Mistakes Are Proof That You Are Trying - Jennifer Lim

If you're making a mistake, it's better to make a new one. — Pearl Bailey

Pearl Bailey

Pearl Bailey’s line sounds playful, but it carries a sharp philosophy: once you realize you’re wrong, repeating the same error isn’t loyalty to a decision—it’s inertia. By suggesting it’s “better to make a new one,” she...

A failure is not always a mistake. It may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. — B. F. Skinner

B. F. Skinner

Skinner’s line draws a careful distinction between a failure—an outcome that misses a goal—and a mistake—an avoidable error in judgment or execution. In everyday language we often fuse the two, treating any poor result a...

You have to be willing to be bad at something to become good at it. — Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin’s line points to an uncomfortable truth: the first step toward competence often looks like incompetence. In a culture that rewards polished outcomes, beginners can feel exposed, as if early mistakes are eviden...

Think progress, not perfection. — Ryan Holiday

Ryan Holiday

Ryan Holiday’s line cuts through a common self-deception: the belief that we must be flawless before we begin. In practice, “perfection” often becomes a socially acceptable excuse for delay—endless planning, tweaking, an...

If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room—and likely overpaying for the appetizers. — Unknown

Unknown

The quote frames a familiar ego-boost as a subtle red flag: if you consistently feel like the most capable or insightful person present, the environment may be too small for your development. Rather than celebrating domi...

Reach with both hands for what you imagine; momentum answers effort. — Helen Keller

Helen Keller

Helen Keller’s phrase, “Reach with both hands,” turns imagination into something physical: a posture of full commitment rather than a halfhearted try. Instead of treating a goal as a distant wish, she frames it as someth...