a tendency to overweigh losses (of money, possessions, or even social status) compared to equivalent wins.

resilient people make more positive attributions about events than those who become anxious or depressed.

had no idea how to study this, nor how to contribute to changing how organizations worked.

define failure as an outcome that deviates from desired results, whether that be failing to win a hoped-for gold medal, an oil tanker spilling thousands of tons of raw oil into the ocean instead of arriving safely in a harbor, a start-up that dives downward, or overcooking the fish meant for dinner. In short, failure is a lack of success.

Andy quoted the nurses as saying such things as a “certain level of error will occur” so a “nonpunitive environment” is essential to good patient care.

I define errors (synonymous with mistakes) as unintended deviations from prespecified standards, such as procedures, rules, or policies.

Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. —Winston Churchill

We don’t want to lose; we don’t want to fail.

We have more trouble letting go of bad compared to good thoughts. We remember the negative things that happen to us more vividly and for longer than we do the positive ones.