--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the things that defines our…" description: "\"One of the things that defines our character is how we handle mistakes.\" — Terry Goodkind" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/terry-goodkind-924_big-mistake_one-of-the-things-that-defines-our-chara_1729150.jpg" --- # One of the things that defines our character is how we… ![“One of the things that defines our character is how we handle mistakes.” quote by Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/terry-goodkind-924_big-mistake_one-of-the-things-that-defines-our-chara_1729150.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/terry-goodkind-924_big-mistake_one-of-the-things-that-defines-our-chara_1729150.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/terry-goodkind-924_big-mistake_one-of-the-things-that-defines-our-chara_1729150.jpg) > “One of the things that defines our character is how we handle mistakes.” [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Character is defined by the way mistakes are managed. **In simple terms:** How we handle mistakes shows our character. Key Takeaway Own and learn from errors. Themes character development mistakes integrity growth leadership Mood thoughtful inspirational Type literary motivational When to use this quote - personal crises - team debriefs - public apologies - learning sessions Key Concepts accountability resilience Questions to Reflect On - What strategies improve mistake handling? - How can you model accountability? A Different Perspective Mistakes can damage reputation if mishandled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-mistake/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Handle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-handle-1414169/) [Defines Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defines-character-255270/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Handle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handle/) [Handle Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handle-mistakes-1392776/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Made a mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made-a-mistake/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [We all make mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/we-all-make-mistakes/) ## Related quotes > [I'm afraid that we all make mistakes. One of the things that defines our character is how we handle mistakes. If we lie about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/i-m-afraid-that-we-all-make-mistakes-one-of-the-things-that-defines/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Failure is not the falling down but the staying down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pickford/failure-is-not-the-falling-down-but-the-staying-down/) [Mary Pickford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pickford/) > [Mistakes, obviously, show us what needs improving. Without mistakes, how would we know what we had to work on?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/mistakes-obviously-show-us-what-needs-improving-without-mistakes-how/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [We should face reality and our past mistakes in an honest, adult way. Boasting of glory does not make glory, and singing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/we-should-face-reality-and-our-past-mistakes-in-an-honest-adult-way-2/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [We all make mistakes, but when I made mistakes there was no filter between me and the consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-walker/we-all-make-mistakes-but-when-i-made-mistakes-there-was-no-filter/) [Murray Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-walker/) > [There’s no way that you can live an adequate life without many mistakes. In fact, one trick in life is to get so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/there-s-no-way-that-you-can-live-an-adequate-life-without-many/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [“The greatness of who we are is discovered by how we handle our mistakes. John Paul Jackson”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-smith/the-greatness-of-who-we-are-is-discovered-by-how-we-handle-our/) [Laura Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-smith/) > [“Judge people less on their mistakes than on how they handle their mistakes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hall/judge-people-less-on-their-mistakes-than-on-how-they-handle-their/) [Ron Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hall/) > [To make marijuana against the law is like saying God made a big mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/to-make-marijuana-against-the-law-is-like-saying-god-made-a-big/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Blood hardly defines one's character. We are made by our actions, not our blood. - Soren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-lasky/blood-hardly-defines-one-s-character-we-are-made-by-our-actions-not/) [Kathryn Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-lasky/) > [Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-anderson/bad-things-do-happen-how-i-respond-to-them-defines-my-character-and-2/) [Walter Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-anderson/) > [“I let myself down a million times," she confessed. "We all do that. It is getting back up that defines your character, Julija, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/i-let-myself-down-a-million-times-she-confessed-we-all-do-that-it-is/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [You must achieve the confidence of knowing that you possess absolute, unbending, unimpeachable integrity. Everyone must know that. Above all else, it is integrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-calhoun/you-must-achieve-the-confidence-of-knowing-that-you-possess-absolute/) [Dave Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-calhoun/) > [Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-inglis-anderson/bad-things-do-happen-how-i-respond-to-them-defines-my-character-and/) [Walter Inglis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-inglis-anderson/) > [One of the main coaching points I've heard throughout my entire life is, 'How you respond to difficult situations defines your character,' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/one-of-the-main-coaching-points-i-ve-heard-throughout-my-entire-life/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) ## More by Terry Goodkind > [Sometimes, it is necessary to step beyond what you have known and to reach for something more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/sometimes-it-is-necessary-to-step-beyond-what-you-have-known-and-to/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“It should hurt, shouldn’t it? Shouldn’t it hurt to be ripped in half? But it didn’t. It didn’t hurt the least little bit. Cold.