--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fact remains that getting people…" description: "\"“The fact remains that getting people right is not what living is all about anyway. It's getting them wrong that is living, getting them wrong and wron..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/philip-roth-681_along-for-the-ride_the-fact-remains-that-getting-people-rig_1916625.jpg" --- # The fact remains that getting people right is not what… ![“The fact remains that getting people right is not what living is all about anyway. It's getting them wrong that is living, getting them wrong and wrong and wrong and then, on careful reconsideration, getting them wrong again. That's how we know we're alive: we're wrong. Maybe the best thing would…” quote by Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/philip-roth-681_along-for-the-ride_the-fact-remains-that-getting-people-rig_1916625.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/philip-roth-681_along-for-the-ride_the-fact-remains-that-getting-people-rig_1916625.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/philip-roth-681_along-for-the-ride_the-fact-remains-that-getting-people-rig_1916625.jpg) > ““The fact remains that getting people right is not what living is all about anyway. It's getting them wrong that is living, getting them wrong and wrong and wrong and then, on careful reconsideration, getting them wrong again. That's how we know we're alive: we're wrong. Maybe the best thing would be to forget about being right or wrong about people and just go along for the ride. But if you can do that—well, lucky you.”” [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is about making mistakes with people, not achieving certainty; embracing error is essential. **In simple terms:** Living means making mistakes with others. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection in relationships. Themes error humanity acceptance Mood thoughtful philosophical Type literary reflective When to use this quote - friendships - romantic relationships - family dynamics - career mentorship Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - Can you let go of being right? - What does embracing error teach you? A Different Perspective Constantly seeking rightness can create anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Along for the ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/along-for-the-ride/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Right or wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-or-wrong/) [Wrong people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-people/) ## Related quotes > [The fact remains that getting people right is not what living is all about anyway. 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Always in the wrong, Always, Always doing somthing wrong, Always Always no living to peoples expectations, Well, I live my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theshadowofhell/giving-up-letting-go-always-in-the-wrong-always-always-doing-somthing/) TheShadowOfhell > [“There is Right---and there is Wrong…You do One, and YOU ARE LIVING…You do the Other---and You may be walking around---But---YOU are as Dead as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-american-hero-john-wayne/there-is-right-and-there-is-wrong-you-do-one-and-you-are-living-you/) the - American Hero John Wayne > [“Every time I shot back, What's wrong with living in a dream world? And she'd say, You have to wake up. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/every-time-i-shot-back-what-s-wrong-with-living-in-a-dream-world-and/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [“No, if your life is without pain and anger and desperation then you are living it all wrong. 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But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/maybe-the-best-thing-would-be-to-forget-being-right-or-wrong-about/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“You fight your superficiality, your shallowness, so as to try to come at people without unreal expectations, without an overload of bias or hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/you-fight-your-superficiality-your-shallowness-so-as-to-try-to-come-2/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“You fight your superficiality, your shallowness, so as to try to come at people without unreal expectations, without an overload of bias or hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/you-fight-your-superficiality-your-shallowness-so-as-to-try-to-come/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [There is no real excellence in all this word which can be separated from right living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-this-word-which-can-be-separated/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) ## More by Philip Roth > [“The old intergenerational give-and-take of the country-that-used-to-be, when everyone knew his role and took the rules dead seriously, the acculturating back-and-forth that all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-old-intergenerational-give-and-take-of-the-country-that-used-to/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [You be greater than your feelings. I don't demand this of you - life does. Otherwise you'll be washed away by feelings. You'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/you-be-greater-than-your-feelings-i-don-t-demand-this-of-you-life/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Nothing bad can happen to a writer. Everything is material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/nothing-bad-can-happen-to-a-writer-everything-is-material/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. 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The English language is a form of communication! Conversation isn't just crossfire where you shoot and get shot at! Where you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/my-god-the-english-language-is-a-form-of-communication-conversation/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [You asked if I thought my fiction had changed anything in the culture and the answer is no. Sure, there's been some scandal, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/you-asked-if-i-thought-my-fiction-had-changed-anything-in-the-culture/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) [Explore all 388 Philip Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) ## More Along for the ride quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“It's never fifty-fifty in a marriage. 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Simply put, Life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-hussain/life-isn-t-a-roller-coaster-it-isn-t-unexpected-or-surprising-it-s/) Bilal Hussain > [I'm a storyteller... I haves a God-given gift that I can share with you and perhaps entertain you and bring you along for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-m-a-storyteller-i-haves-a-god-given-gift-that-i-can-share-with-you/) [Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/) > [“Then he picks up the first book and holds it so Peter can read the title. I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This Peter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/then-he-picks-up-the-first-book-and-holds-it-so-peter-can-read-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [ I was lucky to come along for the ride. \[My mother\] really is an amazing woman. 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