by John Philipp
Member since:
August 10, 2006

Thought~Byte No. 40

March 24, 2009 11:52 PM EDT
views: 148 | rating: 10/10 (22 votes) | comments: 86

Thought~Byte No. 40

 

 

 

 

Concept and words by John Philipp. Drawings by Phil Frank.

(The comments below are where the wisdom is found.)

 
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Comments: 86

John Philipp Mar 24, 2009, 11:53pm EDT
Thought~Bytes are posted every Wednesday. To see all Thought~Bytes and get an email when new ones are posted, please join Thought~Bytes
Lee P. Mar 24, 2009, 11:57pm EDT
Thanks for sharing. Cute.

I never make mistakes. I thought I did once but after much reflection I found I was mistaken.
JOHN BECK Mar 25, 2009, 12:00am EDT
We try to tell kids not that they are naughty--it's what he or she did that was naughty. It's the act or omission which is "bad", not the person who committed it or omitted it.
BEING a mistake can.
Ellie !. Mar 25, 2009, 12:14am EDT
True. Making a mistake only makes you human.
Ellie !. Mar 25, 2009, 12:14am EDT
Learning from your mistakes makes you perfect?
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 12:15am EDT
"I never make mistakes. I thought I did once but after much reflection I found I was mistaken."

That's happened to me too, Lee.

The nice officer said he wouldn't say anything as long as I didn't drive home.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 12:16am EDT
"It's the act or omission which is "bad", not the person who committed it or omitted it."

A very important context for parents, John.

Thanks.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 12:17am EDT
"BEING a mistake can."

Only if you choose to let it, Doc.
P.W. Dowdy Mar 25, 2009, 12:17am EDT
Mistakes properly handled should build character and should make us more wiser, more compassionate of others when they make mistakes.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 12:17am EDT
"Learning from your mistakes makes you perfect?"

It also makes you human, Ellie. It's what we humans do best.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 12:18am EDT
Good point, Pat. Mistakes are opportunities in several dimensions.

Thanks.
peggy g. Mar 25, 2009, 12:24am EDT
i admitt i make mistakes ,
Vivian A. Mar 25, 2009, 12:40am EDT
I could be uncharitable or realistic and say, it kinda depends on the mistake. The real dunce part is not acknowledging an error and changing course or making amends as necessary. To err is human after all.

Boy am I human! :)
Randall C. Mar 25, 2009, 12:41am EDT
To error is human, to forgive is being a better human
Michelle C. Mar 25, 2009, 1:00am EDT
Love it!
Michelle C. Mar 25, 2009, 1:01am EDT
thanks for this inspirational quote!
Georgiana S. Mar 25, 2009, 1:18am EDT
to err is human!
Linda T. Mar 25, 2009, 2:32am EDT
Making a mistake does not make you one but not owning up to your mistakes is an error too many people make. It is okay to err but important to admit you were wrong.
Elizabeth A. Mar 25, 2009, 2:32am EDT
To err is human, to forgive is divine.--Alexander Pope
Nancy * Mar 25, 2009, 6:39am EDT
Yeah it took me years to figure that one out.
kimberly g. Mar 25, 2009, 7:36am EDT
mistakes are a learning process
Larry M. Mar 25, 2009, 8:03am EDT
One has to make a lot of mistakes to learn to be right. (Take the development of the light bulb, for example.) Success is built on a firm foundation of failure.
Nancy Biri Mar 25, 2009, 8:18am EDT
cute
Rae M. Mar 25, 2009, 9:13am EDT
I like this one.
Robert - just a simple man - B. Mar 25, 2009, 10:20am EDT
First Thought: All great inventors came to be through a series of mistakes.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:32am EDT
Glad you do, Rae.
Robert - just a simple man - B. Mar 25, 2009, 10:33am EDT
Second Thought: By there very nature, some mistakes are not acceptable and if one continues to persist in them, then he/she would inevitably come to be a recurring mistake.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:33am EDT
Excellent point, Robert.

If the path to success is paved with mistakes (in the invention business we call those approximations) then are they mistakes or stepping stones?

More importantly for this Byte, what does that say about the person who made them?
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:34am EDT
"i admitt i make mistakes"

Good for you, Peggy.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:34am EDT
"I could be uncharitable or realistic and say, it kinda depends on the mistake."

Some might say that no mistake makes a person one, Vivian.

"To err is human after all.
Boy am I human! :)"

Love that! Thanks.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:35am EDT
"To error is human, to forgive is being a better human"

What a nice sentiment, Randall.

I'd add, forgiving oneself is the best human.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:35am EDT
Thanks Michelle and you're welcome.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:35am EDT
"to err is human!"

Agreed, Georgiana, and not all kids get that message.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:35am EDT
Thank you, Wassners.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:35am EDT
"not owning up to your mistakes is an error too many people make"

Another aspect to this Byte, Linda. Thanks.

Maybe we could say "embrace your mistakes if you want to embrace yourself."
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:36am EDT
"To err is human, to forgive is divine.--Alexander Pope"

Always wondered the source of that quote, Elizabeth. Thanks.

In this case it's not internalizing the mistake.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:36am EDT
"Yeah it took me years to figure that one out."

Everyone has to do that sooner or later, YT.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:36am EDT
"mistakes are a learning process"

Hopefully, Kimberly.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:36am EDT
Thanks, Nancy.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 10:36am EDT
"Success is built on a firm foundation of failure"

Interesting slant, Larry.

