So I made a mistake. That happens. It proves I'm human, which you know, for some people, is a revelation....I was also told that the greeting ceremony had been moved away from the tarmac but that there was this eight-year-old girl and I said, 'Well, I, I can't, I can't rush by her, I've got to at least greet her.' So I greeted her, I took her stuff and I left. Now that's my memory of it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Clinton reflects on a perceived mistake regarding a greeting ceremony, stating it proves humanity, and recounts her memory of prioritizing a child's greeting.
- In plain terms
- She says making mistakes is human and recalls greeting a child instead of following protocol.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritizing people over protocol can be a humanizing moment.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is protocol less important than people?
- How much detail should leaders share about errors?
Another view
Personal memory may differ from recorded events.
More from Hillary Clinton
I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport but instead we just ran with our heads down to g…
Permalink to quote #48 I was sleep-deprived, and I misspoke.
Permalink to quote #50 I remember, particularly, a trip to Bosnia where the welcoming ceremony had to be moved inside because of sniper fire.
Permalink to quote #47
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