The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.

The line argues that fear of failure can become more damaging than failure itself. By fixating on avoiding mistakes, a person may hesitate, over-control decisions, or avoid worthwhile risks—thereby missing opportunities for growth, learning, and achievement. The “greatest mistake” is framed as a self-imposed constraint: anxiety about being wrong narrows experience and can lead to inaction, which is itself a consequential error. In a leadership and personal-development context often associated with Maxwell, the quote functions as encouragement to adopt a learning mindset—treating mistakes as feedback rather than as verdicts on one’s worth or competence.