pivot when new information comes out and change course when unexpected circumstance arise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/an-effective-public-health-response-requires-that-those-leading-the/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Violence, poverty and health disparities have many inputs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/violence-poverty-and-health-disparities-have-many-inputs/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [The most critical key to getting good medial care is a trusting relationship between you and your doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/the-most-critical-key-to-getting-good-medial-care-is-a-trusting/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [We really need to be talking about the COVID vaccine the same way that we talk about other vaccinations - which is that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/we-really-need-to-be-talking-about-the-covid-vaccine-the-same-way/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Planned Parenthood's work - bringing affordable and accessible health care to as many women (and men and all people) as possible - isn't just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/planned-parenthood-s-work-bringing-affordable-and-accessible-health/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Doctors have limited time to listen to your story, but you must make sure they understand why you're there. Don't just say that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/doctors-have-limited-time-to-listen-to-your-story-but-you-must-make/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) [Explore all 100 Leana S. Wen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) ## More Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Public health relies on public trust. Admitting mistakes and explaining prompt corrective actions engender that trust.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leana S. Wen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-relies-on-public-trust-admitting-mistakes-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-relies-on-public-trust-admitting-mistakes-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/leana-s-wen-5829_failure_public-health-relies-on-public-trust-adm_2086713.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/leana-s-wen-5829_failure_public-health-relies-on-public-trust-adm_2086713.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/leana-s-wen-5829_failure_public-health-relies-on-public-trust-adm_2086713.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Public health relies on public trust. Admitting mistakes and explaining prompt corrective actions engender…” — Leana S. Wen", "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": "Leana S. Wen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Public health relies on public trust....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-relies-on-public-trust-admitting-mistakes-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/public-health-relies-on-public-trust-admitting-mistakes-and/#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 } } ] } ```