--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We had made the error of staying small –…" description: "\"“We had made the error of staying small – and there is no more unforgivable crime in America.”\" — Pat Conroy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/pat-conroy-768_ambition_we-had-made-the-error-of-staying-small-a_546925.jpg" --- # We had made the error of staying small – and there is no… ![“We had made the error of staying small – and there is no more unforgivable crime in America.” quote by Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/pat-conroy-768_ambition_we-had-made-the-error-of-staying-small-a_546925.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/pat-conroy-768_ambition_we-had-made-the-error-of-staying-small-a_546925.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/pat-conroy-768_ambition_we-had-made-the-error-of-staying-small-a_546925.jpg) > ““We had made the error of staying small – and there is no more unforgivable crime in America.”” [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that complacency and maintaining a small scope can be a grave moral failing in a society that values ambition. **In simple terms:** Staying small is a serious moral error. Key Takeaway Aim for growth and larger impact. Themes ambition morality societal responsibility Mood reflective serious Type critical ethical When to use this quote - business expansion - political activism - community leadership - career advancement Key Concepts ethical responsibility personal development Questions to Reflect On - How does staying small affect your community? - What risks arise from unchecked ambition? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on growth can overlook ethical considerations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Materialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materialism/) [Unforgivable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unforgivable/) ## Related quotes > [The unforgivable crime is soft hitting. 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People who win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/no-matter-what-people-grow-if-you-chose-not-to-grow-you-re-staying-in/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [Between 1999 and 2009, the people of Baltimore achieved the greatest reduction in crime of America's largest cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/between-1999-and-2009-the-people-of-baltimore-achieved-the-greatest/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [The tragedy is that the police and inner city communities should be allies. Who suffers most from violent crime in America? Inner city communities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/the-tragedy-is-that-the-police-and-inner-city-communities-should-be/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [It is no secret that organized crime in America takes in over forty billion dollars a year. This is quite a profitable sum, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/it-is-no-secret-that-organized-crime-in-america-takes-in-over-forty/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [We've directed the creation of a task force for reducing violent crime in America, including the horrendous situation - take a look at Chicago…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-ve-directed-the-creation-of-a-task-force-for-reducing-violent/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Organized crime in America takes in over forty billion dollars a year and spends very little on office supplies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/organized-crime-in-america-takes-in-over-forty-billion-dollars-a-year/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Your unforgivable sins do not allow you to see my splendor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/your-unforgivable-sins-do-not-allow-you-to-see-my-splendor/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“Innocence might be its own reward, but when it boardered on naivete, if not stupidity, it was unforgivable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-aston/innocence-might-be-its-own-reward-but-when-it-boardered-on-naivete-if/) [Elizabeth Aston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-aston/) > [I read recently in an article by G.K. Chesterton, that sex without gestation and parturition is like blowing the trumpets and waving the flags…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/i-read-recently-in-an-article-by-g-k-chesterton-that-sex-without/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [All you have done is to be different from other women and you have made a little success of it. This is unforgivable sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/all-you-have-done-is-to-be-different-from-other-women-and-you-have/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [People have no morals, I swear to God. The things that people do for ratings! It's unforgivable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/people-have-no-morals-i-swear-to-god-the-things-that-people-do-for/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [As long as we hold unforgivable thoughts in our mind, we will not be able to experience total inner peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-jampolsky/as-long-as-we-hold-unforgivable-thoughts-in-our-mind-we-will-not-be/) [Gerald Jampolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-jampolsky/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) ## More by Pat Conroy > [A recipe is a story that ends with a good meal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/a-recipe-is-a-story-that-ends-with-a-good-meal/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [Except for memory, time would have no meaning at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/except-for-memory-time-would-have-no-meaning-at-all/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [It's an article of faith that the novels I've loved will live inside me forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/it-s-an-article-of-faith-that-the-novels-i-ve-loved-will-live-inside/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [“my folks wouldn't read a book if you put a gun to their dicks. but they read people all day long and always get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/my-folks-wouldn-t-read-a-book-if-you-put-a-gun-to-their-dicks-but/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [Cameras are a lifesaver for very shy people who have nowhere else to hide. Behind a lens they can disguise the fact that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/cameras-are-a-lifesaver-for-very-shy-people-who-have-nowhere-else-to/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [Carolina beach music," Dupree said, coming up on the porch. "The holiest sound on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/carolina-beach-music-dupree-said-coming-up-on-the-porch-the-holiest/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [“My memory often seems like a city of exiled poets afire with the astonishment of language, each believing in the integrity of his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/my-memory-often-seems-like-a-city-of-exiled-poets-afire-with-the/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [“We began our life together at a moment of natural self-pity and defeat that left an inimitable impression on both of us. 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A good book sings a a timeless music that is heard in the choir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/i-have-built-a-city-from-the-books-i-ve-read-a-good-book-sings-a-a/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [“Time moves funny and it's hard to pin down. Occasionally, time offers you a hundred opportunities to do the right thing. Sometimes, it gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/time-moves-funny-and-it-s-hard-to-pin-down-occasionally-time-offers/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [“I take it as an article of faith that the novels I've loved will live inside me forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/i-take-it-as-an-article-of-faith-that-the-novels-i-ve-loved-will-live/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) [Explore all 371 Pat Conroy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We had made the error of staying small – and there is no more unforgivable crime in America.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pat Conroy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/we-had-made-the-error-of-staying-small-and-there-is-no-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/we-had-made-the-error-of-staying-small-and-there-is-no-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/pat-conroy-768_ambition_we-had-made-the-error-of-staying-small-a_546925.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/pat-conroy-768_ambition_we-had-made-the-error-of-staying-small-a_546925.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c70/pat-conroy-768_ambition_we-had-made-the-error-of-staying-small-a_546925.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We had made the error of staying small – and there is no more unforgivable crime in America.” — Pat Conroy", "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": "Pat Conroy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We had made the error of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/we-had-made-the-error-of-staying-small-and-there-is-no-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/we-had-made-the-error-of-staying-small-and-there-is-no-more/#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 } } ] } ```