--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Apologize when you screw up and focus on…" description: "\"Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people, not on yourself.\" — Randy Pausch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/randy-pausch-842_apologize_apologize-when-you-screw-up-and-focus-on_2687904.png" --- # Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people, not… ![“Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people, not on yourself.” quote by Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/randy-pausch-842_apologize_apologize-when-you-screw-up-and-focus-on_2687904.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/randy-pausch-842_apologize_apologize-when-you-screw-up-and-focus-on_2687904.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/randy-pausch-842_apologize_apologize-when-you-screw-up-and-focus-on_2687904.png) > “Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people, not on yourself.” [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Apologizing sincerely and focusing on others rather than self‑criticism fosters humility and relational repair. **In simple terms:** Apologize sincerely and shift focus outward. Key Takeaway Own mistakes, help others. Themes humility relationships self‑awareness Mood humble constructive Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - teamwork - personal growth Key Concepts psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - When have you prioritized others over self‑criticism? - How does humility affect leadership? A Different Perspective May be hard to practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apologize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologize/) [Apologize Screw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologize-screw-2633476/) [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Childhood dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood-dreams/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focus People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-people/) [Last lecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-lecture/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Screw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screw/) ## Related quotes > [Focus on other people, not on yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/focus-on-other-people-not-on-yourself/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Never underestimate the importance of having fun. I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day because there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/never-underestimate-the-importance-of-having-fun-i-m-dying-and-i-m/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They are there to stop the other people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/the-brick-walls-are-there-to-stop-the-people-who-don-t-want-it-badly/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-m-dying-and-i-m-having-fun-and-i-m-going-to-keep-having-fun-every/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Be good at something. It makes you valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/be-good-at-something-it-makes-you-valuable/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [It's very important to know when you're in a pissing match. And it's very important to get out of it as quickly as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/it-s-very-important-to-know-when-you-re-in-a-pissing-match-and-it-s/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you do the right thing, good stuff has a way of happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-do-the-right-thing-good-stuff-has-a-way-of-happening/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Remember brick walls let us show our dedication. They are there to separate us from the people who don't really want to achieve their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/remember-brick-walls-let-us-show-our-dedication-they-are-there-to/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [There's an academic tradition called the 'Last Lecture.' Hypothetically, if you knew you were going to die and you had one last lecture, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-s-an-academic-tradition-called-the-last-lecture-hypothetically/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/experience-is-often-the-most-valuable-thing-you-have-to-offer/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." The Last Lecture”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/luck-is-what-happens-when-preparation-meets-opportunity-the-last/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“Failure is not just acceptable, it's often essential." The Last Lecture”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/failure-is-not-just-acceptable-it-s-often-essential-the-last-lecture/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [You just have to decide if you're a Tigger or an Eeyore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/you-just-have-to-decide-if-you-re-a-tigger-or-an-eeyore/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you see yourself doing something badly and nobody's bothering to tell you anymore, that's a very bad place to be. Your critics are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-see-yourself-doing-something-badly-and-nobody-s-bothering-to/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## More by Randy Pausch > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-re-frustrated-with-people-when-they-ve-made-you-angry-it/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I was hugely impressed... was the ultimate example of a man who knew what he didn't know, was perfectly willing to admit it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-was-hugely-impressed-was-the-ultimate-example-of-a-man-who-knew/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [There's nothing about my life that I would have changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-s-nothing-about-my-life-that-i-would-have-changed/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Complaining does not work as a strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/complaining-does-not-work-as-a-strategy/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“If other people owe you an apology, and your words of apology to them are proper and heartfelt, you still may not hear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/if-other-people-owe-you-an-apology-and-your-words-of-apology-to-them/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“The brick walls are there for a reason. they're not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/the-brick-walls-are-there-for-a-reason-they-re-not-there-to-keep-us/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [People are more important than things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/people-are-more-important-than-things/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Anyone who knows me well will tell you that arrogance is one of my flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/anyone-who-knows-me-well-will-tell-you-that-arrogance-is-one-of-my/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you do the right thing, good stuff has a way of happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-do-the-right-thing-good-stuff-has-a-way-of-happening/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I don't believe in the no-win scenario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-don-t-believe-in-the-no-win-scenario/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Chemo days make me tired, though it's hard to say that's because of the chemo when you have kids who have inherited their dad's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/chemo-days-make-me-tired-though-it-s-hard-to-say-that-s-because-of/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [And even though I did not reach the National Football League, I sometimes think I got more from pursuing that dream, and not accomplishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/and-even-though-i-did-not-reach-the-national-football-league-i/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [there should be some lessons learned and how you can use the stuff you hear today to achieve your dreams or enable the dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-should-be-some-lessons-learned-and-how-you-can-use-the-stuff/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Explore all 347 Randy Pausch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## More Apologize quotes > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He wished he could somehow go back and find the iPhone people whom he'd jostled on the sidewalk earlier, apologize to them - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-st-john-mandel/he-wished-he-could-somehow-go-back-and-find-the-iphone-people-whom-he/) [Emily St. John Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-st-john-mandel/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) [Elizabeth Tambascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tambascio/) > [“Sorry I wish you could apologize to something you broke and it brings it back to what it was without losing its core I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rania-naim/sorry-i-wish-you-could-apologize-to-something-you-broke-and-it-brings/) [Rania Naim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rania-naim/) > [I'm sorry I want to apologize for being careless and hurting your feelings. Please forgive me ! I'm a jerk your friendship means a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/i-m-sorry-i-want-to-apologize-for-being-careless-and-hurting-your/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [A jerk will keep hurting you then apologize to keep you from leaving them, and then do it all over again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/a-jerk-will-keep-hurting-you-then-apologize-to-keep-you-from-leaving/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [To apologize for what you most wanted to do, to concede that it was obnoxious, boring, 'vulgar and unsafe' --- that was the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hollinghurst/to-apologize-for-what-you-most-wanted-to-do-to-concede-that-it-was/) [Alan Hollinghurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hollinghurst/) > [To truly repent of a big thing, you have to go into it with your heart open and force yourself to deal with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-wilkinson/to-truly-repent-of-a-big-thing-you-have-to-go-into-it-with-your-heart/) [Bruce Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-wilkinson/) > [I would like to publicly apologize to anyone I have NOT offended¦I will get to you shortly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-like-to-publicly-apologize-to-anyone-i-have-not-offended-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have a responsibility, and it's something that I did wrong, and if I could personally apologize to every single person that has lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/i-have-a-responsibility-and-it-s-something-that-i-did-wrong-and-if-i/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [To the millions of Americans whove attempted to use HealthCare.gov to shop and enroll in health-care coverage, I want to apologize to you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-tavenner/to-the-millions-of-americans-whove-attempted-to-use-healthcare-gov-to/) [Marilyn Tavenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-tavenner/) > [“When someone says that it's too late for apologize when you have to do it anyway because it's your duty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-teris-bit-ns/when-someone-says-that-it-s-too-late-for-apologize-when-you-have-to/) [Pēteris Bitāns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-teris-bit-ns/) > [Life is short so, kiss slowly, forgive quickly, and love deeply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney/life-is-short-so-kiss-slowly-forgive-quickly-and-love-deeply/) [Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney/) > [Life is too short to worry about stupid things. Have fun, fall in love, and regret nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/life-is-too-short-to-worry-about-stupid-things-have-fun-fall-in-love/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I ain't never going to apologize for a 21-point win over a state rival, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/i-ain-t-never-going-to-apologize-for-a-21-point-win-over-a-state/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) [Browse all 900 Apologize quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologize/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people, not on yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Randy Pausch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologize-when-you-screw-up-and-focus-on-other-people-not-on-yourself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apologize" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologize-when-you-screw-up-and-focus-on-other-people-not-on-yourself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/randy-pausch-842_apologize_apologize-when-you-screw-up-and-focus-on_2687904.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/randy-pausch-842_apologize_apologize-when-you-screw-up-and-focus-on_2687904.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/randy-pausch-842_apologize_apologize-when-you-screw-up-and-focus-on_2687904.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people, not on yourself.” — Randy Pausch", "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": "Randy Pausch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Apologize when you screw up and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologize-when-you-screw-up-and-focus-on-other-people-not-on-yourself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologize-when-you-screw-up-and-focus-on-other-people-not-on-yourself/#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 } } ] } ```