We all make mistakes and no one can argue against that. We all do things we wish we could undo; things that embarrass us, things that harm others or ourselves, and things that have short term, or long lasting effects. This does not mean that because we all stumble that it is acceptable to continue making the same mistakes. Cicero declared, “any man can make mistakes, but only a fool persists in his error.” Yes, there will be times when you misstep, but once you find you have taken a wrong turn, change your direction. Do not continue to go down the path you know is taking you away from your destination. Strive to be virtuous, and avoid the things of the world that pull away from personal virtue and liberty. But do not give up when you do something you wish you hadn’t. Do not lose hope when you have to change course. Each and every mistake we make is an opportunity for us to learn and grow. They will guide us in the future, and help us grow and progress. Plutarch taught that “to make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom from the future.” We are not expected to be perfect. To be virtuous does not mean never making a mistake. To be virtuous is to learn from those mistakes and become better through your experiences. 

Yours truly,

Publius