By Abdurrazak Muktar Makarfi
Regret is a universal human emotion, a lingering shadow often following negligence or poor decision-making. It can be personal, like not putting in enough effort to achieve a desired goal, or it can be monumental, affecting entire nations or history. From personal experiences to the grand scale of global events, regret reminds us of the consequences of our actions—or inactions.
I, too, am a living witness to this. I aimed for a higher degree classification during my undergraduate studies, hoping to graduate with a Second Class Upper or even a First Class. However, due to a lack of focus and dedication, I had a second-class lower. I realise now that my negligence led to this outcome, which reminds us that what we fail to do today can haunt us tomorrow. In this case, regret is the product of what I did not do rather than what I did.
However, personal regrets are not unique to every person. Even the most powerful, successful, and celebrated figures in history have experienced regret for their actions or oversights. These moments of reflection often come too late, after the damage has been done, and serve as cautionary tales for the rest of us.
Napoleon Bonaparte and the Russian Campaign
One of history’s most infamous military campaigns is Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Russia in 1812. His quest for dominance over Europe led him to undertake an ill-fated military venture that ended in disaster. Over 400,000 of his troops perished due to a combination of Russian scorched-earth tactics and the brutal winter. While Napoleon was not one to publicly admit fault, accounts suggest he acknowledged the enormity of his mistake. His ambition, unchecked by the realities of war, led to the unravelling of his empire and his eventual exile. In this case, the regret came too late to save his soldiers or his reign.
Robert McNamara and the Vietnam War
In modern history, Robert McNamara’s role in the Vietnam War stands as a significant example of deep, public regret. As U.S. Secretary of Defense, McNamara was a key architect of the war, which led to the loss of tens of thousands of American lives and countless Vietnamese. Years later, in his memoir *In Retrospect* and in interviews, McNamara admitted that the war was a mistake, reflecting on the misguided policies and assumptions that drove U.S. involvement. His regret was genuine, a stark acknowledgement that decisions made without fully considering their consequences can lead to tragedy on an unimaginable scale.
Oskar Schindler: The Regret of Not Doing More
Oskar Schindler is remembered as a hero for saving more than 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust. However, Schindler sincerely regrets not saving more lives despite his extraordinary efforts. He famously broke down in tears after the war, lamenting that he could have sold more of his possessions to rescue more people from the horrors of the Nazi regime. His regret was both real and deeply personal, showing that even those who do good can be haunted by the thought that they could have done more.
Thomas Jefferson and the Paradox of Slavery
Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, is a figure whose legacy is intertwined with regret and contradiction. Although he wrote eloquently about the moral wrongs of slavery, he continued to own slaves throughout his life. In his later years, Jefferson expressed regret for the institution of slavery, calling it a “moral depravity” and a “hideous blot” on the American experiment. Yet, he never entirely acted on his convictions, and his words often rang hollow in light of his continued participation in the system he condemned. His regret was intellectual but lacked the moral courage to manifest in his actions.
J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb
Few regrets in history are as profound as J. Robert Oppenheimer’s remorse over the creation of the atomic bomb. As the lead scientist of the Manhattan Project, Oppenheimer’s work led to the development of the most destructive weapon ever used in warfare. After witnessing the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Oppenheimer famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita: “Now I become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” His regret was not just for the immediate destruction caused by the bomb but also for the moral implications of unleashing such power on humanity. He spent much of his later life advocating against further development of nuclear weapons, but the legacy of his creation haunted him until his death.
The Lessons of Regret
What can we learn from these stories? Whether in personal or historical contexts, regret often arises when we fail to align with our values or ignore the consequences of our decisions. Napoleon’s ambition, McNamara’s overconfidence, Schindler’s sense of responsibility, Jefferson’s moral paradox, and Oppenheimer’s scientific pursuit—all illustrate the different forms that regret can take.
In my own case, I can see that my negligence in my studies was not just a matter of missed marks but of missed opportunities to reach my full potential. The grades I received reflected not just academic performance but also personal responsibility. Regret teaches us to confront the results of our choices and, perhaps more importantly, to make better decisions going forward.
In the end, regret is not just about what we did but about what we failed to do when it mattered most. While it’s a heavy burden to carry, it also offers a powerful lesson: that attention, dedication, and foresight can often prevent us from looking back in sorrow.
Abdurrazak Muktar Makarfi wrote via prof4true1@gmail.com.
