--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I once called the head of a network a…" description: "\"I once called the head of a network a liar. In hindsight, I should have called him an incompetent liar.\" — Steven Levitan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/steven-levitan-30230_hindsight_i-once-called-the-head-of-a-network-a-li_2749085.jpg" --- # I once called the head of a network a liar. In hindsight… ![“I once called the head of a network a liar. In hindsight, I should have called him an incompetent liar.” quote by Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/steven-levitan-30230_hindsight_i-once-called-the-head-of-a-network-a-li_2749085.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/steven-levitan-30230_hindsight_i-once-called-the-head-of-a-network-a-li_2749085.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/steven-levitan-30230_hindsight_i-once-called-the-head-of-a-network-a-li_2749085.jpg) > “I once called the head of a network a liar. In hindsight, I should have called him an incompetent liar.” [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calling a network head a liar may be softened to “incompetent liar” upon reflection. **In simple terms:** Words can be refined after hindsight. Key Takeaway Choose words carefully. Themes communication leadership ethics Mood reflective pragmatic Type advisory personal When to use this quote - team meetings - public statements - media interviews - conflict management Key Concepts reputation accountability Questions to Reflect On - When should you correct a statement? - How does phrasing affect credibility? A Different Perspective Harsh language can damage relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hindsight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hindsight/) [Incompetent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incompetent/) [Liar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liar/) [Liars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liars/) ## Related quotes > [“Who would vote for an incompetent President?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/who-would-vote-for-an-incompetent-president/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [ Following is one of the most underrated aspects of leadership… I have seen many a good \[military unit\] underachieve, because someone...thought the commander was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/following-is-one-of-the-most-underrated-aspects-of-leadership-i-have/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [I think President Obama is weak, bored with the office, and an incompetent leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grenell/i-think-president-obama-is-weak-bored-with-the-office-and-an/) [Richard Grenell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grenell/) > [The switch had two settings. You could either turn it to AUTO, in which case the awning lowered itself whenever the sun came out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-switch-had-two-settings-you-could-either-turn-it-to-auto-in-which/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“True evil is always petty and often incompetent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-chilton/true-evil-is-always-petty-and-often-incompetent/) [Claire Chilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-chilton/) > [“The doctor was clueless!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-doctor-was-clueless/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I claim that Mach people (and apparently FreeBSD) are incompetent idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-claim-that-mach-people-and-apparently-freebsd-are-incompetent-idiots/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [“The incompetent always present themselves as experts, the cruel as pious, sinners as excessively devout, users as benefactors, the small minded as patriots, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-zafron/the-incompetent-always-present-themselves-as-experts-the-cruel-as/) Carlos Zafron > [I'd got over playing a character. People accepted who I was, and if I was incompetent and useless, they felt quite endeared to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-palin/i-d-got-over-playing-a-character-people-accepted-who-i-was-and-if-i/) [Michael Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-palin/) > [Ken Blackwell is either a huge hypocrite or very incompetent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-paduchik/ken-blackwell-is-either-a-huge-hypocrite-or-very-incompetent/) Bob Paduchik > [Even when they are trying to deceive the voters, the Democrats are incompetent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/even-when-they-are-trying-to-deceive-the-voters-the-democrats-are/) [Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/) > [Democratic accountability means that governments must be popularly accepted, with citizens empowered to replace corrupt or incompetent rulers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghuram-rajan/democratic-accountability-means-that-governments-must-be-popularly/) [Raghuram Rajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghuram-rajan/) > [“Problems often become worse if incompetent people try to solve them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eraldo-banovac/problems-often-become-worse-if-incompetent-people-try-to-solve-them/) [Eraldo Banovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eraldo-banovac/) > [Obviously somebody had been appallingly incompetent and he hoped to God it wasn't him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/obviously-somebody-had-been-appallingly-incompetent-and-he-hoped-to/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Go the extra mile. It makes your boss look like an incompetent slacker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/go-the-extra-mile-it-makes-your-boss-look-like-an-incompetent-slacker/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## More by Steven Levitan > [I was raised Jewish, my wife was raised Catholic. Though we respect each other's heritage, and while many of our friends are deeply religious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-was-raised-jewish-my-wife-was-raised-catholic-though-we-respect/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [I think that people with differing points of view find common ground in 'Modern Family' is very flattering, and I'm appreciative of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-think-that-people-with-differing-points-of-view-find-common-ground/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [Sometimes you do have to scare people a little bit: if someone is not acting in the best interest of the show, then maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/sometimes-you-do-have-to-scare-people-a-little-bit-if-someone-is-not/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [Twitter is fun - I'm a tech guy, I love anything new, I'm big on all that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/twitter-is-fun-i-m-a-tech-guy-i-love-anything-new-i-m-big-on-all-that/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [None of us grew up feeling like winners. So thank you to the bullies, to the popular kids, to the gym teachers who taunted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/none-of-us-grew-up-feeling-like-winners-so-thank-you-to-the-bullies/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [I'm a little bit in shock, to tell you the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-m-a-little-bit-in-shock-to-tell-you-the-truth/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [Friends in the Midwest often ask me what it's like to raise a family