If you learn from a mistake shouldn't it be relabeled as something else?
David W. Mar 25, 2009, 10:51am EDT
True commentary in the face of a world that condemns you for one mistake and expects little else thereafter.

Einstien and Edison would have used this as pin-up art.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 11:08am EDT
Agreed, David, and the most important thing is that you don't condemn yourself.
Bill W. Mar 25, 2009, 12:00pm EDT
Geeze! I hope not. We'd all be mistakes. But then, so what?

Rest easy
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 12:07pm EDT
Agreed, Bill. Unless we took our first step and never stumbled.
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Mar 25, 2009, 12:19pm EDT
A good thought to keep in mind.
~Sia McKye~ Mar 25, 2009, 12:24pm EDT
Absolutely!

What did the wise man say? To err is to be human?
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 1:55pm EDT
Thanks, Nana.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 1:56pm EDT
No, Sia, the wise man said, "What! Life's not a river?"
Ruth J. Mar 25, 2009, 2:09pm EDT
This is one that should be required for all parents and teachers to reflect upon. Thanks for the insight.
John Philipp Mar 25, 2009, 2:38pm EDT
Amen, Ruth. I couldn't agree more.
blaine d. Mar 25, 2009, 3:26pm EDT
i will always learn from those's!
Bob Cronley Mar 25, 2009, 4:15pm EDT
Tell that to my former redneck bosses!
Lydia (part of the solution) Shelley Mar 25, 2009, 4:31pm EDT
No. It just makes us mistaken.
Teresa A. Mar 25, 2009, 7:07pm EDT
Wow, that's very true
Angela A. Mar 25, 2009, 7:15pm EDT
Ah, so true!

<font size="2">Cat Comments & Graphics</font>
Glome . . . Mar 25, 2009, 7:51pm EDT
Good point.
Sheila Deeth Mar 25, 2009, 9:22pm EDT
Nice one. Thanks. (I shall try to remember it.)
Jenysie Jane Mar 25, 2009, 9:51pm EDT
very true...maybe I should send this to my family...lol
K D. Mar 25, 2009, 9:58pm EDT
I was just thinking here how sad it is that so many people don't allow themselves to make a mistake every now and then.
Jan S. Mar 25, 2009, 11:21pm EDT
I think it's important to tell our children and ourselves that it's okay to make mistakes. If it were not, pencils would not have erasers and we would all be geniuses. Mistakes are part of learning. As long as we don't lose the lesson, a mistake can be very valuable.
Steph-in-NE ..... Mar 26, 2009, 12:44am EDT
tha t is funny this is what my husband tell me almot daily I hate my mistake and I feel so stupid in them
Dennis Gilman Mar 26, 2009, 10:31am EDT
Very true John.

A corollary to that is:

"Try as much as possible to learn from the mistakes of others. You will not live long enough to make all those mistakes by yourself."
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:32am EDT
Steph, sorry to take sides but your husband is right.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:33am EDT
Great quote, Dennis. Thanks for sharing it.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:35am EDT
Sorry I was offline yesterday afternoon on. I was helping my granddaughter get ready for a recital. Spent most of the day with a gaggle of three-year old girls.

I'm exhausted.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:35am EDT
" i will always learn from those's!"

That's what they're for, Blaine.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:35am EDT
"Tell that to my former redneck bosses"

Tell you whjat, Bob. You tell them and I'll back you up.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:36am EDT
"It just makes us mistaken."

Nice phrasing. Lydia. Thanks.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:36am EDT
Glad you liked it, Teresa.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:39am EDT
"maybe I should send this to my family"

Be my guest, Jane.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:40am EDT
Good, Glome.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:40am EDT
Thanks, Angela. Love the kitten.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:41am EDT
" I was just thinking here how sad it is that so many people don't allow themselves to make a mistake every now and then."

Maybe we should all have a quota, K D. If we're not making mistakes, we're not growing/learning.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:41am EDT
" Nice one. Thanks. (I shall try to remember it.)"

Good luck, Sheila.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:42am EDT
"this can stimulate growth in areas of the charcater"

Excellent point, Stanley. Thanks.
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 10:42am EDT
"As long as we don't lose the lesson, a mistake can be very valuable."

Agreed, Jan. Not only valuable but necessary.
K D. Mar 26, 2009, 12:55pm EDT
A gaggle of three-year old girls? HA HA!! Well now that you have calmed down, I'll ask what kind of recital are we talking about?

You are right about the growth/screw-up factor!
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 7:02pm EDT
It was just a bunch of kids singing and then a bunch of adults doing ethnic dances. Cute and a little tiring.
Jerri H. Mar 27, 2009, 10:26pm EDT
Good to keep in mind :)
John Philipp Mar 27, 2009, 10:35pm EDT
Thanks, Jerri.
Jennifer aka Jenn B. Mar 31, 2009, 10:00pm EDT
I've made plenty of mistakes...part of the continuing learning curve..I Am thankful I've learned not to take them so personally...: - )
John Philipp Mar 31, 2009, 10:33pm EDT
That's the trick, Jenn. Tough for some people.
LaRue B. Apr 1, 2009, 4:22pm EDT
Every one is entitled to one.
John Philipp Apr 1, 2009, 6:58pm EDT
Or more, LaRue.

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