--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it isn't good, let it die. If it…" description: "\"If it isn't good, let it die. If it doesn't die, make it good.\" — Ajahn Chah" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c3/ajahn-chah-4829_good_if-it-isn-t-good-let-it-die-if-it-doesn_997966.png" --- # If it isn't good, let it die. If it doesn't die, make it… ![“If it isn't good, let it die. If it doesn't die, make it good.” quote by Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c3/ajahn-chah-4829_good_if-it-isn-t-good-let-it-die-if-it-doesn_997966.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c3/ajahn-chah-4829_good_if-it-isn-t-good-let-it-die-if-it-doesn_997966.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c3/ajahn-chah-4829_good_if-it-isn-t-good-let-it-die-if-it-doesn_997966.png) > “If it isn't good, let it die. If it doesn't die, make it good.” [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If something is flawed, let it end; if it persists, improve it. **In simple terms:** Discard bad things, improve the rest. Key Takeaway Eliminate or refine what doesn't work. Themes self-improvement acceptance change Mood reflective pragmatic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - product design - personal habits - team management Key Concepts impermanence skillful means mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What criteria decide when to discard? - How to balance patience and action? A Different Perspective Improvement may be impossible for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Die Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-make-2087884/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-let-908896/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Isn Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isn-good/) [Make Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-good/) [Mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindfulness/) ## Related quotes > [If yourself isn't good enough for someone else then let them go.. Should never change for anyone else but yourself..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nika-nicole-wood/if-yourself-isn-t-good-enough-for-someone-else-then-let-them-go/) [Nika Nicole Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nika-nicole-wood/) > [You're born, you die, and in between you make a lot of mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/you-re-born-you-die-and-in-between-you-make-a-lot-of-mistakes/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [Live or die, make your choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kramer/live-or-die-make-your-choice/) [John Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kramer/) > [You think it's so great to die and make everyone cry and carry on. Well it ain't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/you-think-it-s-so-great-to-die-and-make-everyone-cry-and-carry-on/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [You're born, you die and you make a lot of mistakes in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawsons-creek/you-re-born-you-die-and-you-make-a-lot-of-mistakes-in-between/) [Dawsons Creek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawsons-creek/) > [When you die, make others cry because you left something behind not because they lost something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrthrill/when-you-die-make-others-cry-because-you-left-something-behind-not/) [Mrthrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrthrill/) > [When the time comes to die, make sure that all you have to do is die!" ~Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/when-the-time-comes-to-die-make-sure-that-all-you-have-to-do-is-die-2/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [“You can only die once, to make sure it's worth it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-kamarisky/you-can-only-die-once-to-make-sure-it-s-worth-it/) [Vladimir Kamarisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-kamarisky/) > [“When the time comes to die, make sure that all you have to do is die!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/when-the-time-comes-to-die-make-sure-that-all-you-have-to-do-is-die/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [When it comes time to die, make sure that all you have to do is die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/when-it-comes-time-to-die-make-sure-that-all-you-have-to-do-is-die/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [Study how to do the most good and let the pay take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-abbott/study-how-to-do-the-most-good-and-let-the-pay-take-care-of-itself/) [Lyman Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-abbott/) > [“We don't need to be good. But let's try to be fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/we-don-t-need-to-be-good-but-let-s-try-to-be-fair/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [I used to look for the good in everyone until you let me down. Now I can't even find the good in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-used-to-look-for-the-good-in-everyone-until-you-let-me-down-now-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every little bit of good I may do, let me do it now for I may not come this way again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/every-little-bit-of-good-i-may-do-let-me-do-it-now-for-i-may-not-come/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [“When you do good, let it be good in line with nature. Don't latch onto the thought that you're good. If you get attached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-jyoty-bhante/when-you-do-good-let-it-be-good-in-line-with-nature-don-t-latch-onto/) [Suman Jyoty Bhante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-jyoty-bhante/) ## More by Ajahn Chah > [If you have time to be mindful, you have time to meditate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/if-you-have-time-to-be-mindful-you-have-time-to-meditate/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Letting go a little brings a little peace. Letting go a lot brings a lot of peace. Letting go completely brings complete peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/letting-go-a-little-brings-a-little-peace-letting-go-a-lot-brings-a/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Mindfulness is life. Whenever we don’t have mindfulness, when we are heedless, it’s as if we are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/mindfulness-is-life-whenever-we-don-t-have-mindfulness-when-we-are/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [We don't meditate to see heaven, but to end suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/we-don-t-meditate-to-see-heaven-but-to-end-suffering/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Some people are afraid of generosity. They feel they will be taken advantage of or oppressed. In cultivating generosity, we are only oppressing our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/some-people-are-afraid-of-generosity-they-feel-they-will-be-taken/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Anything which is troubling you, anything which is irritating you, THAT is your teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/anything-which-is-troubling-you-anything-which-is-irritating-you-that/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Know and watch your heart. It's pure but emotions come to colour it. So let your mind be like a tightly woven net to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/know-and-watch-your-heart-it-s-pure-but-emotions-come-to-colour-it-so/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [A woman wanted to know how to deal with anger. I asked when anger arose whose anger it was. She said it was hers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/a-woman-wanted-to-know-how-to-deal-with-anger-i-asked-when-anger/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Sati is life. Whenever we don't have sati, when we are heedless, it's as if we are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/sati-is-life-whenever-we-don-t-have-sati-when-we-are-heedless-it-s-as/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [In practice, some come to see easily, some with difficulty. But whatever the case, never mind. Difficult or easy, the Buddha said not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/in-practice-some-come-to-see-easily-some-with-difficulty-but-whatever/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [When sitting in meditation, say, "That's not my business!" with every thought that comes by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/when-sitting-in-meditation-say-that-s-not-my-business-with-every/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Proper effort is not the effort to make something particular happen. It is the effort to be aware and awake each moment, the effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/proper-effort-is-not-the-effort-to-make-something-particular-happen/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Regarding this Dhamma, it is not something that we can simply talk about or take another's word for it. We need to develop meditation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/regarding-this-dhamma-it-is-not-something-that-we-can-simply-talk/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [These days people don't search for the Truth. People study simply in order to find knowledge necessary to make a living, raise families and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/these-days-people-don-t-search-for-the-truth-people-study-simply-in/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Things are simply the way they are. They don't give us suffering. Like a thorn: Does a sharp thorn give us suffering? No. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/things-are-simply-the-way-they-are-they-don-t-give-us-suffering-like/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) [Explore all 105 Ajahn Chah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) ## More Good quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [Today I didn't even have to even use my A.K ! I got to say it was a good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/today-i-didn-t-even-have-to-even-use-my-a-k-i-got-to-say-it-was-a/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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