--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only the second-rate never make mistakes." description: "\"“Only the second-rate never make mistakes.”\" — Peter Goldsworthy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/peter-goldsworthy-69969_failure_only-the-second-rate-never-make-mistakes_2410371.png" --- # Only the second-rate never make mistakes. ![“Only the second-rate never make mistakes.” quote by Peter Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/peter-goldsworthy-69969_failure_only-the-second-rate-never-make-mistakes_2410371.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/peter-goldsworthy-69969_failure_only-the-second-rate-never-make-mistakes_2410371.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/peter-goldsworthy-69969_failure_only-the-second-rate-never-make-mistakes_2410371.png) > ““Only the second-rate never make mistakes.”” [Peter Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-goldsworthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only those who accept their own mediocrity avoid learning from errors, while striving for excellence invites growth. **In simple terms:** Mistakes are signs of effort and learning. Key Takeaway Embrace errors as learning tools. Themes growth excellence learning humility Mood reflective motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - education - career advancement - creative projects - team collaboration Key Concepts self-awareness resilience continuous improvement Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a mistake into a learning opportunity? - What safeguards help you learn without fear? A Different Perspective Mistakes can damage reputation if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Make mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-mistakes/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rate/) [Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second/) [Second rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-rate/) ## Related quotes > [Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself-and-not-a-second-rate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If a company is second rate, the logo will eventually be perceived as second rate. It is foolhardy to believe that a logo will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rand/if-a-company-is-second-rate-the-logo-will-eventually-be-perceived-as/) [Paul Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rand/) > [Be the first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherry-forever/be-the-first-rate-version-of-yourself-not-a-second-rate-version-of/) [Cherry Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherry-forever/) > [Oh honey... Don't hate. It's not my fault you're second rate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/oh-honey-don-t-hate-it-s-not-my-fault-you-re-second-rate/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [I never tried to emulate my father. Anyone trying to do that would be a second-rate carbon copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-fairbanks-jr/i-never-tried-to-emulate-my-father-anyone-trying-to-do-that-would-be/) [Douglas Fairbanks, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-fairbanks-jr/) > [I knew Id always be a second-rate academic, and I thought, Well, Id rather be a second-rate novelist or even a third-rate one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/i-knew-id-always-be-a-second-rate-academic-and-i-thought-well-id/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [It is always the sign of the second-rate man when the decision merely meets the present situation. It is the left-over in a decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/it-is-always-the-sign-of-the-second-rate-man-when-the-decision-merely/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [A fine marksman is with a second rate rifle is far more effective than the reverse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/a-fine-marksman-is-with-a-second-rate-rifle-is-far-more-effective/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [He must understand that if he is the world's finest plum and someone he loves does not like plums, he has the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/he-must-understand-that-if-he-is-the-world-s-finest-plum-and-someone/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [If an enterprise does not aspire to be the best of its kind, it will attract second-rate employees, and it will be soon forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/if-an-enterprise-does-not-aspire-to-be-the-best-of-its-kind-it-will/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Love is like those second-rate hotels where all the luxury is in the lobby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-jean-toulet/love-is-like-those-second-rate-hotels-where-all-the-luxury-is-in-the/) [Paul-Jean Toulet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-jean-toulet/) > [It is a melancholy experience for a professional mathematician to find himself writing about mathematics. The function of a mathematician is to do something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/it-is-a-melancholy-experience-for-a-professional-mathematician-to/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [Why in the hell do journalists insist on coming up with a second rate Freudian evaluation on my lyrics when 90% of the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/why-in-the-hell-do-journalists-insist-on-coming-up-with-a-second-rate/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [“Nothing is more painful to me than the disdain with which people treat second-rate authors, as if there were room only for the first-raters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/nothing-is-more-painful-to-me-than-the-disdain-with-which-people/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) ## More by Peter Goldsworthy > [“Even the stars we see are only a kind of memory, already dead for years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-goldsworthy/even-the-stars-we-see-are-only-a-kind-of-memory-already-dead-for-years/) [Peter Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-goldsworthy/) > [We must know when to move on. To search too long for perfection can also paralyse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-goldsworthy/we-must-know-when-to-move-on-to-search-too-long-for-perfection-can/) [Peter Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-goldsworthy/) > [“I never hear you practice." He smiled: "Only those who are dirty need to wash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-goldsworthy/i-never-hear-you-practice-he-smiled-only-those-who-are-dirty-need-to/) [Peter Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-goldsworthy/) [Explore all 4 Peter Goldsworthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-goldsworthy/) ## 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. 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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": "“Only the second-rate never make mistakes.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Goldsworthy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-goldsworthy/only-the-second-rate-never-make-mistakes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-goldsworthy/only-the-second-rate-never-make-mistakes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/peter-goldsworthy-69969_failure_only-the-second-rate-never-make-mistakes_2410371.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/peter-goldsworthy-69969_failure_only-the-second-rate-never-make-mistakes_2410371.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/peter-goldsworthy-69969_failure_only-the-second-rate-never-make-mistakes_2410371.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only the second-rate never make mistakes.” — Peter Goldsworthy", "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": "Peter Goldsworthy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-goldsworthy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Only the second-rate never make mistakes.”", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-goldsworthy/only-the-second-rate-never-make-mistakes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-goldsworthy/only-the-second-rate-never-make-mistakes/#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 } } ] } ```