Have you ever spoken out and realized later that what you’d said didn’t match what you meant? Did you feel like an idiot? I have .. and more times than I care to admit. Ugh!
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” – Abraham Lincoln
Whenever I commit a “faux pas” I try to do the following:
- recognize it,
- own it and
- if possible, make restitution.
Sometimes words get mixed up and our bumbled results just don’t match our best intentions. Thankfully, I am not famous or newsworthy so no one’s standing by to capture my words. However, I have to admit that when someone famous makes the same mistake, I feel a teeny bit better. Here’s a sampling of famous people’s well-intentioned but bumbled quotes:
A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.
Dan Quayle
Every prime minister needs a Willie.
Margaret Thatcher, referring to Lord William Whitelaw
I cat nap now and then . . . but I think while I nap, so it’s not a waste of time.
Martha Stewart
I get to go to lots of overseas places, like Canada.
Britney Spears
I loved Jordan. He was one of the greatest athletes of our time.
Mariah Carey, on the death of the King of Jordan
I’ve learned not to put things in my mouth that are bad for me.
Monica Lewinsky, discussing weight loss through the Jenny Craig program
No audience will ever be able to take more than ten minutes of animation.
Walt Disney executive, considering viability of movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.
former DC Mayor, Marion Barry
What’s the dumbest thing you’ve said lately?
All I have to do is open my mouth, there is no need to pick out one special moment.
I hear you, Rumbley
. MJ
I just came across this passage…”a shut mouth gathers no foot.” I once rambled on about having no plans on reaching a certain age as that would be unthinkable from a quality standpoint…forgetting someone in the audience was in fact already that old.
That’s a good one; thank you for sharing your quote .. and experience! MJ