--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even though we often mess up, most of us…" description: "\"Even though we often mess up, most of us are doing the best that we know how with the circumstances that surround us.\" — Richard Carlson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/richard-carlson-8710_circumstances_even-though-we-often-mess-up-most-of-us_3142619.jpg" --- # Even though we often mess up, most of us are doing the… ![“Even though we often mess up, most of us are doing the best that we know how with the circumstances that surround us.” quote by Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/richard-carlson-8710_circumstances_even-though-we-often-mess-up-most-of-us_3142619.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/richard-carlson-8710_circumstances_even-though-we-often-mess-up-most-of-us_3142619.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/richard-carlson-8710_circumstances_even-though-we-often-mess-up-most-of-us_3142619.jpg) > “Even though we often mess up, most of us are doing the best that we know how with the circumstances that surround us.” [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often make mistakes, yet they generally do their best given their current situation. **In simple terms:** We try our best despite imperfections. Key Takeaway Accept effort over perfection. Themes imperfection effort acceptance Mood supportive realistic Type self-help motivational When to use this quote - daily work - parenting - learning new skills - stressful events Key Concepts psychology self-compassion resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize when effort isn’t enough? - What steps help improve outcomes? A Different Perspective Best effort can still lead to negative outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Circumstances Surround](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances-surround-295175/) [Doing Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-best/) [Know Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-circumstances-5357994/) [Mess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mess/) [Mess Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mess-doing-4246452/) [Surround](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surround/) ## Related quotes > [I mess up so does everyone.WHAT THE HELL!!!WHEN I MESS UP WHY DO I KEEP DOING IT!?!?!Because I'm sooo stupied!!Usually,People would stop but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/i-mess-up-so-does-everyone-what-the-hell-when-i-mess-up-why-do-i-keep/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [You know, circumstances can change, but I'm just not going to let my head go there,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/you-know-circumstances-can-change-but-i-m-just-not-going-to-let-my/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I think there are a lot of circumstances that surround the Clinton family that aren't explainable, and I will let people go on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/i-think-there-are-a-lot-of-circumstances-that-surround-the-clinton/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [The circumstances that surround a man's life are not important. How that man responds to those circumstances IS IMPORTANT. His response is the ultimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-circumstances-that-surround-a-man-s-life-are-not-important-how/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Sometimes doing your best is not good enough. Sometimes you must do what is required.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-doing-your-best-is-not-good-enough-sometimes-you-must-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you are doing best practices, you are not innovating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-levy/if-you-are-doing-best-practices-you-are-not-innovating/) [Jaime Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-levy/) > [If your doing your best, You wont have the time to worry about Failures and Losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-your-doing-your-best-you-wont-have-the-time-to-worry-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Please do not shoot the pianist. He is doing his best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/please-do-not-shoot-the-pianist-he-is-doing-his-best/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I'm out there doing the best that I can, My lip is cut and I'm still playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-m-out-there-doing-the-best-that-i-can-my-lip-is-cut-and-i-m-still/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [All I can do is focus on doing my best work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ryder/all-i-can-do-is-focus-on-doing-my-best-work/) [Sam Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ryder/) > [“I may not be the best... I may even be the worst... But I'm doing my best to be worthy of you...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nerd-seyer/i-may-not-be-the-best-i-may-even-be-the-worst-but-i-m-doing-my-best/) [NerD\_Seyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nerd-seyer/) > [You'll never prove you're too good for a job by not doing your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/you-ll-never-prove-you-re-too-good-for-a-job-by-not-doing-your-best/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [Never confuse looking your best with doing your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/never-confuse-looking-your-best-with-doing-your-best/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [The only features I've done have been on the lower-budget end, for what they were. It's really all about getting the best people aboard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-garris/the-only-features-i-ve-done-have-been-on-the-lower-budget-end-for/) [Mick Garris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-garris/) > [Success lies not in the result but in the effort. BEING the Best is not at all important. DOING the Best is all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabin-shrestha/success-lies-not-in-the-result-but-in-the-effort-being-the-best-is/) [Prabin Shrestha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabin-shrestha/) ## More by Richard Carlson > [...when you let go of your expectations, when you accept life as it is, you're free.To hold on is to be serious and uptight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/when-you-let-go-of-your-expectations-when-you-accept-life-as-it-is/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“I’m merely talking about learning to be less bothered by the actions of people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/i-m-merely-talking-about-learning-to-be-less-bothered-by-the-actions/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“slowing down your responses and becoming a better listeners aids you in becoming a more peaceful person”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/slowing-down-your-responses-and-becoming-a-better-listeners-aids-you/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“Don't sweat the small stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/don-t-sweat-the-small-stuff/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [You are what you practice most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/you-are-what-you-practice-most/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [Life is a process--just one thing after another. When you lose it, just start again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/life-is-a-process-just-one-thing-after-another-when-you-lose-it-just/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [What interferes with this peaceful feeling is our expectation of reciprocity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/what-interferes-with-this-peaceful-feeling-is-our-expectation-of/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [One of the most dynamic and significant changes you can make in your life is to make the commitment to drop all negative references…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/one-of-the-most-dynamic-and-significant-changes-you-can-make-in-your/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [ Minding your own business . . . includes \[avoiding\] eavesdropping, gossiping, talking behind other people's backs, and analyzing or trying to figure out other people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/minding-your-own-business-includes-avoiding-eavesdropping-gossiping/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [If, however, you take a moment to observe how you actually feel immediately after you criticise someone, you'll notice that you will feel a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/if-however-you-take-a-moment-to-observe-how-you-actually-feel/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“In our relationships, weatherproofing typically plays itself out like this: You meet someone and all is well. You are attracted to his or her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/in-our-relationships-weatherproofing-typically-plays-itself-out-like/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“Get Comfortable Not Knowing There once was a village that had among its people a very wise old man. The villagers trusted this man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/get-comfortable-not-knowing-there-once-was-a-village-that-had-among/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [The trick is to be grateful when your mood is high and graceful when it is low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/the-trick-is-to-be-grateful-when-your-mood-is-high-and-graceful-when/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [Retirement can and will be a glorious time in your life. You'll love the freedom and ability to try new things. It's a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/retirement-can-and-will-be-a-glorious-time-in-your-life-you-ll-love/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [If someone throws you the ball, you don't have to catch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/if-someone-throws-you-the-ball-you-don-t-have-to-catch-it/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) [Explore all 78 Richard Carlson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even though we often mess up, most of us are doing the best that we know how with the circumstances that surround us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Carlson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/even-though-we-often-mess-up-most-of-us-are-doing-the-best-that-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circumstances" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/even-though-we-often-mess-up-most-of-us-are-doing-the-best-that-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/richard-carlson-8710_circumstances_even-though-we-often-mess-up-most-of-us_3142619.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/richard-carlson-8710_circumstances_even-though-we-often-mess-up-most-of-us_3142619.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/richard-carlson-8710_circumstances_even-though-we-often-mess-up-most-of-us_3142619.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even though we often mess up, most of us are doing the best that we know how with the circumstances that…” — Richard Carlson", "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": "Richard Carlson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Even though we often mess up,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/even-though-we-often-mess-up-most-of-us-are-doing-the-best-that-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/even-though-we-often-mess-up-most-of-us-are-doing-the-best-that-we/#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 } } ] } ```