in Los Angeles. I say it's just like where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/friends-in-the-midwest-often-ask-me-what-it-s-like-to-raise-a-family/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [I acknowledge that Hulu's easy accessibility probably keeps some people from pirating. But a respected industry analyst says less than 5% of TV content…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-acknowledge-that-hulu-s-easy-accessibility-probably-keeps-some/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [With drama, especially, it seems like the bigger the budgets and the edgier the characters, the more interesting they are. We're very lucky because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/with-drama-especially-it-seems-like-the-bigger-the-budgets-and-the/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [But at its core, 90 percent of my job is still sitting down in a room full of people, and breaking storiesand that requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/but-at-its-core-90-percent-of-my-job-is-still-sitting-down-in-a-room/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [What about the accusation that Hollywood is trying to advance its liberal agenda? Well, the fact is, while the creative community admittedly leans left,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/what-about-the-accusation-that-hollywood-is-trying-to-advance-its/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [Some estimate Hulu IPO could bring in $2 billion. What will the content providers get? Zero. What is Hulu without content? An empty jukebox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/some-estimate-hulu-ipo-could-bring-in-2-billion-what-will-the-content/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [Right now the producers of 'Modern Family' have no idea how many people watch our show each week on all platforms, and nobody seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/right-now-the-producers-of-modern-family-have-no-idea-how-many-people/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [I think every time there's a show like 'Modern Family' or 'Will & Grace' that portray gay and lesbian characters and is successful, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-think-every-time-there-s-a-show-like-modern-family-or-will-grace/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) > [I believe 'Hollywood' is more like middle America than many people imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitan/i-believe-hollywood-is-more-like-middle-america-than-many-people/) [Steven Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) [Explore all 17 Steven Levitan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitan/) ## More Hindsight quotes > [in the midst of war and crisis nothing is as clear or as certain as it appears in hindsight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-midst-of-war-and-crisis-nothing-is-as-clear-or-as-certain-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why? Why does what was beautiful suddenly shatter in hindsight because it concealed dark truths? Why does the memory of years of happy marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-schlink/why-why-does-what-was-beautiful-suddenly-shatter-in-hindsight-because/) [Bernhard Schlink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-schlink/) > [“in any company’s greatest achievements one might, with the clarity of hindsight, locate the beginnings of its own demise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gertner/in-any-company-s-greatest-achievements-one-might-with-the-clarity-of/) [Jon Gertner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gertner/) > [“Sometimes we make decisions that seem right at the time, but later, looking back, were clearly a mistake. Some decisions are right even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-santopolo/sometimes-we-make-decisions-that-seem-right-at-the-time-but-later/) [Jill Santopolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-santopolo/) > [You do that stupid thing at 12 years old when you say something and it kind of sticks with you for the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/you-do-that-stupid-thing-at-12-years-old-when-you-say-something-and/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [When I first left Nike to go work with LeBron and manage him, I was really bullish about managing other athletes. I really wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maverick-carter/when-i-first-left-nike-to-go-work-with-lebron-and-manage-him-i-was/) [Maverick Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maverick-carter/) > ['Life's That Way' was an extraordinarily difficult book to write, because it wasn't written as a book. It was written as a journal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/life-s-that-way-was-an-extraordinarily-difficult-book-to-write/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [I'm always surprised when the corporate world does stupid things, because they're often not very stupid in hindsight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-always-surprised-when-the-corporate-world-does-stupid-things/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Most of what we know about human life we know from asking people to remember the past, and as we know, hindsight is anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-waldinger/most-of-what-we-know-about-human-life-we-know-from-asking-people-to/) [Robert J. Waldinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-waldinger/) > [“A decision made during a moment of weakness can ruin your life. To date, I had made three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melika-dannese-lux/a-decision-made-during-a-moment-of-weakness-can-ruin-your-life-to/) [Melika Dannese Lux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melika-dannese-lux/) > [Reality looks much more obvious in hindsight than in foresight. People who experience hindsight bias misapply current hindsight to past foresight. They perceive events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hersh-shefrin/reality-looks-much-more-obvious-in-hindsight-than-in-foresight-people/) Hersh Shefrin > [As the First World War made painfully clear, when politicians and generals lead nations into war, they almost invariably assume swift victory, and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hochschild/as-the-first-world-war-made-painfully-clear-when-politicians-and/) [Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hochschild/) > [From as far back as I can remember, I was always insecure about my looks, whether it was my flat chest, my skinny legs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/from-as-far-back-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-insecure-about-my/) [Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/) > [We all pine for a time in life when things were simpler. Even when they weren't necessarily simpler, hindsight makes them look a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/we-all-pine-for-a-time-in-life-when-things-were-simpler-even-when/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [ We had no idea that this show \[Daredevil\] would be as popular as it was, but with the benefit of hindsight, one thing I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-cox/we-had-no-idea-that-this-show-daredevil-would-be-as-popular-as-it-was/) [Charlie Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-cox/) [Browse all 374 Hindsight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hindsight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I once called the head of a network a liar. 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