--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've done some things I wish I could…" description: "\"I've done some things I wish I could erase. . . . I invented mistakes. But the mistakes must be seen in context, and they must be weighed along with th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/sammy-davis-jr-9783_done_i-ve-done-some-things-i-wish-i-could-era_1430716.png" --- # I've done some things I wish I could erase. . . . I… ![“I've done some things I wish I could erase. . . . I invented mistakes. But the mistakes must be seen in context, and they must be weighed along with the positives.” quote by Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/sammy-davis-jr-9783_done_i-ve-done-some-things-i-wish-i-could-era_1430716.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/sammy-davis-jr-9783_done_i-ve-done-some-things-i-wish-i-could-era_1430716.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/sammy-davis-jr-9783_done_i-ve-done-some-things-i-wish-i-could-era_1430716.png) > “I've done some things I wish I could erase. . . . I invented mistakes. But the mistakes must be seen in context, and they must be weighed along with the positives.” [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mistakes are inevitable; evaluating them alongside achievements provides balanced perspective. **In simple terms:** Mistakes happen; weigh them with positives. Key Takeaway Balance reflection on errors with successes. Themes mistakes reflection balance growth Mood thoughtful reflective encouraging Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - career review - personal development - learning from errors - celebrating successes - making decisions Key Concepts self‑assessment learning contextual evaluation Questions to Reflect On - What lesson did you learn? - How can you prevent similar errors? A Different Perspective Focusing on positives may downplay serious consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [I think we all wish we could erase some dark times in our lives. But all of life's experiences, bad and good, make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-miguel/i-think-we-all-wish-we-could-erase-some-dark-times-in-our-lives-but/) [Luis Miguel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-miguel/) > [It is up to the leader to create a healthy environment where people are not afraid to fail. Mistakes should be seen as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-harvey/it-is-up-to-the-leader-to-create-a-healthy-environment-where-people/) [Andrew Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-harvey/) > [Its ironic, that you ask someone a question and you nag for the answer but when you get it you just wish you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-leah/its-ironic-that-you-ask-someone-a-question-and-you-nag-for-the-answer/) [Jamie-Leah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-leah/) > [Our love is like a pencil; It could get strong or it could break, I wish it would erase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-santos/our-love-is-like-a-pencil-it-could-get-strong-or-it-could-break-i/) Mariah Santos > [Wish I could be over you. Wish I could erase all the memories we had together. Wish I could pretend WE never happened. Wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wish-i-could-be-over-you-wish-i-could-erase-all-the-memories-we-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is not important NOT to make mistakes, but the mistakes to be small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/it-is-not-important-not-to-make-mistakes-but-the-mistakes-to-be-small/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [The key question companies need to address is not 'Should we make mistakes?' but rather 'Which mistakes should we make in order to test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-h-schoemaker/the-key-question-companies-need-to-address-is-not-should-we-make/) [Paul J. H. Schoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-j-h-schoemaker/) > [“Your life is like a book you decide what to write on it or erase from it; But you might not be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/topsy-gift/your-life-is-like-a-book-you-decide-what-to-write-on-it-or-erase-from/) [Topsy Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/topsy-gift/) > [It's always helpful to learn from your mistakes because then your mistakes seem worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-marshall/it-s-always-helpful-to-learn-from-your-mistakes-because-then-your/) [Garry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-marshall/) > [Don't spend too much time worrying about your mistakes. Mistakes become experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-spend-too-much-time-worrying-about-your-mistakes-mistakes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Brilliant people do not make mistakes BUT mistakes make brilliant people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/brilliant-people-do-not-make-mistakes-but-mistakes-make-brilliant/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't be afraid of it if have some mistakes. Mistakes are natural because you are just a man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-teris-bit-ns/don-t-be-afraid-of-it-if-have-some-mistakes-mistakes-are-natural/) [Pēteris Bitāns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-teris-bit-ns/) > [Without imperfections, there would be no mistakes. Without mistakes, there would be no way to learn and grow. Without learning and growing life would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-imperfections-there-would-be-no-mistakes-without-mistakes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Instruction does not prevent wasted time or mistakes; and mistakes themselves are often the best teachers of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/instruction-does-not-prevent-wasted-time-or-mistakes-and-mistakes/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [In My Life I Have Made Many Mistakes & Because Of My Mistakes I Learned From Them & I Am Where I Am Today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-rivera/in-my-life-i-have-made-many-mistakes-because-of-my-mistakes-i-learned/) [Maria Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-rivera/) ## More by Sammy Davis, Jr > [After I decided to become a Jew, only then did I learn that the Jews don't have all the money. When I found out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/after-i-decided-to-become-a-jew-only-then-did-i-learn-that-the-jews/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [Alcohol gives you infinite patience for stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/alcohol-gives-you-infinite-patience-for-stupidity/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [I don't have many easy songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/i-don-t-have-many-easy-songs/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [My home has always been show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/my-home-has-always-been-show-business/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [Everything Michael Jackson does on stage is exactly right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/everything-michael-jackson-does-on-stage-is-exactly-right/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [There's nothing that can match Broadway for stature and dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/there-s-nothing-that-can-match-broadway-for-stature-and-dignity/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [Being in public with May and the children was too heavy. I was irreversibly tuned in to everyone around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/being-in-public-with-may-and-the-children-was-too-heavy-i-was/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > ["The Entertainer" He did it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/the-entertainer-he-did-it-all/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [Most orgies that you go to, I have found, most of it is sad. All that wildness, all those laughs were like the shining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/most-orgies-that-you-go-to-i-have-found-most-of-it-is-sad-all-that/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [During three decades, along all the highways of my youth, Frank had always been there for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/during-three-decades-along-all-the-highways-of-my-youth-frank-had/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [There are certain romances that belong in certain cities, in a certain atmosphere, in a certain time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/there-are-certain-romances-that-belong-in-certain-cities-in-a-certain/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [Reality is never as bad as a nightmare, as the mental tortures we inflict on ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-as-the-mental-tortures-we/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [I hadn't been in Vegas 20 minutes when I got word that the bookmakers were offering three to one that Frank wouldn't show for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/i-hadn-t-been-in-vegas-20-minutes-when-i-got-word-that-the-bookmakers/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [Once I get outside my house in the morning, I'm on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/once-i-get-outside-my-house-in-the-morning-i-m-on/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [I'd learned a lot in the Army. I knew that above all things in the world I had to become so big, so strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/i-d-learned-a-lot-in-the-army-i-knew-that-above-all-things-in-the/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) [Explore all 70 Sammy Davis, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. 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But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. 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