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Failure & regret

What disappointment has stayed with you longest?

367 answers answered between 1995 and 2026 one of 25 in The Q&A

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The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

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Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.

Read by field Everyone Science and medicine 2 Arts and letters 309 Politics and public life 26 Business and finance 10 Sport 19
Read by age Any age Before thirty 16 In their thirties 58 In their forties 82 In their fifties 81 In their sixties 73 Seventy and beyond 55
Order Earliest first Most recent Surprise me
George H. W. Bush 41st President of the United States, 1989–1993
When I lost a race for the United States Senate, I thought the world was going to end for me politically, and 18 years later I was elected President of the United States. The biggest disappointment was that I wasn't able to communicate properly to the American people — with the proper conviction and the proper ability — where the country really stood. The pessimists, the naysayers, the change-wanters overwhelmed me, and I wasn't good enough. I wasn't articulate enough to have the country understand that we weren't in a recession, that we were in a rather booming economy in the last half of my presidency. That was a personal shortcoming, a failure on my path.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2 June 1995 source ↗
Jimmy Savile English media personality and sex offender
Never having been a 100% sex symbol. I only managed 99.9%.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 May 2007 source ↗
Philip Glass American composer
I don't know. I was lucky; I was able to study with the people I wanted to, be friends with the people I wanted to and in the end I've been able to make a living the way I wanted to.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 November 2008 source ↗
Patrick Stewart Actor
Gregory Peck not mentioning me when he won best supporting actor at the Golden Globes for Father Mapple in Moby-Dick. I played Ahab.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 February 2011 source ↗
Shirley Hughes English illustrator and author
Not being able to live my life over again with the experience I now have.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 January 2012 source ↗
Jesse Jackson American minister, activist and politician
Many have fought for and even lost their lives to end segregation, to win the right to vote. It disappoints me to now have to cajole people to register and to vote.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 April 2012 source ↗
Prue Leith South African-British chef, broadcaster, and writer
Public catering in the parks, where we lost a tonne of money. Now the public will buy excellent simple, fresh food. All they wanted in the 80s were slimy burgers, Mr Whippy and Coke.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 May 2012 source ↗
Tony Ross British writer of children's books
Being continually overlooked in awards ceremonies and honours lists.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 April 2013 source ↗
Joan Bakewell English journalist, television presenter and politician
Not being on Morecambe & Wise.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2013 source ↗
Mary Berry English food writer and television presenter
My exam results at school, but it was all my own fault.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 November 2013 source ↗
Una Stubbs British actress, television personality, and dancer
Never learning another language.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 April 2016 source ↗

1 answer from members

Not being able to start my own company

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