“Right actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past – the best evidence of regret for them that we can offer, or the world receive.”

—  Tryon Edwards

Source: A Dictionary of Thoughts, 1891, p. 483.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Right actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past – the best evidence of regret for them t…" by Tryon Edwards?
Tryon Edwards photo
Tryon Edwards 57
American theologian 1809–1894

Related quotes

Frank Drake photo

“Only by doing the best we can with the very best that an era offers, do we find the way to do better in the future.”

Frank Drake (1930) American astronomer and astrophysicist

in A Reminiscence of Project Ozma http://www.bigear.org/vol1no1/ozma.htm, Cosmic Search Vol. 1, No. 1, January 1979.

Priti Patel photo

“While my actions were meant with the best of intentions, my actions also fell below the standards of transparency and openness that I have promoted and advocated. I offer a fulsome apology to you and to the government for what has happened and offer my resignation.”

Priti Patel (1972) British politician

Said in her resignation letter to Theresa May in November 2017 after she had unauthorised meetings with Israeli officials while Secretary of State for International Development. Priti Patel quits cabinet over Israel meetings row https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41923007 (8 November 2017)
2017

George Gordon Byron photo

“The best of prophets of the future is the past.”

George Gordon Byron (1788–1824) English poet and a leading figure in the Romantic movement

Journal (28 January 1821).

Robert Fulghum photo

“Never, ever regret or apologize for believing that when one man or one woman decides to risk addressing the world with truth, the world may stop what it is doing and hear. There is too much evidence to the contrary.”

Robert Fulghum (1937) American writer

Source: Maybe, Maybe Not

T.S. Eliot photo

“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man”

T.S. Eliot (1888–1965) 20th century English author
D.H. Lawrence photo

“The world is a raving idiot, and no man can kill it: though I’ll do my best. But you’re right. We must rescue ourselves as best we can.”

D.H. Lawrence book Lady Chatterley's Lover

Source: Lady Chatterley's Lover

“Some of the best lessons we ever learn are learned from past mistakes. The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future.”

Dale Turner
François de La Rochefoucauld photo

“We should often be ashamed of our very best actions if the world only saw the motives which caused them.”

François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

http://books.google.com/books?id=vQEzAAAAMAAJ&q=%22We+should+often+be+ashamed+of+our+very+best+actions+if+the+world+only+saw+the+motives+which+caused+them%22&pg=PA47#v=onepage
Nous aurions souvent honte de nos plus belles actions, si le monde voyoit tous les motifs qui les produisent.
http://books.google.com/books?id=X8akMrBxYegC&q=%22Nous%22+%22aurions+souvent+honte+de+nos+plus+belles+Actions+si+le+monde+voyoit+tous+les+motifs+qui%22+%22les+produisent%22&pg=PA232#v=onepage
Maxim 409.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)

Thich Nhat Tu photo

“Power of Now: Don't regret over the past because it's over. Don’t worry about the future because it is not here yet. Smile at the present movement, because this is real. Your excellent future depends on your present right actions.”

Thich Nhat Tu (1969) Vietnamese philosopher

Inner Freedom: A Spiritual Journey for Prison Inmates (2008)

Related topics