---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I regret to say that my hand did, in…"
description: "\"I regret to say that my hand did, in fact, have an improper relationship with Chelsea Clinton. The incident represents a profound lapse of judgment for..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/william-j-clinton-302_chelsea_i-regret-to-say-that-my-hand-did-in-fact_1359157.jpg"
---

#  I regret to say that my hand did, in fact, have an…

![“I regret to say that my hand did, in fact, have an improper relationship with Chelsea Clinton. The incident represents a profound lapse of judgment for which my hand takes sole responsibility.” quote by William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/william-j-clinton-302_chelsea_i-regret-to-say-that-my-hand-did-in-fact_1359157.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/william-j-clinton-302_chelsea_i-regret-to-say-that-my-hand-did-in-fact_1359157.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/william-j-clinton-302_chelsea_i-regret-to-say-that-my-hand-did-in-fact_1359157.jpg)

> “I regret to say that my hand did, in fact, have an improper relationship with Chelsea Clinton. The incident represents a profound lapse of judgment for which my hand takes sole responsibility.”

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He acknowledges a personal misconduct involving a political figure and accepts full responsibility.

**In simple terms:** He admits a serious mistake and takes blame.

Key Takeaway

Own up to errors and learn.

Themes

accountability ethics politics

Mood

reflective serious

Type

apology confessional

When to use this quote

- political career
- media scrutiny
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

public misconduct personal failure

Questions to Reflect On

- How does taking responsibility affect public trust?
- What steps can repair reputation?

A Different Perspective

Denial may damage credibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Chelsea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chelsea/) [Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinton/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Hand Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-did-2651470/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [I regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-regret/) [Improper Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improper-relationship-4646633/) [Incidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incidents/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Lapses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lapses/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regret Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret-say-628256/) [Relationship Chelsea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-chelsea-4646634/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Sole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sole/)

## Related quotes

> [“I’d trade my hand all over again to take back everything I did and hear him call me Sunshine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/i-d-trade-my-hand-all-over-again-to-take-back-everything-i-did-and/)

[Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/)

> [I did have a relationship with Ms Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-did-have-a-relationship-with-ms-lewinsky-that-was-not-appropriate/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [constituted a critical lapse in judgement and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely responsable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/constituted-a-critical-lapse-in-judgement-and-a-personal-failure-on/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [Without question, bicycling is an efficient, economical and environmentally sound form of transportation and recreation. Bicycling is a great activity for families, recreational riders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/without-question-bicycling-is-an-efficient-economical-and/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [ During the sole argument we had when \[Chelsea\] was in high school, the subject of which I don't even remember, I looked at her… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/during-the-sole-argument-we-had-when-chelsea-was-in-high-school-the/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [Think twice before you speak because nobody is promised tomorrow and you might regret what you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelseydburnett16/think-twice-before-you-speak-because-nobody-is-promised-tomorrow-and/)

[Kelseydburnett16](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelseydburnett16/)

> [Education, and I regret to say this as an educator, but there's no indication that education has a direct effect on happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/education-and-i-regret-to-say-this-as-an-educator-but-there-s-no/)

[Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/)

> [Honestly, I don't ever regret anything I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-reed/honestly-i-don-t-ever-regret-anything-i-say/)

[Patrick Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-reed/)

> [“That is something a person will never regret. You will never say to yourself when you are old, Ah, I wish I was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/that-is-something-a-person-will-never-regret-you-will-never-say-to/)

[Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/)

> [I don't regret anything I say... Never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavar-ball/i-don-t-regret-anything-i-say-never/)

[LaVar Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavar-ball/)

> [I'm not going to apologise or regret anything I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fraser-anning/i-m-not-going-to-apologise-or-regret-anything-i-say/)

[Fraser Anning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fraser-anning/)

> [I will never regret you, or say that I wish I'd never met you, because once upon a time, you were exactly what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blondie/i-will-never-regret-you-or-say-that-i-wish-i-d-never-met-you-because/)

[Blondie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blondie/)

> [We live, I regret to say, in an age of Big Data hype.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/we-live-i-regret-to-say-in-an-age-of-big-data-hype/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [“But since heaven has not seen fit to dower the human animal with an ability to understand cat language, I regret to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soseki-natsume/but-since-heaven-has-not-seen-fit-to-dower-the-human-animal-with-an/)

[Sōseki Natsume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soseki-natsume/)

> [Ill never regret you or say I wish Id never met you, because once upon a time you were exactly what I needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ill-never-regret-you-or-say-i-wish-id-never-met-you-because-once-upon/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by William J. Clinton

