"I think when the bottom started to drop out, we didn't recognize it"

Wellington Mara's quote speaks to the concept of not acknowledging a problem up until it is far too late. This can be used to various situations, from individual relationships to business decisions. In the context of the quote, it is most likely describing a situation in which a person or organization was not familiar with an issue up until it had ended up being too severe to disregard. This could be a financial problem, a decline in client fulfillment, or any other concern that was not seen till it had actually ended up being a major issue. The quote works as a suggestion to be knowledgeable about possible concerns and to do something about it before they become too severe. It is very important to recognize the signs of an issue before it is far too late, and to take the essential actions to address it.