--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my experience, the public will forgive…" description: "\"In my experience, the public will forgive mistakes, provided they are acknowledged promptly and a remedial course of action is articulated. Lawyers oft..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/steven-fink-37682_action_in-my-experience-the-public-will-forgive_2649795.jpg" --- # In my experience, the public will forgive mistakes… ![“In my experience, the public will forgive mistakes, provided they are acknowledged promptly and a remedial course of action is articulated. Lawyers often get in the way of this, which is a subject I cover in my book: how to deal with obstructionist lawyers in a crisis.” quote by Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/steven-fink-37682_action_in-my-experience-the-public-will-forgive_2649795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/steven-fink-37682_action_in-my-experience-the-public-will-forgive_2649795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/steven-fink-37682_action_in-my-experience-the-public-will-forgive_2649795.jpg) > “In my experience, the public will forgive mistakes, provided they are acknowledged promptly and a remedial course of action is articulated. Lawyers often get in the way of this, which is a subject I cover in my book: how to deal with obstructionist lawyers in a crisis.” [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public forgiveness follows prompt acknowledgment and clear remedial plans; lawyers can hinder this process. **In simple terms:** Admit mistakes quickly and act. Key Takeaway Prioritize transparency and swift corrective action. Themes public relations law crisis management communication ethics Mood strategic concerned Type professional practical When to use this quote - media statements - press releases - legal counsel coordination - stakeholder outreach - policy revision Key Concepts accountability remediation strategies legal obstruction reputation repair Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations streamline legal review? - What communication tactics rebuild trust fastest? A Different Perspective Legal complexities may delay response. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Forgive Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-mistakes-257797/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Mistakes Provided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes-provided-1044173/) [Obstructionist Lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstructionist-lawyers-2341164/) [Public Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-forgive-257795/) ## Related quotes > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wriggle and weasel out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not-2/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [Do not be afraid of mistakes, provided you do not make the same one twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/do-not-be-afraid-of-mistakes-provided-you-do-not-make-the-same-one/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [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/) > [If it is committed in the name of God or country, there is no crime so heinous that the public will not forgive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/if-it-is-committed-in-the-name-of-god-or-country-there-is-no-crime-so/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The public will not forgive us if their wish to leave is subject to a bitter and a divisive Conservative Party leadership race between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priti-patel/the-public-will-not-forgive-us-if-their-wish-to-leave-is-subject-to-a/) [Priti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priti-patel/) > [I think it's harder to forgive ourselves for mistakes that we made because we keep dwelling on it. We want to know how it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherri-shepherd/i-think-it-s-harder-to-forgive-ourselves-for-mistakes-that-we-made/) [Sherri Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherri-shepherd/) > [It is one thing to make a mistake, and quite another thing not to admit it. People will forgive mistakes, because mistakes are usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/it-is-one-thing-to-make-a-mistake-and-quite-another-thing-not-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [God please forgive my mistakes and give me wisdom to learn how to not repeat them anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-please-forgive-my-mistakes-and-give-me-wisdom-to-learn-how-to-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I know, I am not a perfect person, I make a lot of mistakes. But I can improve myself. I can start by apologizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/titon-rahmawan/i-know-i-am-not-a-perfect-person-i-make-a-lot-of-mistakes-but-i-can/) [Titon Rahmawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/titon-rahmawan/) > [Learning from the past is important, but we also need to forgive ourselves of our mistakes, actions, inactions. We must live in the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/learning-from-the-past-is-important-but-we-also-need-to-forgive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No offense into love accidentally, but love not even God, who should forgive mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/no-offense-into-love-accidentally-but-love-not-even-god-who-should/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [I know it. I know I shall make beastly mistakes, Father-" "The world does not forgive mistakes so quickly, my girl." He sounds bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-know-it-i-know-i-shall-make-beastly-mistakes-father-the-world-does/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [I've made a huge mistake by not trusting my loved one , Today she is no more with me please forgive me for not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cendie/i-ve-made-a-huge-mistake-by-not-trusting-my-loved-one-today-she-is-no/) [Cendie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cendie/) > [I feel people relate with your entire journey and forgive your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-feel-people-relate-with-your-entire-journey-and-forgive-your/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) ## More by Steven Fink > [Unfortunately, today's colleges and universities, and especially our business schools, do not offer pragmatic crisis management teachings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-fink/unfortunately-today-s-colleges-and-universities-and-especially-our/) [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) > [So many companies today, when first confronted by a crisis, go into a bunker mentality. They either say, "No comment," or they lie as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-fink/so-many-companies-today-when-first-confronted-by-a-crisis-go-into-a/) [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) > [I often say that good crisis management is good decision-making under stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-fink/i-often-say-that-good-crisis-management-is-good-decision-making-under/) [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) > [Mistakes are good provided you learn from them, and correct them promptly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-fink/mistakes-are-good-provided-you-learn-from-them-and-correct-them/) [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) > [Too often, business schools teach academic crisis management theory, if that, but given the diverse and unique nature of crises, all the theory in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-fink/too-often-business-schools-teach-academic-crisis-management-theory-if/) [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) > [A moderate amount of stress - not too much, not too little - generally means you understand the problem and are psychologically stoked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-fink/a-moderate-amount-of-stress-not-too-much-not-too-little-generally/) [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) > [When I wrote my first book, Crisis Management: Planning for the Inevitable, it was endorsed by the American Management Association, and consequently was read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-fink/when-i-wrote-my-first-book-crisis-management-planning-for-the/) [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) > [Too often, clients want us to give them a one-size-fits-all crisis management plan from off the shelf. Some of our competitors do this because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-fink/too-often-clients-want-us-to-give-them-a-one-size-fits-all-crisis/) [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) > [I never assign blame in a crisis. There is no benefit to doing so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-fink/i-never-assign-blame-in-a-crisis-there-is-no-benefit-to-doing-so/) [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) > [Social media has dramatically changed the playing field in terms of crisis communications - and any company that does not effectively use social media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-fink/social-media-has-dramatically-changed-the-playing-field-in-terms-of/) [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) > [Companies that do not actively practice, study, and plan for crisis communications - as well, of course, crisis management - are doomed to fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-fink/companies-that-do-not-actively-practice-study-and-plan-for-crisis/) [Steven Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) [Explore all 12 Steven Fink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-fink/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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