--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can learn great things from your…" description: "\"You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.\" — Stephen Covey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/stephen-covey-339_busy_you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mis_2585944.png" --- # You can learn great things from your mistakes when you… ![“You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/stephen-covey-339_busy_you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mis_2585944.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/stephen-covey-339_busy_you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mis_2585944.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/stephen-covey-339_busy_you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mis_2585944.png) > “You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mistakes become lessons when we acknowledge them instead of ignoring them. **In simple terms:** Admitting errors teaches valuable lessons. Key Takeaway Embrace errors, learn, improve. Themes growth learning self-awareness Mood reflective motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - leadership - conflict resolution - teamwork - coaching Key Concepts psychology reflection humility Questions to Reflect On - What mistake have you been avoiding? - How can acknowledging errors improve your decisions? A Different Perspective Denial can prevent growth and repeat failures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn/) [Learn Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-great-327805/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Mistakes Aren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes-aren-363187/) [Things Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-mistakes-271952/) ## Related quotes > [You can learn great things from your mistakes when you arent busy denying them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mistakes-when-you-arent-busy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren't busy denying them. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mistakes-when-you-aren-t-busy/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [I learned to laugh at myself a little more, and I realized that beautiful things can be made out of mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-durance/i-learned-to-laugh-at-myself-a-little-more-and-i-realized-that/) [Erica Durance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-durance/) > [I have learned all kinds of things from my many mistakes. The one thing I never learn to stop making them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/i-have-learned-all-kinds-of-things-from-my-many-mistakes-the-one/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [I did many stupid things. I made many mistakes, but I learnt from everything. I still make mistakes; I still learn from them. Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/i-did-many-stupid-things-i-made-many-mistakes-but-i-learnt-from/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [I have a theory that the only original things we ever do are mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-have-a-theory-that-the-only-original-things-we-ever-do-are-mistakes/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [You can discover great things through 'mistakes.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-bridges/you-can-discover-great-things-through-mistakes/) [Jordan Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-bridges/) > [“How could we have learn a better way of doing things, if we had never made mistakes?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/how-could-we-have-learn-a-better-way-of-doing-things-if-we-had-never/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Sometimes we don't understand right away why things happen. Sometimes we never understand. But that doesn't mean those things are mistakes." ~ Jake Samuels”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-manners/sometimes-we-don-t-understand-right-away-why-things-happen-sometimes/) [Mary Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-manners/) > [“most people interpret this assertion is that mistakes are a necessary evil. Mistakes aren’t a necessary evil. They aren’t evil at all. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/most-people-interpret-this-assertion-is-that-mistakes-are-a-necessary/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [You have to make mistakes to find out who you aren’t.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/you-have-to-make-mistakes-to-find-out-who-you-aren-t/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [It took me a long time to learn that mistakes aren't good or bad, they're just mistakes, and you clean them up and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaye-gibbons/it-took-me-a-long-time-to-learn-that-mistakes-aren-t-good-or-bad-they/) [Kaye Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaye-gibbons/) > [If you aren't making any mistakes, you aren't innovating. If you're making the same mistakes, you aren't learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-you-aren-t-making-any-mistakes-you-aren-t-innovating-if-you-re/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [You can't go back and change everything because it is incredibly expensive to do. You just have to learn to live with your mistakes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/you-can-t-go-back-and-change-everything-because-it-is-incredibly/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [I have found that I always learn more from my mistakes than from my successes. If you aren't making some mistakes, you aren't taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sculley/i-have-found-that-i-always-learn-more-from-my-mistakes-than-from-my/) [John Sculley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sculley/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) [Victoria Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-derbyshire/) > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) [The Shawshank Redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-shawshank-redemption/) [Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mistakes-when-you-aren-t-busy-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Busy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mistakes-when-you-aren-t-busy-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/stephen-covey-339_busy_you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mis_2585944.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/stephen-covey-339_busy_you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mis_2585944.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/stephen-covey-339_busy_you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mis_2585944.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.” — Stephen Covey", "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": "Stephen Covey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can learn great things from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mistakes-when-you-aren-t-busy-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mistakes-when-you-aren-t-busy-2/#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 } } ] } ```