During his second year at Hogwarts, Dumbledore tells Harry Potter that “help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.” And for the next five years, Harry operates under that mantra.
In their very final encounter, however, when Voldemort is just about to destroy everything, Dumbledore has a rather late realization. “I’ve always prided myself on my ability to turn a phrase,” he tells Harry. “But I would in this case amend my original statement to this: Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who deserve it.”
While this doesn’t change much in hindsight and is mainly meant to encourage Harry for his final task, it’s not hard to imagine our young protagonist severely scratching his head over Dumbledore’s gaffe—or outright losing it, for that matter. “Ummm, professor, there’s a big difference between asking and earning. Couldn’t you have thought of that, like, at any sooner point in time whatsoever?!“
Alas, life is not how we’d like it to be. Life is how it is. Even geniuses forget things. So the best we can do is say what we truly mean to say as soon as it is revealed in our hearts—and then all of us, together, will have to deal with the consequences. Usually, we’re still better for it in the end.
It’s never too late to amend your words. Don’t be afraid to do it.