“I draw no distinction between error and sin. If a man commits a bona fide mistake and confesses it with a contrite heart before his Maker, the merciful Maker sterilizes it of all harm.”
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Source: Harijan (20 October 1946); also in The Encyclopaedia of Gandhian Thoughts (1985)
About this quote
An honest mistake carries far less lasting damage than the cover-up that usually follows it. Owning it plainly — no excuses, no hiding — drains most of the harm out, because concealment, not the slip itself, is what festers and spreads.
When to use it
- Telling a client about a costly error the moment you catch it, before it grows.
- A child admitting they broke something instead of blaming a sibling.
- Apologizing sincerely to a partner rather than quietly hoping they never find out.