--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: but then where would one end if one…" description: "\"“but then where would one end if one started to compose a list of the wrongs that this world had seen? Better perhaps, thought Mma Ramotswe, to make a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b6/alexander-mccall-smith-372_wrongs_but-then-where-would-one-end-if-one-star_3018474.jpg" --- # but then where would one end if one started to compose a… ![“but then where would one end if one started to compose a list of the wrongs that this world had seen? Better perhaps, thought Mma Ramotswe, to make a list of those things that were right with the world, of people who had made life better for other people, or who had done what they had been called…” quote by Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b6/alexander-mccall-smith-372_wrongs_but-then-where-would-one-end-if-one-star_3018474.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b6/alexander-mccall-smith-372_wrongs_but-then-where-would-one-end-if-one-star_3018474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b6/alexander-mccall-smith-372_wrongs_but-then-where-would-one-end-if-one-star_3018474.jpg) > ““but then where would one end if one started to compose a list of the wrongs that this world had seen? Better perhaps, thought Mma Ramotswe, to make a list of those things that were right with the world, of people who had made life better for other people, or who had done what they had been called to do with honour and without complaint.”” [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflecting on focusing on positive deeds rather than cataloguing all the world's wrongs, emphasizing honor and selfless service. **In simple terms:** Focus on good deeds and honor. Key Takeaway Seek to recognize and emulate honorable actions. Themes honor service positivity reflection ethics Mood hopeful thoughtful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - community service - personal development - leadership - teaching Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance acknowledging good with addressing harm? - What actions embody honor without complaint? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic issues needing critique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Throughout history, most of the wrongs of the world have resulted from people absolutely sure they were in the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/throughout-history-most-of-the-wrongs-of-the-world-have-resulted-from/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [“Inside every one of us, thought Mma Ramotswe, there is the child we once were, the child that was unsure about the world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/inside-every-one-of-us-thought-mma-ramotswe-there-is-the-child-we/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [I think you can get happiness through making a real difference in other people's lives by setting out to make other people's lives better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-think-you-can-get-happiness-through-making-a-real-difference-in/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [The controversy was that Chad Dawson thought he was in an MMA fight and not a boxing match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/the-controversy-was-that-chad-dawson-thought-he-was-in-an-mma-fight/) [Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/) > [“People will do the basest things on account of their so-called honour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white/people-will-do-the-basest-things-on-account-of-their-so-called-honour/) [T.H. 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Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-l-johnson/) > [Do what is right, though the world may perish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/do-what-is-right-though-the-world-may-perish/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [There is not eternal damnation, the only rewards and punishments are right here in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-not-eternal-damnation-the-only-rewards-and-punishments-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) ## More by Alexander McCall Smith > [“old-fashioned, gentle Scottish physician, unmoved by the considerations of profit and personal gain that could so disfigure medicine. That doctors should consider themselves businessmen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/old-fashioned-gentle-scottish-physician-unmoved-by-the-considerations/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“She had not made a lot of money, but she had not made a loss, and she had been happy and entertained. That counted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/she-had-not-made-a-lot-of-money-but-she-had-not-made-a-loss-and-she/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [And that, in a way, was the burden of being a philosopher: one knew what one had to do, but it was so often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-that-in-a-way-was-the-burden-of-being-a-philosopher-one-knew-what/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“To use strong language, she thought, was a sign of bad temper and lack of concern for others. Such people were not clever or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/to-use-strong-language-she-thought-was-a-sign-of-bad-temper-and-lack/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Men are very sensitive, Mma Makutsi. You would not always think it to look at them, but they are. They do not like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/men-are-very-sensitive-mma-makutsi-you-would-not-always-think-it-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“He is a good man, but even a good man can fall for a glamorous woman. That is well known.” “That is very well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/he-is-a-good-man-but-even-a-good-man-can-fall-for-a-glamorous-woman/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“And then the second thing you have to do is go and see your son. That is a duty of love, Andrew. It's as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-then-the-second-thing-you-have-to-do-is-go-and-see-your-son-that/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Because laughs never die away entirely,” said Jamie. “At least, if you believe in