Learning from Mistakes

The word "mistake" gets a bad rap. But every scientist, athlete, artist, and inventor in history has one thing in common: they got things wrong — a lot — before they got them right. This week's quotes give kids permission to try, fail, and try again.

Albert Einstein

> Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.

German-born physicist, Nobel laureate, 1879–1955

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Michael Jordan

> I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

Six-time NBA champion, born 1963

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Oscar Wilde

> Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.

Irish poet and playwright, 1854–1900

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Bram Stoker

> We learn from failure, not from success.

Irish author of Dracula, 1847–1912

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Henry Ford

> Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.

Founder of Ford Motor Company, 1863–1947

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Try This at Home or in the Classroom

Ask: "What's a mistake you made this week? What did it teach you?" Try answering it yourself first — kids learn courage from adults who go first.

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