It is tempting to believe in certainty. We want to trust that some people always know what to do, always make the right call, and never fall short. Leaders, experts, loved ones—many are placed on pedestals. But the truth is simple and unavoidable: no one is 100 percent infallible.
Human beings are prone to error by nature. We misread signals, overlook details, and act from emotion when clarity is needed. Intelligence, experience, and wisdom reduce these errors, but they never eliminate them. Even the most respected minds in history have made mistakes. Sometimes they are small and harmless. Other times, they are massive and far-reaching. But the presence of error does not mean the absence of value. It means we are dealing with a human, not a god.
The problem with expecting infallibility is that it sets the stage for disappointment. When someone you admire falters, you may feel betrayed—not because they did something terrible, but because you believed they never would. This kind of thinking is not just unfair, it’s unrealistic. Even the most morally upright people have blind spots. Even the most skilled professionals have off days. Even you.
Accepting fallibility is not the same as lowering standards. It’s about replacing fantasy with clarity. It means you can respect someone without assuming they are always right. It means you can hold people accountable without needing them to be flawless. And it means you can continue learning and improving, even when you stumble.
Believing in the myth of infallibility often leads to silence, avoidance, and fear. People feel they can’t admit mistakes without being judged. They feel pressure to maintain an image rather than grow. But in a culture where fallibility is acknowledged, honesty becomes easier, learning becomes deeper, and humility becomes a strength.
No one is 100 percent infallible. Not your mentor. Not your friend. Not yourself. And that’s not a weakness. That’s reality. The goal is not perfection, but progress. Not flawless judgment, but honest correction. The sooner we embrace that, the more capable we become of making better choices, forgiving errors, and building something stronger than the illusion of certainty: real trust.
