--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I might have made a tactical error not…" description: "\"I might have made a tactical error not going to a physician for 20 years. It was one of those phobias that didn't pay off.\" — Warren Zevon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f77/warren-zevon-7349_errors_i-might-have-made-a-tactical-error-not-g_2439455.png" --- # I might have made a tactical error not going to a… ![“I might have made a tactical error not going to a physician for 20 years. It was one of those phobias that didn't pay off.” quote by Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f77/warren-zevon-7349_errors_i-might-have-made-a-tactical-error-not-g_2439455.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f77/warren-zevon-7349_errors_i-might-have-made-a-tactical-error-not-g_2439455.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f77/warren-zevon-7349_errors_i-might-have-made-a-tactical-error-not-g_2439455.png) > “I might have made a tactical error not going to a physician for 20 years. It was one of those phobias that didn't pay off.” [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding medical care can become a costly habit, especially when fear replaces rational decision‑making. **In simple terms:** Skipping doctor visits hurts. Key Takeaway Seek regular check‑ups. Themes health fear responsibility Mood anxious reflective Type advice personal When to use this quote - personal health - career planning - financial budgeting Key Concepts risk aversion preventive care Questions to Reflect On - What health habit have you avoided? - How does fear affect your decisions? A Different Perspective Fear can lead to neglect of other important areas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Going Physician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-physician-473601/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Phobia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phobia/) [Phobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phobias/) [Phobias Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phobias-didn-473598/) [Physicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physicians/) [Tactical Error](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tactical-error-473600/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Phobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-phobias-473599/) ## Related quotes > [Well, first of all, let me say that I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/well-first-of-all-let-me-say-that-i-might-have-made-a-tactical-error/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [In neurotics, worm phobias are usually found as well as snake phobias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-abraham/in-neurotics-worm-phobias-are-usually-found-as-well-as-snake-phobias/) [Karl Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-abraham/) > [My mother had a lot of phobias. She's pregnant with me and she was a very phobic person. So I was born into phobia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/my-mother-had-a-lot-of-phobias-she-s-pregnant-with-me-and-she-was-a/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [The discovery of phobias by psychiatrists has done much to clear the atmosphere. Whereas in the old days a person would say: 'Let's get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-discovery-of-phobias-by-psychiatrists-has-done-much-to-clear-the/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Theres something about most phobias where theres a tiny, tiny corner where you think this really actually could happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-chast/theres-something-about-most-phobias-where-theres-a-tiny-tiny-corner/) [Roz Chast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-chast/) > [“When you explore your fears then you set yourself free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/when-you-explore-your-fears-then-you-set-yourself-free/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [One of my favorite phobias is that girls, especially those whose tastes aren't routine, often don't get a fair break... It has come down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-earhart/one-of-my-favorite-phobias-is-that-girls-especially-those-whose/) [Amelia Earhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-earhart/) > [I write about rats because they scare the hell out of me. I think we tend to write out our phobias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-write-about-rats-because-they-scare-the-hell-out-of-me-i-think-we/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [My phobias worsen as I get older. I'm scared of flying, driving. I'm terrified of sharks. I'm a germaphobe. But I try to face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/my-phobias-worsen-as-i-get-older-i-m-scared-of-flying-driving-i-m/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [Tell us your phobias and we will tell you what you are afraid of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/tell-us-your-phobias-and-we-will-tell-you-what-you-are-afraid-of/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [I don't have phobias. I'm pretty laid back. Nothing really bothers me. I can handle things pretty well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/i-don-t-have-phobias-i-m-pretty-laid-back-nothing-really-bothers-me-i/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [I have a lot of tics and phobias. I hate to travel. I hate to go to festivals. I hate it when somebody gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingmar-bergman/i-have-a-lot-of-tics-and-phobias-i-hate-to-travel-i-hate-to-go-to/) [Ingmar Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingmar-bergman/) > [I have three phobias ...: I hate going to bed, get up and hate hate being alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tallulah-bankhead/i-have-three-phobias-i-hate-going-to-bed-get-up-and-hate-hate-being/) [Tallulah Bankhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tallulah-bankhead/) > [“When you have mastered fear then you have mastered all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/when-you-have-mastered-fear-then-you-have-mastered-all/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“Haymitch isn't thinking of arenas, but something else. "Johanna's back in the hospital." I assumed Johanna was fine, had passed her exam, but simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/haymitch-isn-t-thinking-of-arenas-but-something-else-johanna-s-back/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More by Warren Zevon > [At least I've had one foot in a very normal kind of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/at-least-i-ve-had-one-foot-in-a-very-normal-kind-of-life/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I wish I sang better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-wish-i-sang-better/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I don't like piano solos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-don-t-like-piano-solos/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [“Cachet — isn’t that like panache, but sitting down?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/cachet-isn-t-that-like-panache-but-sitting-down/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I saw a Werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-saw-a-werewolf-with-a-chinese-menu-in-his-hand/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I'm not a big jazz fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-m-not-a-big-jazz-fan/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I'd like to go back to Paris someday and visit the Lourve museum, get a good running start, and hurl myself at the wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-d-like-to-go-back-to-paris-someday-and-visit-the-lourve-museum-get/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [But I can't say that I didn't like John Hammond's performances often better than the originals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/but-i-can-t-say-that-i-didn-t-like-john-hammond-s-performances-often/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I don't learn so good, no matter how good the teacher is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-don-t-learn-so-good-no-matter-how-good-the-teacher-is/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [Well, first of all, let me say that I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/well-first-of-all-let-me-say-that-i-might-have-made-a-tactical-error/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I don't get depressed and I don't get bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/i-don-t-get-depressed-and-i-don-t-get-bored/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [ “We love to buy books because we believe we're buying the time to read them. \[ Inside Out (VH1)\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/we-love-to-buy-books-because-we-believe-we-re-buying-the-time-to-read/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [My first album is like a terrible John Hammond album, with drums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/my-first-album-is-like-a-terrible-john-hammond-album-with-drums/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [Speaking as one who has abused privilege a long time, I tell you, it's great to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/speaking-as-one-who-has-abused-privilege-a-long-time-i-tell-you-it-s/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [Little old lady got mutilated late last night, werewolves of London, again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/little-old-lady-got-mutilated-late-last-night-werewolves-of-london/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) [Explore all 92 Warren Zevon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) ## More Errors quotes > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. 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A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [It is an error common to many artists, who strive merely to avoid mistakes, when all our efforts should be to create positive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/it-is-an-error-common-to-many-artists-who-strive-merely-to-avoid/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Truth is error burned up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-o-brown/truth-is-error-burned-up/) [Norman O. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-o-brown/) > [But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-a-most-pernicious-error-widely-prevails-that-scripture-has-only/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [It is often sadly remarked that the bad economists present their errors to the public better than the good economists present their truths. 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