Marconi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/because-laughs-never-die-away-entirely-said-jamie-at-least-if-you/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“The trouble with having a conscience, she said to herself, is that it never sleeps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/the-trouble-with-having-a-conscience-she-said-to-herself-is-that-it/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“And if there's bad behaviour," Mma Potokwane went on. "If there's bad behaviour, the quickest way of stopping it is to give more love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-if-there-s-bad-behaviour-mma-potokwane-went-on-if-there-s-bad/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“We never realise how transparent we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/we-never-realise-how-transparent-we-are/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Has he not got a wife back wherever he comes from? Is there no wife to say, ‘You must not go off and visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/has-he-not-got-a-wife-back-wherever-he-comes-from-is-there-no-wife-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“He looked at her in the darkness, at this woman who was everything to him-mother, Africa, wisdom, understanding, good things to eat, pumpkins, chicken,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/he-looked-at-her-in-the-darkness-at-this-woman-who-was-everything-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“It is because you are generous in spirit; and may I be like that; may I become like you—which unrealistic wish, to become the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/it-is-because-you-are-generous-in-spirit-and-may-i-be-like-that-may-i/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni,” she asked, “do you think that our souls grow as we get older?” He did not answer immediately, but when he did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/mr-j-l-b-matekoni-she-asked-do-you-think-that-our-souls-grow-as-we/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) [Explore all 628 Alexander McCall Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) ## More Wrongs quotes > [Tonight, darling, we are going to right a lot of wrongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/tonight-darling-we-are-going-to-right-a-lot-of-wrongs/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [When wrongs are pressed because it is believed they will be borne, resistance becomes morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-wrongs-are-pressed-because-it-is-believed-they-will-be-borne/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“One problem with today's culture is that we defend too many rights and ignore too many wrongs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-brackin/one-problem-with-today-s-culture-is-that-we-defend-too-many-rights/) [Ron Brackin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-brackin/) > [I want to be remembered by: Can't we all just get along? You know? And like I say, I know I shouldn't have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-king/i-want-to-be-remembered-by-can-t-we-all-just-get-along-you-know-and/) [Rodney King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-king/) > [One great flaw in the reforming passion is that in its eagerness to remedy social wrongs it tends to neglect, certainly to undervalue, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/one-great-flaw-in-the-reforming-passion-is-that-in-its-eagerness-to/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [“Set out to correct the world's wrongs and you'll almost certainly wind up adding to them. -- from the TV series "Person of Interest",…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-segel-jonathan-nolan/set-out-to-correct-the-world-s-wrongs-and-you-ll-almost-certainly/) Amanda Segel Jonathan Nolan > [“He wasn't in a safe little story where wrongs were automatically righted; he was still in the real world, where bad bitter things happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/he-wasn-t-in-a-safe-little-story-where-wrongs-were-automatically/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [I was a cheap criminal; I did many, many wrongs. I admit that. Of course, if I could tell each person I'm sorry, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hunt/i-was-a-cheap-criminal-i-did-many-many-wrongs-i-admit-that-of-course/) [Mark Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hunt/) > [The wrongs of a Husband or Master are not reproached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/the-wrongs-of-a-husband-or-master-are-not-reproached/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Two wrongs dont make a right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dav-pilkey/two-wrongs-dont-make-a-right/) [Dav Pilkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dav-pilkey/) > [It is easy to be pessimistic. These are extraordinarily difficult times, and the collective psyche is teetering. But we are closer to righting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/it-is-easy-to-be-pessimistic-these-are-extraordinarily-difficult/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [The important thing is that ever since I realized all the wrongs that I had done, I have been trying to correct them for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/the-important-thing-is-that-ever-since-i-realized-all-the-wrongs-that/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [I am not in this business as a calling. I don't do what I do to right any wrongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/i-am-not-in-this-business-as-a-calling-i-don-t-do-what-i-do-to-right/) [Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/) > [I can write a song, but can't un-right my wrongs. I guess you live and learn, learn when the love is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-write-a-song-but-can-t-un-right-my-wrongs-i-guess-you-live-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm passionate about gay rights, but I think we need admit that there are some gay wrongs as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/i-m-passionate-about-gay-rights-but-i-think-we-need-admit-that-there/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) Browse all 175 Wrongs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“but then where would one end if one started to compose a list of the wrongs that this world had seen? 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