> [When personal freedom's being abused, you have to move to limit it. That's what we did in the announcement I made last weekend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/when-personal-freedom-s-being-abused-you-have-to-move-to-limit-it/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [Almost makes you want to go to jail out here, doesn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/almost-makes-you-want-to-go-to-jail-out-here-doesn-t-it/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [I take full responsability...for what we did. It was the right thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-take-full-responsability-for-what-we-did-it-was-the-right-thing-to/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [Even as people take pride in their national independence, we know we are becoming more and more interdependent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/even-as-people-take-pride-in-their-national-independence-we-know-we/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [To build a twenty-first-century economy, America must revive a nineteenth-century habit--investing in the common, national economic resources that enable every person and every firm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/to-build-a-twenty-first-century-economy-america-must-revive-a/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [One of the things that I think we have learned is that we should all be very careful about making predictions about the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/one-of-the-things-that-i-think-we-have-learned-is-that-we-should-all/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [Only astrophysicists new about the Internet 20 years ago. Today my cat has a website.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/only-astrophysicists-new-about-the-internet-20-years-ago-today-my-cat/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [Our military superiority is so great - it's far greater than it was in the Gulf War, and the Gulf War was over in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/our-military-superiority-is-so-great-it-s-far-greater-than-it-was-in/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [You know, I've always been really interested in this stuff, and I'm going to read this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/you-know-i-ve-always-been-really-interested-in-this-stuff-and-i-m/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [If you believe in making change from the bottom up, if you believe the measure of change is how many people's lives are better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/if-you-believe-in-making-change-from-the-bottom-up-if-you-believe-the/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [ We \[Democrats\] have got to be strong. When we look weak in a time where people feel insecure, we lose. when people feel uncertain,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-democrats-have-got-to-be-strong-when-we-look-weak-in-a-time-where/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [It's the economy, stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/it-s-the-economy-stupid/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [The Republicans could mess up a two car parade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-republicans-could-mess-up-a-two-car-parade/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [We're all in this together is a far better philosophy than you're on your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-re-all-in-this-together-is-a-far-better-philosophy-than-you-re-on/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

[Explore all 712 William J. Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

## More Chelsea quotes

> [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [At Chelsea, I saw that I can play straight away and be a regular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timo-werner/at-chelsea-i-saw-that-i-can-play-straight-away-and-be-a-regular/)

[Timo Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timo-werner/)

> [Every title is important for Chelsea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar/every-title-is-important-for-chelsea/)

[Oscar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar/)

> [It's an honour to wear the shirt and the badge, and to be part of such an illustrious club is gonna be exciting, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asmir-begovic/it-s-an-honour-to-wear-the-shirt-and-the-badge-and-to-be-part-of-such/)

[Asmir Begovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asmir-begovic/)

> [When you play for Chelsea you always want to win trophies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-havertz/when-you-play-for-chelsea-you-always-want-to-win-trophies/)

[Kai Havertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-havertz/)

> [I think nowadays Manchester United is more competitive than it's ever been. Obviously, over the last one or two decades, they've always had one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-owen/i-think-nowadays-manchester-united-is-more-competitive-than-it-s-ever/)

[Michael Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-owen/)

> [I grew up in Chelsea on 22nd Street... I am really a native New Yorker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mcgorry/i-grew-up-in-chelsea-on-22nd-street-i-am-really-a-native-new-yorker/)

[Matt McGorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mcgorry/)

> [I really want to play in Chelsea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-pato/i-really-want-to-play-in-chelsea/)

[Alexandre Pato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-pato/)

> [ I think, to Chelsea's \[Handler\] point, I still need directing because sometimes I go a little bit off beat in a way that it's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-ramsay/i-think-to-chelsea-s-handler-point-i-still-need-directing-because/)

[Gordon Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-ramsay/)

> [There is a white girl from Australia that spits in an Australian accent, and her name is Chelsea Jane. That I can get into.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rah-digga/there-is-a-white-girl-from-australia-that-spits-in-an-australian/)

[Rah Digga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rah-digga/)

> [Compare the scale and magnifcence of Versailles with St James's - the brick-built hovel in which the 18th-century kings of England lived. What was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/compare-the-scale-and-magnifcence-of-versailles-with-st-james-s-the/)

[David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/)

> [ There's a few ugly ones. Carlo is probably the best looking \[on chelsea players\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lampard/there-s-a-few-ugly-ones-carlo-is-probably-the-best-looking-on-chelsea/)

[Frank Lampard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lampard/)

> [Here are a few of the actors who have brought my novels to TV life: Bill Pullman, Holly Hunter, Frances McDormand, Julian Sands, Gena…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luanne-rice/here-are-a-few-of-the-actors-who-have-brought-my-novels-to-tv-life/)

[Luanne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luanne-rice/)

> [No club moves me from Chelsea until Chelsea wants me to move because I want to be where I am loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/no-club-moves-me-from-chelsea-until-chelsea-wants-me-to-move-because/)

[Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/)

> [It is like having a blanket that is too small for the bed, you pull the blanket up to keep your chest warm, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/it-is-like-having-a-blanket-that-is-too-small-for-the-bed-you-pull/)

[Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/)

[Browse all 266 Chelsea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chelsea/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I regret to say that my hand did, in fact, have an improper relationship with Chelsea Clinton. The incident represents a profound lapse of judgment for which my hand takes sole responsibility.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William J. Clinton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-regret-to-say-that-my-hand-did-in-fact-have-an-improper/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Chelsea"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-regret-to-say-that-my-hand-did-in-fact-have-an-improper/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/william-j-clinton-302_chelsea_i-regret-to-say-that-my-hand-did-in-fact_1359157.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/william-j-clinton-302_chelsea_i-regret-to-say-that-my-hand-did-in-fact_1359157.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/william-j-clinton-302_chelsea_i-regret-to-say-that-my-hand-did-in-fact_1359157.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I regret to say that my hand did, in fact, have an improper relationship with Chelsea Clinton. The incident…” — William J. Clinton",
                "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": "William J. Clinton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I regret to say that my...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-regret-to-say-that-my-hand-did-in-fact-have-an-improper/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-regret-to-say-that-my-hand-did-in-fact-have-an-improper/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
