The problem is you tend to look back and identify mistakes, and as a consequence of feeling terrible about mistakes you say you bungled this so bad, let’s get out of here.
Meaning of the quote
The quote is saying that people often look back at things they did and find mistakes. When they feel bad about these mistakes, they may say they messed up really badly and want to get away from the situation. This can happen because it's easy to see what went wrong after it's already happened, but it's harder to avoid mistakes in the first place. The key idea is that focusing too much on past mistakes can make people want to run away instead of trying to learn from them.
About Bob Kerrey
Bob Kerrey was a decorated Vietnam War veteran who went on to become a U.S. Senator and the governor of Nebraska. He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992 and later served as the president of The New School in New York City. Despite a storied career in politics, Kerrey was not able to regain his Senate seat in 2012.
More quotes from Bob Kerrey
Cuba wants to get rid of a dictator, and baseball needs a dictator.
American politician and U.S. Navy Medal of Honor recipient
The problem is you tend to look back and identify mistakes, and as a consequence of feeling terrible about mistakes you say you bungled this so bad, let’s get out of here.
American politician and U.S. Navy Medal of Honor recipient
If you look beyond the short term violence and instability, you do see significant activities on the part of the Iraqi people that indicate they understand the commitment necessary to govern themselves. It’s not clear how they will do it, but it never is.
American politician and U.S. Navy Medal of Honor recipient
It’s not clear in the U.S. at the moment, either. We’re going through another election.
American politician and U.S. Navy Medal of Honor recipient
There is no force more liberating than the knowledge that you are fighting for others.
American politician and U.S. Navy Medal of Honor recipient