A mistake is not something to be determined after the fact, but in the light of the information until that point.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A mistake should be judged based on the information available at the time, not hindsight.
- In plain terms
- Judge errors by what was known then, not what we know now.
- What can you take from it?
- Evaluate decisions with context, not retroactive knowledge.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can we reduce hindsight bias?
- When is retroactive judgment appropriate?
Another view
Sometimes later information reveals previously unknown factors that matter.
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