---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are unable to admit your mistakes…"
description: "\"“If you are unable to admit your mistakes, you cannot expect others to forgive them. Be honest and sincere, there is no shame in that.”\" — Shelley K. Wall"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd0/shelley-k-wall-28799_failure_if-you-are-unable-to-admit-your-mistakes_2036423.jpg"
---

#  If you are unable to admit your mistakes, you cannot…

![“If you are unable to admit your mistakes, you cannot expect others to forgive them. Be honest and sincere, there is no shame in that.” quote by Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd0/shelley-k-wall-28799_failure_if-you-are-unable-to-admit-your-mistakes_2036423.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd0/shelley-k-wall-28799_failure_if-you-are-unable-to-admit-your-mistakes_2036423.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd0/shelley-k-wall-28799_failure_if-you-are-unable-to-admit-your-mistakes_2036423.jpg)

> ““If you are unable to admit your mistakes, you cannot expect others to forgive them. Be honest and sincere, there is no shame in that.””

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Admitting mistakes builds trust and invites forgiveness; honesty is essential.

**In simple terms:** Own mistakes to earn trust.

Key Takeaway

Practice honest self‑assessment.

Themes

honesty trust forgiveness

Mood

introspective empathetic

Type

ethical motivational

When to use this quote

- Team meetings
- conflict resolution
- personal growth

Key Concepts

Ethics emotional intelligence

Questions to Reflect On

- How does honesty affect team dynamics?
- What barriers prevent you from admitting fault?

A Different Perspective

Admitting errors may expose vulnerability; manage perception.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Admit Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admit-mistakes/) [Expect Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect-forgive-1649938/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive/) [Forgive Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-honest-793143/) [Honest And Sincere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-and-sincere/) [Honest Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-shame-2084012/)

## Related quotes

> [I will be honest, and I have no shame in saying that after 'Kai Po Che!', I did not get chances. Some people didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-sadh/i-will-be-honest-and-i-have-no-shame-in-saying-that-after-kai-po-che/)

[Amit Sadh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-sadh/)

> [U walked out thinkin that u had chose the best, And I was left behind to pick up da pieces u left, I gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe/u-walked-out-thinkin-that-u-had-chose-the-best-and-i-was-left-behind/)

[Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe/)

> [You did it once. You did it twice. You did it again and again, over and over, and still, you expect me to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-hope/you-did-it-once-you-did-it-twice-you-did-it-again-and-again-over-and/)

[Amber Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-hope/)

> [Everyone makes mistakes in life. If you can't forgive others, don't expect others to forgive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-barroa/everyone-makes-mistakes-in-life-if-you-can-t-forgive-others-don-t/)

[Faith Barroa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-barroa/)

> [The public will forgive you almost anything if you're honest about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/the-public-will-forgive-you-almost-anything-if-you-re-honest-about-it/)

[Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/)

> [Speak the truth. People will forgive an honest mistake; they won't forgive you if you lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goulston/speak-the-truth-people-will-forgive-an-honest-mistake-they-won-t/)

[Mark Goulston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goulston/)

> [How can I repay you brother mine? How can I expect you to forgive? Clinging to the past I shed our blood, and shattered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brotherspart-1/how-can-i-repay-you-brother-mine-how-can-i-expect-you-to-forgive/)

[Brotherspart 1](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brotherspart-1/)

> [Everyone makes mistakes. If you cant forgive others, dont expect others to forgive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-makes-mistakes-if-you-cant-forgive-others-dont-expect-others/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everyone makes mistakes. If you can't forgive others, then don't expect others to forgive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-makes-mistakes-if-you-can-t-forgive-others-then-don-t-expect/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Luck and being honest and sincere about work has worked for me and helped me reach where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/luck-and-being-honest-and-sincere-about-work-has-worked-for-me-and/)

[Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/)

> [I must be sincere towards what I am. ... Experimenting is the only thing that fills me with enthusiasm. ... It is the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-must-be-sincere-towards-what-i-am-experimenting-is-the-only-thing/)

[Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/)

> [“There are few people who are mature enough to uphold moral and ethical values; who have a remarkable character; who are honest and sincere;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandeep-n-tripathi/there-are-few-people-who-are-mature-enough-to-uphold-moral-and/)

[Sandeep N. Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandeep-n-tripathi/)

> [Honest and sincere acts mislead the wicked and cause them to lose their path to their own goals, because mean-spirited people usually believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/honest-and-sincere-acts-mislead-the-wicked-and-cause-them-to-lose/)

[Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/)

> [Most important, you learn never to trust a man, even if he seems honest and sincere. You learn how men deceive themselves and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abbott/most-important-you-learn-never-to-trust-a-man-even-if-he-seems-honest/)

[Jack Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abbott/)

> [In a Nutshell - Fundamental Techniques In Handling People; Principle 1 - Don't criticize, condemn or complain; Principle 2 - Give honest and sincere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/in-a-nutshell-fundamental-techniques-in-handling-people-principle-1/)

[Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/)

## More by Shelley K. Wall

> [“Every person that comes into your life leaves a footprint. You can choose the depth of it but you cannot ignore it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/every-person-that-comes-into-your-life-leaves-a-footprint-you-can/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“Humility is a wonderful character trait. It ensures your head and heart go through the door before your ass does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/humility-is-a-wonderful-character-trait-it-ensures-your-head-and/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“How can I be more important than someone else? Isn’t every life important?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/how-can-i-be-more-important-than-someone-else-isn-t-every-life/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“Never strive to be part of the norm. If people think you strange...CELEBRATE. Normal people try way to hard to please others and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/never-strive-to-be-part-of-the-norm-if-people-think-you-strange/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“You cannot force someone to think like you, and why would you want to? It would be like having a conversation with yourself. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/you-cannot-force-someone-to-think-like-you-and-why-would-you-want-to/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“From Flood, Flash, and Pheromones--coming soon: In the torrential downpour with water swirling that threatened to pull her down, she didn’t see the voice’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/from-flood-flash-and-pheromones-coming-soon-in-the-torrential/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“He had always liked a good mess—God knows he had sure made a few. In typical form, he squared his shoulders, furrowed his brows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/he-had-always-liked-a-good-mess-god-knows-he-had-sure-made-a-few-in/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“Don't be the guy that sat spouting how greatly succesful he was to a random stranger at the airport only to find out later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/don-t-be-the-guy-that-sat-spouting-how-greatly-succesful-he-was-to-a/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“From Chloe's Secret--coming soon “What are you saying?” “I’m saying I want to have a relationship with you. I want to love you.” “Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/from-chloe-s-secret-coming-soon-what-are-you-saying-i-m-saying-i-want/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream. -- Author unknown”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/there-is-no-telling-how-many-miles-you-will-have-to-run-while-chasing-2/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“Your dad said to tell you that just because you haven’t been inside the big guy’s door for a while, it doesn’t mean he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/your-dad-said-to-tell-you-that-just-because-you-haven-t-been-inside/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“If you always do what you've done before, you will always get what you had, not more...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/if-you-always-do-what-you-ve-done-before-you-will-always-get-what-you/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“I have been known to walk away from something simply on principle...and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/i-have-been-known-to-walk-away-from-something-simply-on-principle-and/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“People can accuse you of anything but that isn't who you are. It means nothing. Accusations don't make a person, actions do. Make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/people-can-accuse-you-of-anything-but-that-isn-t-who-you-are-it-means/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

> [“From Flood, Flash, and Pheromones--coming soon: As Cassie’s body hurled toward him in the swirl, she realized the brevity of the situation. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/from-flood-flash-and-pheromones-coming-soon-as-cassie-s-body-hurled/)

[Shelley K. Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

[Explore all 19 Shelley K. Wall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/)

## 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. 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/)

> [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/)

[Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/)

> [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. 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": "“If you are unable to admit your mistakes, you cannot expect others to forgive them. Be honest and sincere, there is no shame in that.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shelley K. Wall"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/if-you-are-unable-to-admit-your-mistakes-you-cannot-expect-others-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Failure"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/if-you-are-unable-to-admit-your-mistakes-you-cannot-expect-others-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd0/shelley-k-wall-28799_failure_if-you-are-unable-to-admit-your-mistakes_2036423.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd0/shelley-k-wall-28799_failure_if-you-are-unable-to-admit-your-mistakes_2036423.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd0/shelley-k-wall-28799_failure_if-you-are-unable-to-admit-your-mistakes_2036423.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you are unable to admit your mistakes, you cannot expect others to forgive them. Be honest and sincere…” — Shelley K. Wall",
                "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": "Shelley K. Wall",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-k-wall/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If you are unable to admit...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/if-you-are-unable-to-admit-your-mistakes-you-cannot-expect-others-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-k-wall/if-you-are-unable-to-admit-your-mistakes-you-cannot-expect-others-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
