To err is human. We’ve all heard this iconic phrase. And many of us have lived it.
“To err is human” means that making mistakes is a natural part of being a human being. In fact, it is unavoidable. It is the Universal truth that says plain and clear: Humans are not perfect. We are prone to error.
In truth, that is only half of the axiom. The complete phrase, which is often attributed to Alexander Pope, goes like this:
“To err is human; to forgive, divine”.
What’s not to love about this saying? It tells us that it’s natural to make mistakes. But then it continues to say that it’s exceptional and almost godlike to forgive those mistakes.
Oh. That fallibility of humans. And, oh. The importance of forgiveness.
Where did this come from? Well, the origin of the phrase can be traced back to ancient times. There are variations that appear in the writings of Seneca, Livy, and Cicero. The popular English version is from Pope’s “An Essay on Criticism”.
Maybe the poster child for this might be the New York Mets. You see. There was a guy named Bobby Bonilla who played for them. Back in the day, he was a pretty good ball player. He played Major League Baseball from 1986 to 2001.
But here it the thing. Every July 1, good old Bobby Bonilla receives a $1.19 million check from his former team, the New York Mets, even though he hasn’t played an MLB game in over 25 years. It is true.
The reason? Well. Back in 2000, the Mets owed Bonilla $5.9 million to buy out his contract. They didn’t want him any longer. But. Instead of taking that cash up front, he negotiated a contract that spreads out $30 million in guaranteed payments to him through annual installments from 2011 to 2035.
So. Every July 1, Bobby gets a cool 1.19 million bucks.
Now, if you ask me, the New York Mets made a big, hulking error. I doubt their fans will ever forgive them. To err is human. To forgive, divine.
Sure. Everyone makes mistakes, and that’s okay.
But if you’re going to err, try to do it like Bobby Bonilla.
Because some mistakes come with a side of regret.
And others come with 25 years of direct deposit.
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“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.” — Elbert Hubbard
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“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” — James Joyce
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Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time — George Bernard Shaw
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Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it — Mark Twain
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