How many on their deathbeds wished they'd spent more time at the office - or watching TV? The answer is, No one.
Stephen CoveyRead
It takes a great deal of character strength to apologize quickly out of one's heart rather than out of pity. A person must possess himself and have a deep sense of security in fundamental principles and values in order to genuinely apologize.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A true apology comes from a place of genuine humility and character, not just courtesy.
Stephen Covey emphasizes that a sincere apology requires inner strength and a strong sense of personal integrity. Rather than simply apologizing out of obligation or pity, it reflects an individual’s character to truly acknowledge their wrongdoing and make amends from a place of genuine remorse.
Themes
ApologyCharacterIntegrityHumilityStrength
In practice
Example use cases
During a conflict resolution workshop, I shared this quote to highlight the importance of sincere apologies.
More from Stephen Covey
All quotes →If you want to have a more pleasant, cooperative teenager, be a more understanding, empathic, consistent, loving parent. If you want to have more freedom, more latitude in your job, be a more responsible, a more helpful, a more contributing employee.
Stephen CoveyRead
Listen with your eyes for feelings.
Stephen CoveyRead
If we live out of our memory, we're tied to the past and to that which is finite. When we live out of our imagination, _x000D_ we're tied to that which is infinite.
Stephen CoveyRead
Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new untapped alternatives; it values and exploits the mental, emotional, and psychological differences between people.
Stephen CoveyRead
Keep in mind that you are always saying "no" to something. If it isn't to the apparent and urgent things in your life, it is probably to the most fundamental, highly important things.
Stephen CoveyRead
Similar quotes
It is easy to think of potatoes, and fortunately for men who have not much money it is easy to think of them with a certain safety. Potatoes are one of the last things to disappear, in times of war, which is probably why they should not be forgotten in times of peace.
M. F. K. FisherRead
Simplicity is not a goal, but one arrives at simplicity in spite of oneself, as one approaches the real meaning of things.
Herbert ReadRead
It became clear to me that our value as people is not in our stock portfolios and bank accounts but in the legacies we leave behind.
Julia Butterfly HillRead
A mob is a society obodies, voluntarily bereaving themselves oreason, and traversing its work. The mob is man, voluntarily descending to the nature othe beast. Its fit hour oactivity is night; its actions are insane, like its whole constitution.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead
There is no separation between mind and body... Self and other co-arise and fall away all the time.
Deepak ChopraRead
Having one king, one god, one belief, they can act single-mindedly.
Ursula K. Le GuinRead