--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest mistake is trying to be more…" description: "\"The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be.\" — Walter Bagehot" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/walter-bagehot-3686_agreeable_the-greatest-mistake-is-trying-to-be-mor_2530349.png" --- # The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than… ![“The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be.” quote by Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/walter-bagehot-3686_agreeable_the-greatest-mistake-is-trying-to-be-mor_2530349.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/walter-bagehot-3686_agreeable_the-greatest-mistake-is-trying-to-be-mor_2530349.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/walter-bagehot-3686_agreeable_the-greatest-mistake-is-trying-to-be-mor_2530349.png) > “The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be.” [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overextending agreeableness leads to loss of authenticity; be true to your limits. **In simple terms:** Don’t compromise your values to please everyone. Key Takeaway Set clear personal boundaries. Themes integrity authenticity self‑respect Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - teamwork - negotiations - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When have you said yes against your better judgment? - How can you assert yourself kindly? A Different Perspective Being too rigid can strain relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agreeable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreeable/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Greatest Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-mistake-499218/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistake Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-trying-567261/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Agreeable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-agreeable-1337401/) ## Related quotes > [What is the greatest mistake a parent can make?' she asked. 'To believe that your children will be just like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/what-is-the-greatest-mistake-a-parent-can-make-she-asked-to-believe/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [The greatest mistake you can make in life is continually fearing that you'll make one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-greatest-mistake-you-can-make-in-life-is-continually-fearing-that/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [You want to encourage yourself to take risks. If you make a mistake trying to do something, you can fix it later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mollenkopf/you-want-to-encourage-yourself-to-take-risks-if-you-make-a-mistake/) [Steve Mollenkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mollenkopf/) > [The biggest mistake is trying to pinch down on the ball and ripping out a big divot, often hitting the ground before the ball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/the-biggest-mistake-is-trying-to-pinch-down-on-the-ball-and-ripping/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [In a relationship the worst mistake is trying to control the other person , just doesn't work that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-a-relationship-the-worst-mistake-is-trying-to-control-the-other/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I made that great mistake of trying to be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/i-made-that-great-mistake-of-trying-to-be-funny/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [“We were trying, as I irrelevantly analyzed it, to avoid what might be termed a historic mistake. We were trying to understand, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-neill/we-were-trying-as-i-irrelevantly-analyzed-it-to-avoid-what-might-be/) [Joseph O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-neill/) > [“The biggest mistake is trying not to make a mistake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-simeo/the-biggest-mistake-is-trying-not-to-make-a-mistake/) [Tom Simeo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-simeo/) > [“Reactionary movements often mistake what they're trying to take down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-cretan/reactionary-movements-often-mistake-what-they-re-trying-to-take-down/) [A. Cretan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-cretan/) > [Business is really more agreeable than pleasure; it interests the whole mind, the aggregate nature of man more continuously, and more deeply. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/business-is-really-more-agreeable-than-pleasure-it-interests-the/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [“Lajwanti made the cardinal mistake of trying to cross the dividing line that separates the existence of the rich from that of the poor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/lajwanti-made-the-cardinal-mistake-of-trying-to-cross-the-dividing/) [Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/) > [The biggest failure you can have in life is making the mistake of never trying at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-failure-you-can-have-in-life-is-making-the-mistake-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first mistake is trying to explain morality to a terrorist. Like trying to teach a rock to drive. It is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/the-first-mistake-is-trying-to-explain-morality-to-a-terrorist-like/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Business is really more agreeable than pleasure; it interests the whole mind ... more deeply. But it does not look as if it did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/business-is-really-more-agreeable-than-pleasure-it-interests-the-2/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [My agency in promoting the passage of the National Banking Act was the greatest mistake of my life. It has built up a monopoly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salmon-p-chase/my-agency-in-promoting-the-passage-of-the-national-banking-act-was/) [Salmon P. Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salmon-p-chase/) ## More by Walter Bagehot > [But of all nations in the world the English are perhaps the least a nation of pure philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/but-of-all-nations-in-the-world-the-english-are-perhaps-the-least-a/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [The Sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy such as ours, three rights - the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-sovereign-has-under-a-constitutional-monarchy-such-as-ours-three/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [The most essential mental quality for a free people, whose liberty is to be progressive, permanent and on a large scale, is much stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-most-essential-mental-quality-for-a-free-people-whose-liberty-is/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Adventure is the life of commerce, but caution is the life of banking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/adventure-is-the-life-of-commerce-but-caution-is-the-life-of-banking/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [A severe though not unfriendly critic of our institutions said that the cure for admiring the House of Lords was to go and look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/a-severe-though-not-unfriendly-critic-of-our-institutions-said-that/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Nothing is more unpleasant than a virtuous person with a mean mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/nothing-is-more-unpleasant-than-a-virtuous-person-with-a-mean-mind/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [What impresses men is not mind, but the result of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/what-impresses-men-is-not-mind-but-the-result-of-mind/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [An inability to stay quiet is one of the conspicuous failings of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/an-inability-to-stay-quiet-is-one-of-the-conspicuous-failings-of/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Most men of business think "Anyhow this system will probably last my time. It has gone on a long time, and is likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/most-men-of-business-think-anyhow-this-system-will-probably-last-my/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Life is a school of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/life-is-a-school-of-probability/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [When great questions end, little parties begin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/when-great-questions-end-little-parties-begin/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [The peculiar essence of our banking system is an unprecedented trust between man and man. And when that trust is much weakened by hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-peculiar-essence-of-our-banking-system-is-an-unprecedented-trust/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency. It proceeds from not knowing what is going on in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-habit-of-common-and-continuous-speech-is-a-symptom-of-mental/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Not only does a bureaucracy tend to under-government in point of quality; it tends to over-government in point of quantity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/not-only-does-a-bureaucracy-tend-to-under-government-in-point-of/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [In early times every sort of advantage tends to become a military advantage; such is the best way, then, to keep it alive. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/in-early-times-every-sort-of-advantage-tends-to-become-a-military/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) [Explore all 123 Walter Bagehot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) ## More Agreeable quotes > [It is with rivers as it is with people: the greatest are not always the most agreeable nor the best to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-with-rivers-as-it-is-with-people-the-greatest-are-not-always/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [I roll out of my couch every morning with the more agreeable expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/i-roll-out-of-my-couch-every-morning-with-the-more-agreeable/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Remember that when you meet your antagonist, to do everything in a mild agreeable manner. Let your courage be keen, but, at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/remember-that-when-you-meet-your-antagonist-to-do-everything-in-a/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [“Expect a most agreeable letter, for not being overburdened with subject (having nothing at all to say), there shall be no check to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/expect-a-most-agreeable-letter-for-not-being-overburdened-with/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Above all one should accept everything, in general and individually, in oneself or in others, agreeable or disagreeable, with a prompt and confident spirit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-the-great/above-all-one-should-accept-everything-in-general-and-individually-in/) [Albert the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-the-great/) > [“We laughed at the same things, and we liked the same things. What more is needed for agreeable society?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/we-laughed-at-the-same-things-and-we-liked-the-same-things-what-more/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [I'm small, but I'm neither compliant nor agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-m-small-but-i-m-neither-compliant-nor-agreeable/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [Surrounded by all the members of my dear family, enjoying the affection of numerous friends, who have never abandoned me, and possessing a sufficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/surrounded-by-all-the-members-of-my-dear-family-enjoying-the/) [John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/) > [Choose the GOOD WILL that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/choose-the-good-will-that-is-most-useful-and-habit-will-make-it-the/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [An agreeable figure and winning manner, which inspire affection without love, are always new. Beauty loses its relish, the graces never, after the longest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/an-agreeable-figure-and-winning-manner-which-inspire-affection/) [Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/) > [I always follow the rules. No fake co-productions. I know how to make content agreeable and acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-zheng-wu/i-always-follow-the-rules-no-fake-co-productions-i-know-how-to-make/) [Bruno Zheng Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-zheng-wu/) > [I like to make people happy, and with fairy tales, I can say anything I want to, but in an agreeable way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-ocelot/i-like-to-make-people-happy-and-with-fairy-tales-i-can-say-anything-i/) [Michel Ocelot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-ocelot/) > [Dandies, when first-rate, are generally very agreeable men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/dandies-when-first-rate-are-generally-very-agreeable-men/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [This goin' ware glory waits ye haint one agreeable feetur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/this-goin-ware-glory-waits-ye-haint-one-agreeable-feetur/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [One thing which makes us find so few people who appear reasonable and agreeable in conversation is, that there is scarcely any one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/one-thing-which-makes-us-find-so-few-people-who-appear-reasonable-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Browse all 151 Agreeable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreeable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Bagehot" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-greatest-mistake-is-trying-to-be-more-agreeable-than-you-can-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agreeable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-greatest-mistake-is-trying-to-be-more-agreeable-than-you-can-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/walter-bagehot-3686_agreeable_the-greatest-mistake-is-trying-to-be-mor_2530349.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/walter-bagehot-3686_agreeable_the-greatest-mistake-is-trying-to-be-mor_2530349.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/walter-bagehot-3686_agreeable_the-greatest-mistake-is-trying-to-be-mor_2530349.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be.” — Walter Bagehot", "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": "Walter Bagehot", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The greatest mistake is trying to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-greatest-mistake-is-trying-to-be-more-agreeable-than-you-can-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-greatest-mistake-is-trying-to-be-more-agreeable-than-you-can-be/#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 } } ] } ```