--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lifetime of doing the right thing could…" description: "\"“A lifetime of doing the right thing could be completely obliterated by one lapse in judgment. One mistake.”\" — Melinda Leigh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ba/melinda-leigh-34609_decision-making_a-lifetime-of-doing-the-right-thing-coul_539771.jpg" --- # A lifetime of doing the right thing could be completely… ![“A lifetime of doing the right thing could be completely obliterated by one lapse in judgment. One mistake.” quote by Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ba/melinda-leigh-34609_decision-making_a-lifetime-of-doing-the-right-thing-coul_539771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ba/melinda-leigh-34609_decision-making_a-lifetime-of-doing-the-right-thing-coul_539771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ba/melinda-leigh-34609_decision-making_a-lifetime-of-doing-the-right-thing-coul_539771.jpg) > ““A lifetime of doing the right thing could be completely obliterated by one lapse in judgment. One mistake.”” [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A single moral failure can erase a lifetime of good deeds, highlighting the fragility of reputation. **In simple terms:** One lapse can ruin a good record. Key Takeaway Guard integrity consistently. Themes ethics reputation integrity consequences morality Mood cautionary thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal decisions - professional conduct - public statements Key Concepts character building risk management trust dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards protect one’s reputation? - How do we recover from a major error? A Different Perspective Social media can amplify mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Doing the right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-right-thing/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Judgment Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment-mistake-4515637/) [Lapse Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lapse-judgment-380168/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Obliterated Lapse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obliterated-lapse-4515638/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) ## Related quotes > [Nobody wants to see someone's life ruined over a small-time lapse in judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/nobody-wants-to-see-someone-s-life-ruined-over-a-small-time-lapse-in/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [A lapse in judgment is not a crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-perez/a-lapse-in-judgment-is-not-a-crime/) [Eddie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-perez/) > [“It's not fair to spend so much time working towards something, only to have someone else's lapse in judgment, poor choice, one mistake, destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-walker/it-s-not-fair-to-spend-so-much-time-working-towards-something-only-to/) [Kristin Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-walker/) > [“one lapse of judgment can quickly create a situation in which only foolish choices are possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/one-lapse-of-judgment-can-quickly-create-a-situation-in-which-only/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“success is about doing the right thing, not about doing everything right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-keller/success-is-about-doing-the-right-thing-not-about-doing-everything/) [Gary Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-keller/) > [Being trustworthy requires: Doing the right thing. And doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-peppers/being-trustworthy-requires-doing-the-right-thing-and-doing-things/) [Don Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-peppers/) > [“What sort of man could you love for a lifetime?" he asked her. She was silent for a while. He guessed that she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/what-sort-of-man-could-you-love-for-a-lifetime-he-asked-her-she-was/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [ \[If\] we can celebrate that in a way that celebrates our love for New England as well as our love for the Italian culture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/if-we-can-celebrate-that-in-a-way-that-celebrates-our-love-for-new/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [Doing the right thing at all costs is an absolute, and only a sith deals in absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/doing-the-right-thing-at-all-costs-is-an-absolute-and-only-a-sith/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [Sometimes you have to steer away from the crowd in order to be a better person. It's not always easy, that's for sure. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/sometimes-you-have-to-steer-away-from-the-crowd-in-order-to-be-a/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [“Health, peace of mind, peak performance, and success in any area of life all depend upon doing the right thing at the right time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobe-hanson/health-peace-of-mind-peak-performance-and-success-in-any-area-of-life/) [Tobe Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobe-hanson/) > [“Doing the right thing causes us to stand taller, dance more often, and step into life with more confidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patsy-clairmont/doing-the-right-thing-causes-us-to-stand-taller-dance-more-often-and/) [Patsy Clairmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patsy-clairmont/) > [Never let making a profit stand in the way of doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-jenkins/never-let-making-a-profit-stand-in-the-way-of-doing-the-right-thing/) [George W. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-jenkins/) > [You should never be proud of doing the right thing. You should just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/you-should-never-be-proud-of-doing-the-right-thing-you-should-just-do/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [Money will come to you when you are doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phillips/money-will-come-to-you-when-you-are-doing-the-right-thing/) [Michael Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phillips/) ## More by Melinda Leigh > [“Death was final. There was no time for a final kiss or caress, to apologize for a harsh word or argument. The world imploded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-leigh/death-was-final-there-was-no-time-for-a-final-kiss-or-caress-to/) [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) > [“Marriage isn’t about romance. It’s about commitment through the drudgery of everyday life, when the moonlight and roses have turned to sick children and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-leigh/marriage-isn-t-about-romance-it-s-about-commitment-through-the/) [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) > [“You know this whole investigation would be easier if everyone wasn’t lying.” Chapter Twenty-Four”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-leigh/you-know-this-whole-investigation-would-be-easier-if-everyone-wasn-t/) [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) > [“Once you get past the size, horses are OK. They’re like really big, extra-smelly dogs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-leigh/once-you-get-past-the-size-horses-are-ok-they-re-like-really-big/) [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) > [“Alcohol had never helped anyone make better decisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-leigh/alcohol-had-never-helped-anyone-make-better-decisions/) [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) > [“Mr. Magoo was going Rambo on his ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-leigh/mr-magoo-was-going-rambo-on-his-ass/) [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) > [“A dozen guests lined up at the bar in the corner. 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After correcting Steven’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-leigh/sean-glanced-over-at-jack-who-shrugged-his-shoulders-after-correcting/) [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) > [“Animals are good for the soul. Sometimes I wonder if I’m rescuing them or if it’s the other way around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-leigh/animals-are-good-for-the-soul-sometimes-i-wonder-if-i-m-rescuing-them/) [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) > [“I’m glad you’re here,” Morgan said. “I really need to speak with you both.” “In that case, let’s go into my office. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-leigh/i-m-glad-you-re-here-morgan-said-i-really-need-to-speak-with-you-both/) [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) > [“Stalking used to be harder. He read the display on his phone: OFF 4 MY RUN! Thank you, social media, for a generation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-leigh/stalking-used-to-be-harder-he-read-the-display-on-his-phone-off-4-my/) [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) [Explore all 14 Melinda Leigh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) ## More Decision making quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“Slow down your thinking so you can note the criteria you are using to make your decision. 2. Write the criteria down as a principle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/slow-down-your-thinking-so-you-can-note-the-criteria-you-are-using-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [My best business decision was to be independent as a musician and artist. My worst was compromising on certain aspects of a deal for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/my-best-business-decision-was-to-be-independent-as-a-musician-and/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [“Making a decision takes a moment, living a decision takes a life-time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherif-a-el-mawardy/making-a-decision-takes-a-moment-living-a-decision-takes-a-life-time/) [Sherif A. El-Mawardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherif-a-el-mawardy/) > [Cheshvan starts tonight," Rixon said, "What are you doing arsing around in a graveyard?" "Thinking." "Thinking?" "A process by which I use my brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/cheshvan-starts-tonight-rixon-said-what-are-you-doing-arsing-around/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [The right decision is the wrong decision if it's made too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-right-decision-is-the-wrong-decision-if-it-s-made-too-late/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [“The decisions we take reflects our belief and our charachter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnish-borah/the-decisions-we-take-reflects-our-belief-and-our-charachter/) [Rajnish Borah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnish-borah/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) [Browse all 4,912 Decision making quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A lifetime of doing the right thing could be completely obliterated by one lapse in judgment. 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