--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to be able to explain my mistakes…" description: "\"I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand.\" — Warren Buffett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/warren-buffett-183_able_i-want-to-be-able-to-explain-my-mistakes_722711.png" --- # I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do… ![“I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand.” quote by Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/warren-buffett-183_able_i-want-to-be-able-to-explain-my-mistakes_722711.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/warren-buffett-183_able_i-want-to-be-able-to-explain-my-mistakes_722711.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/warren-buffett-183_able_i-want-to-be-able-to-explain-my-mistakes_722711.png) > “I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand.” [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He stresses explaining errors and only acting on fully understood matters. **In simple terms:** Explain mistakes; act only on clear understanding. Key Takeaway Seek clarity before action. Themes accountability clarity learning Mood analytical pragmatic Type educational strategic When to use this quote - Business decisions - Personal development - Financial planning Key Concepts Investment philosophy risk management Questions to Reflect On - What do you do when unsure? - How can you improve understanding before acting? A Different Perspective Overanalysis can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [My mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-mistakes/) ## Related quotes > [People will listen a great deal more patiently while you explain your mistakes than when you explain your successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-n-nesbit/people-will-listen-a-great-deal-more-patiently-while-you-explain-your/) Wilbur N Nesbit > [Only a fool does not look to explain his mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/only-a-fool-does-not-look-to-explain-his-mistakes/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The man who takes time to explain his mistakes has little time left for anything else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/the-man-who-takes-time-to-explain-his-mistakes-has-little-time-left/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“Fate” is how we explain our mistakes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/fate-is-how-we-explain-our-mistakes/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I completely understand the responsibility I have in continuing the sonic style that I have created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mika/i-completely-understand-the-responsibility-i-have-in-continuing-the/) [Mika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mika/) > [“From a distance I finally see, I completely understand, As I move forward to take my second step, Followed by a third step, Oh!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alon-calinao-dy/from-a-distance-i-finally-see-i-completely-understand-as-i-move/) [Alon Calinao Dy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alon-calinao-dy/) > [“To completely understand me you must first accept that I am not you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-caligiuri/to-completely-understand-me-you-must-first-accept-that-i-am-not-you/) [Ross Caligiuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-caligiuri/) > [I completely understand how temporary fame is, and I keep my sanity at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raashi-khanna/i-completely-understand-how-temporary-fame-is-and-i-keep-my-sanity-at/) [Raashi Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raashi-khanna/) > [Completely understand the customer by seeking an intense, complete and empathetic understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-silverstein/completely-understand-the-customer-by-seeking-an-intense-complete-and/) [Michael J. Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-silverstein/) > [To completely understand the universe, you must let go of everything you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-kruk/to-completely-understand-the-universe-you-must-let-go-of-everything/) [A D Kruk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-kruk/) > [Unless you completely understand the investment world, do not mess around with it. It is not something I would go anywhere near.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-turner/unless-you-completely-understand-the-investment-world-do-not-mess/) [Anthea Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-turner/) > [When a script moves me, I find that I immediately understand a character. Of course not completely, but I do understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/when-a-script-moves-me-i-find-that-i-immediately-understand-a/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [Everyones childhood plays itself out. No wonder no one knows the other or can completely understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/everyones-childhood-plays-itself-out-no-wonder-no-one-knows-the-other/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I can completely understand that whole burnout thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-bridge/i-can-completely-understand-that-whole-burnout-thing/) [Frankie Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-bridge/) > [We can love completely what we cannot completely understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maclean/we-can-love-completely-what-we-cannot-completely-understand/) [Norman Maclean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maclean/) ## More by Warren Buffett > [To invest successfully over a lifetime does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information. What's needed is a sound intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/to-invest-successfully-over-a-lifetime-does-not-require-a/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/be-fearful-when-others-are-greedy-and-be-greedy-when-others-are/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Making money isn't the backbone of our guiding purpose; it is the by-product of our guiding purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/making-money-isn-t-the-backbone-of-our-guiding-purpose-it-is-the-by/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [We set no volume goals in our insurance business generally-and certainly not in reinsurance-as virtually any volume can be achieved if profitability standards are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-set-no-volume-goals-in-our-insurance-business-generally-and/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Everybody's got a different circle of competence. The important thing is not how big the circle is. The important thing is staying inside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/everybody-s-got-a-different-circle-of-competence-the-important-thing/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [It is better to point out your own mistakes than have somebody else do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-is-better-to-point-out-your-own-mistakes-than-have-somebody-else/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I've read about all the sales today. If you're an auto dealer, you're feeling it. If you're a furniture retailer like we are, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-ve-read-about-all-the-sales-today-if-you-re-an-auto-dealer-you-re/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I was lucky enough to be born in a time and place where society values my talent, and gave me a good education to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-born-in-a-time-and-place-where-society/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The most common cause of low prices is pessimism - some times pervasive, some times specific to a company or industry. We want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-common-cause-of-low-prices-is-pessimism-some-times-pervasive/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The reaction of weak management to weak operations is often weak accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-reaction-of-weak-management-to-weak-operations-is-often-weak/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [What you really want to do in investments is figure out what's important and knowable. If it's unimportant or unknowable you forget about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/what-you-really-want-to-do-in-investments-is-figure-out-what-s/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I don't measure my life by the money I've made. Other people might, but certainly don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-don-t-measure-my-life-by-the-money-i-ve-made-other-people-might-but/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I mean the truth is, I've never had it so good in terms of taxes. I am paying the lowest tax rate that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-mean-the-truth-is-i-ve-never-had-it-so-good-in-terms-of-taxes-i-am/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. You need a temperament that neither derives great pleasure from being with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-important-quality-for-an-investor-is-temperament-not/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Investors, of course, can, by their own behavior make stock ownership highly risky. And many do. Active trading, attempts to "time" market movements, inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-of-course-can-by-their-own-behavior-make-stock-ownership/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) [Explore all 984 Warren Buffett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren Buffett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-want-to-be-able-to-explain-my-mistakes-this-means-i-do-only-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-want-to-be-able-to-explain-my-mistakes-this-means-i-do-only-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/warren-buffett-183_able_i-want-to-be-able-to-explain-my-mistakes_722711.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/warren-buffett-183_able_i-want-to-be-able-to-explain-my-mistakes_722711.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/warren-buffett-183_able_i-want-to-be-able-to-explain-my-mistakes_722711.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand.” — Warren Buffett", "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": "Warren Buffett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I want to be able to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-want-to-be-able-to-explain-my-mistakes-this-means-i-do-only-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-want-to-be-able-to-explain-my-mistakes-this-means-i-do-only-the/#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 } } ] } ```