The Virtue of Admitting When You’re Wrong

The ability to admit when you’re wrong is one of the rarest and most transformative virtues. It’s not about defeat—it’s about growth. Those who can acknowledge their mistakes earn trust, repair relationships, and evolve faster than those who defend their ego. Admitting fault shows maturity, strength, and a deeper allegiance to truth than to pride. It opens the door to honesty, healing, and human connection in a world full of blame and denial.

A True Story: Abraham Lincoln’s Public Retraction

In 1842, Abraham Lincoln anonymously published a scathing letter mocking James Shields, a rising political figure. When Shields discovered Lincoln was the author, he challenged him to a duel. Rather than escalate, Lincoln wrote a heartfelt apology and admitted he had let his emotions override his better judgment. That public admission spared both men, preserved Lincoln’s integrity, and became a pivotal moment in his development into a leader known for moral courage. His ability to admit wrongdoing made him not weaker—but wiser.

Three Quotes from Books About the Power of Owning Mistakes

In Daring Greatly (2012), Brené Brown explained:

Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen. Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as running from it.

~ Brené Brown

In Principles (2017), Ray Dalio wrote:

If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits. Mistakes are opportunities to learn—if you admit them.

~ Ray Dalio

In The Road Less Traveled (1978), M. Scott Peck stated:

Mental health is a commitment to reality at all costs. That means seeing your errors and correcting them, even when it hurts.

~ M. Scott Peck

Five More Quotes About Admitting Wrong and Growing Strong

In 1870, Leo Tolstoy wrote in a letter:

There is nothing stronger than he who knows he is weak. There is nothing more foolish than he who insists he is wise.

~ Leo Tolstoy

In 1995, bell hooks said in an interview:

Admitting wrong isn’t losing power. It’s gaining clarity. It’s becoming the kind of person people can trust with their truth.

~ bell hooks

In 2008, Barack Obama reflected during a campaign speech:

The times I’ve grown most were the times I had to say, “I got it wrong.” That’s when learning begins.

~ Barack Obama

In 1956, Carl Jung said in a lecture:

We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate—it oppresses. Admission is the doorway to transformation.

~ Carl Jung

In 2021, Esther Perel shared on her podcast:

Saying “I was wrong” may feel like surrender. But for those around you, it’s a gift—it frees them from silence, and you from shame.

~ Esther Perel

Life Lesson:

Admitting you’re wrong doesn’t lower your value—it raises your credibility. Lincoln might have died in a duel if he hadn’t had the humility to own his mistake. But because he did, he became a man others could follow. The next time your ego tells you to defend a lie, remember: truth is heavier than pride—but it carries you further. Let it lift you. Let it lead you.