--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather be a little nobody, then…" description: "\"I would rather be a little nobody, then to be a evil somebody.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-bullying_i-would-rather-be-a-little-nobody-then-t_2486272.png" --- # I would rather be a little nobody, then to be a evil… ![“I would rather be a little nobody, then to be a evil somebody.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-bullying_i-would-rather-be-a-little-nobody-then-t_2486272.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-bullying_i-would-rather-be-a-little-nobody-then-t_2486272.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-bullying_i-would-rather-be-a-little-nobody-then-t_2486272.png) > “I would rather be a little nobody, then to be a evil somebody.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing anonymity over fame preserves moral integrity and humility. **In simple terms:** Prefer being unknown to being corruptly famous. Key Takeaway Value humility over notoriety. Themes morality humility fame identity ethics Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - career choices - public life - personal branding - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts philosophy personal integrity social perception Questions to Reflect On - Is anonymity always virtuous? - Can fame be ethically managed? A Different Perspective Fame can also be used for good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti bullying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-bullying/) [Bully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bully/) [Bullying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullying/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-somebody-836824/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Little Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-evil-901031/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) ## Related quotes > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Bullies are always cowards at heart and may be credited with a pretty safe instinct in scenting their prey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/bullies-are-always-cowards-at-heart-and-may-be-credited-with-a-pretty/) [Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/) > [Bullying can break people. It can hurt someone so deep that nothing can cure it. So why do it? Bully's are the cowards. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/bullying-can-break-people-it-can-hurt-someone-so-deep-that-nothing/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [If you don't stand up for yourself, your letting the bully win!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/if-you-don-t-stand-up-for-yourself-your-letting-the-bully-win/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [How would you feel if youre the one next to having to put the rope around your self and choke a silent slowly death?,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myothersweetangel199/how-would-you-feel-if-youre-the-one-next-to-having-to-put-the-rope/) [Myothersweetangel199](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myothersweetangel199/) > [Any anti-bullying scheme, initiative or policy which fails to mention accountability for the bullies is likely to meet with little, and often no, success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/any-anti-bullying-scheme-initiative-or-policy-which-fails-to-mention/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [If you let a bully intimidate you, he's going to do it again. You've got to stand up to these strong-arm tactics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-djou/if-you-let-a-bully-intimidate-you-he-s-going-to-do-it-again-you-ve/) [Charles Djou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-djou/) > [You yourself are participating in the evil, or you are not alive. Whatever you do is evil for somebody. This is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/you-yourself-are-participating-in-the-evil-or-you-are-not-alive/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [I would rather be a nobody than to be an evil somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-rather-be-a-nobody-than-to-be-an-evil-somebody/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Evil exists," he says, not flinching at the word. "I believe that what the rich have done to the poor people in this city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/evil-exists-he-says-not-flinching-at-the-word-i-believe-that-what-the/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Praying for all the people in the world who feel it's okay to bully people over the internet because if you are one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/praying-for-all-the-people-in-the-world-who-feel-it-s-okay-to-bully/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Bullying can break people, Insulting someone everyday, does not make you a cool kid it makes you a Bully & It can hurt someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/bullying-can-break-people-insulting-someone-everyday-does-not-make/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/never-be-bullied-into-silence-never-allow-yourself-to-be-made-a-victim/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [Everyone Is Born With A Little Evil, It's How We Live That Determines It's Control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mzati-zapita/everyone-is-born-with-a-little-evil-it-s-how-we-live-that-determines/) [Mzati Zapita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mzati-zapita/) > [A little evil is often necessary for obtaining a great good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/a-little-evil-is-often-necessary-for-obtaining-a-great-good/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Anti bullying quotes > [The only fight you can't lose is the one you don't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-fight-you-can-t-lose-is-the-one-you-don-t-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bullying needs to be stopped. If you see something, say something. Do not be a bystander!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manwar-khan-canadian-anti-bullying-activist/bullying-needs-to-be-stopped-if-you-see-something-say-something-do/) [Manwar Khan Canadian Anti-bullying Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manwar-khan-canadian-anti-bullying-activist/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [“Make good choices and always do your best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-capitelli/make-good-choices-and-always-do-your-best/) [Yvonne Capitelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-capitelli/) > [Never criticize someone you never personally knew. For in time, you might find yourself to be in a much worse situation than the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazz-ramirez/never-criticize-someone-you-never-personally-knew-for-in-time-you/) [Jazz Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazz-ramirez/) > [Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by reason of its genuine humility, or indifference,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-inflict-suffering-on-anything-that/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Calling someone fat wont make you any skinnier, calling someone dumb dosnt make you any smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mean-girls/calling-someone-fat-wont-make-you-any-skinnier-calling-someone-dumb/) [Mean Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mean-girls/) > [Cant break me down, bury me bury me, I am finished with you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/30-seconds-to-mars/cant-break-me-down-bury-me-bury-me-i-am-finished-with-you/) [30 Seconds To Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/30-seconds-to-mars/) > [If they talk about you behind your back that means youre ahead of them:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra/if-they-talk-about-you-behind-your-back-that-means-youre-ahead-of-them/) [Sandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra/) > [You should never judge people based on your own assumptions of that person before meeting them, lest reality smacks you upside the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/you-should-never-judge-people-based-on-your-own-assumptions-of-that/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [When I became a part of Be a STAR and now with Do Something coming together with WWE, we have a much further range…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheamus/when-i-became-a-part-of-be-a-star-and-now-with-do-something-coming/) [Sheamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheamus/) > [Labels are meant to be on soup cans, not people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/labels-are-meant-to-be-on-soup-cans-not-people/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [If you let a bully intimidate you, he's going to do it again. You've got to stand up to these strong-arm tactics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-djou/if-you-let-a-bully-intimidate-you-he-s-going-to-do-it-again-you-ve/) [Charles Djou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-djou/) > [The fact that the WWE is so involved in anti-bullying, it's really an honor to be involved with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-orton/the-fact-that-the-wwe-is-so-involved-in-anti-bullying-it-s-really-an/) [Randy Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-orton/) > [The truth is that everyone is put on this earth with a purpose, a purpose of life, love, wisdom, and friendship. There will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah/the-truth-is-that-everyone-is-put-on-this-earth-with-a-purpose-a/) [Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah/) [Browse all 159 Anti bullying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-bullying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would rather be a little nobody, then to be a evil somebody.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-would-rather-be-a-little-nobody-then-to-be-a-evil-somebody/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anti bullying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-would-rather-be-a-little-nobody-then-to-be-a-evil-somebody/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-bullying_i-would-rather-be-a-little-nobody-then-t_2486272.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-bullying_i-would-rather-be-a-little-nobody-then-t_2486272.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/abraham-lincoln-88_anti-bullying_i-would-rather-be-a-little-nobody-then-t_2486272.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would rather be a little nobody, then to be a evil somebody.” — Abraham Lincoln", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abraham Lincoln", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would rather be a little...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-would-rather-be-a-little-nobody-then-to-be-a-evil-somebody/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-would-rather-be-a-little-nobody-then-to-be-a-evil-somebody/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```