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
The man of character, sensitive to the meaning of what he is doing, will know how to discover the ethical paths in the maze of possible behavior.
Earl WarrenRead
Your "if" is the only peacemaker; much virtue in "if.
William ShakespeareRead
No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself.
John SteinbeckRead
All people are special, and all moments are golden. There is no person and there is no time more special than another. Many people choose to believe that God communicates in special ways and only with special people. This removes the mass of the people from responsibility for hearing God's message, much less receiving it (which is another matter), and allows them to take someone else's word for everything.
Neale Donald WalschRead
Many religions now come before us with ingratiating smirks and outspread hands, like an unctuous merchant in a bazaar. They offer consolation and solidarity and uplift, competing as they do in a marketplace. But we have a right to remember how barbarically they behaved when they were strong and were making an offer that people could not refuse.
Christopher HitchensRead
When they are preparing for war, those who rule by force speak most copiously about peace until they have completed the mobilization process.
Stefan ZweigRead