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/it-should-hurt-shouldn-t-it-shouldn-t-it-hurt-to-be-ripped-in-half/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Dancing with death meant being committed to killing, committed with your heart and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/dancing-with-death-meant-being-committed-to-killing-committed-with/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Only a fool walks into the future backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/only-a-fool-walks-into-the-future-backwards/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“Sometimes it's more important to seize the chance and do what you can even knowing that it won't likely account for everything, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/sometimes-it-s-more-important-to-seize-the-chance-and-do-what-you-can/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“While it was understandable to be afraid, and no one would expect you not to be, the worst thing you could do was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/while-it-was-understandable-to-be-afraid-and-no-one-would-expect-you/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“Leadership is a nurturing of those under your command.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/leadership-is-a-nurturing-of-those-under-your-command/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“To question me once is a simple mistake, Lieutenant. Twice is treason. We execute traitors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/to-question-me-once-is-a-simple-mistake-lieutenant-twice-is-treason/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Fate does not seek our consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/fate-does-not-seek-our-consent/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Wizard's Third Rule Passion rules reason, For better or for worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/wizard-s-third-rule-passion-rules-reason-for-better-or-for-worse/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“Nicci looked up at Kahlan. “Knives are not my talent.” “It’s not hard,” Kahlan said as she pressed the handle into Nicci’s hand. “When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/nicci-looked-up-at-kahlan-knives-are-not-my-talent-it-s-not-hard/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“This was why he couldn’t let Richard know it was the chimes themselves that were loose. Richard would not have accepted what Zedd intended,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/this-was-why-he-couldn-t-let-richard-know-it-was-the-chimes/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“price. There is no such thing as pure good or pure evil, least of all in people. In the best of us there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/price-there-is-no-such-thing-as-pure-good-or-pure-evil-least-of-all/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [The first step to believing something is true is wanting to believe it is true... or being afraid it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/the-first-step-to-believing-something-is-true-is-wanting-to-believe/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [...you'll find that being a friend is to like a person for who they are, even the parts you don't understand. You don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/you-ll-find-that-being-a-friend-is-to-like-a-person-for-who-they-are/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) [Explore all 323 Terry Goodkind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) ## More Big mistake quotes > [If loving you is a big mistake, I will never ever want to be right,i will always make the same mistake over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horla/if-loving-you-is-a-big-mistake-i-will-never-ever-want-to-be-right-i/) [Horla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horla/) > [“You never talk to the pitcher when…” He shook his head. “You just never talk to the pitcher when--” “I just wanted to congratulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/you-never-talk-to-the-pitcher-when-he-shook-his-head-you-just-never/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [If you don't make mistakes, you're not working on hard enough problems. And that's a big mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-wikzek/if-you-don-t-make-mistakes-you-re-not-working-on-hard-enough-problems/) [F Wikzek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-wikzek/) > [“Hitler made only one big mistake when he built his Atlantic Wall,” the paratroopers liked to say. “He forgot to put a roof on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-e-ambrose/hitler-made-only-one-big-mistake-when-he-built-his-atlantic-wall-the/) [Stephen E. Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-e-ambrose/) > [Well I think its safe to say this week has been the worst week EVER I never I never thought I could get so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talyiah/well-i-think-its-safe-to-say-this-week-has-been-the-worst-week-ever-i/) [Talyiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talyiah/) > [One of the big mistakes Republicans made with the Contract with America is that they tried to do too much too fast, and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/one-of-the-big-mistakes-republicans-made-with-the-contract-with/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [The press keep asking me, 'What was your biggest mistake?' But if I had made a big mistake, they'd all be writing about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/the-press-keep-asking-me-what-was-your-biggest-mistake-but-if-i-had/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [We have to keep trying things we're not sure we can pull off. If we just do the things we know we can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/we-have-to-keep-trying-things-we-re-not-sure-we-can-pull-off-if-we/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [“God figured out when he separated us from the rest of the creatures that if we have the power to reason and justify and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/god-figured-out-when-he-separated-us-from-the-rest-of-the-creatures/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [Taking me seriously is a big mistake. I certainly wouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/taking-me-seriously-is-a-big-mistake-i-certainly-wouldn-t/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I've lived so little that I tend to imagine I'm not going to die; it seems improbable that human existence can be reduced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-ve-lived-so-little-that-i-tend-to-imagine-i-m-not-going-to-die-it/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [One big mistake that we made in Delhi is that we made it a low-rise city which means that rich people have nice green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/one-big-mistake-that-we-made-in-delhi-is-that-we-made-it-a-low-rise/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [The feeling of being deceived, completely betrayed by someone so close to your clueless heart. You tell them everything, all the emotions and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-feeling-of-being-deceived-completely-betrayed-by-someone-so-close/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Gift of Gab She continued by saying, “Many people dismiss small talk as being a waste of time. If you think small talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/the-gift-of-gab-she-continued-by-saying-many-people-dismiss-small/) [Susan C. 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