--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've got a good shepherd; you've got a…" description: "\"I've got a good shepherd; you've got a sadistic dentist.\" — Amy-Jill Levine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fe/amy-jill-levine-58095_dentist_i-ve-got-a-good-shepherd-you-ve-got-a-sa_3107141.png" --- # I've got a good shepherd; you've got a sadistic dentist. ![“I've got a good shepherd; you've got a sadistic dentist.” quote by Amy-Jill Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fe/amy-jill-levine-58095_dentist_i-ve-got-a-good-shepherd-you-ve-got-a-sa_3107141.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fe/amy-jill-levine-58095_dentist_i-ve-got-a-good-shepherd-you-ve-got-a-sa_3107141.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fe/amy-jill-levine-58095_dentist_i-ve-got-a-good-shepherd-you-ve-got-a-sa_3107141.png) > “I've got a good shepherd; you've got a sadistic dentist.” [Amy-Jill Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jill-levine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comparing spiritual guides highlights how some nurture while others harm. **In simple terms:** Good shepherd vs. sadistic dentist shows contrasting leadership. Key Takeaway Choose nurturing guidance over harmful authority. Themes faith leadership spirituality Mood cautious inquisitive Type analytical critical When to use this quote - religious counseling - personal growth - community building Key Concepts metaphor authority dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What qualities define a compassionate spiritual leader? - How can you protect yourself from harmful authority? A Different Perspective Not all leaders are benevolent; discernment is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dentist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dentist/) [Good shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-shepherd/) [Got Sadistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-sadistic-5411109/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Sadistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadistic/) [Sadistic Dentist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadistic-dentist-5411108/) [Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shepherd/) [Shepherds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shepherds/) ## Related quotes > [To be a good shepherd is to shear the flock, not skin it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiberius/to-be-a-good-shepherd-is-to-shear-the-flock-not-skin-it/) [Tiberius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiberius/) > [The good Shepherd dog knows his master almost better than himself and must wonder indeed at the lack of the reverse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-von-stephanitz/the-good-shepherd-dog-knows-his-master-almost-better-than-himself-and/) [Max von Stephanitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-von-stephanitz/) > [“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. – John 10:14”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/i-am-the-good-shepherd-and-i-know-my-sheep-and-am-known-by-my-own/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [ A good shepherd shears his flock, not flays them. \[Lat., Boni pastoris est tondere pecus non deglubere.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suetonius/a-good-shepherd-shears-his-flock-not-flays-them-lat-boni-pastoris-est/) [Suetonius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suetonius/) > [“help us to live with more confidence that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, not a consulting partner; a very present Lord, not an absentee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-smith/help-us-to-live-with-more-confidence-that-jesus-is-the-good-shepherd/) [Scotty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-smith/) > [The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/the-thief-cometh-not-but-for-to-steal-and-to-kill-and-to-destroy-i-am/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/) > [“I'll tell you, I now know why Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd. It was because he had such a deep and beautiful feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-girzone/i-ll-tell-you-i-now-know-why-jesus-called-himself-the-good-shepherd/) [Joseph F. Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-girzone/) > [The Lord called Himself and is the 'good Shepherd' (Jn. 10:11). If you believe in His guidance, then you will understand by your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/the-lord-called-himself-and-is-the-good-shepherd-jn-10-11-if-you/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [“How wonderful it is being a sheep in the flock of God. Our shepherd is the one that created the grass that we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-sanganyado/how-wonderful-it-is-being-a-sheep-in-the-flock-of-god-our-shepherd-is/) [Edmond Sanganyado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-sanganyado/) > [We were looking for a 'good shepherd,' and instead we got a German shepherd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/we-were-looking-for-a-good-shepherd-and-instead-we-got-a-german/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [A good shepherd knows time like no other, and a good shepherd sleeps well, even while dreaming of wolves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-cash/a-good-shepherd-knows-time-like-no-other-and-a-good-shepherd-sleeps/) [Steve Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-cash/) > [It takes some of us a lifetime to learn that Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows exactly what He is doing with us. He understands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-phillip-keller/it-takes-some-of-us-a-lifetime-to-learn-that-christ-our-good-shepherd/) [W. Phillip Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-phillip-keller/) > [A shepherd may be a very able, trusty, and good shepherd, without a sweetheart - better, perhaps, than with one. But what is he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hogg/a-shepherd-may-be-a-very-able-trusty-and-good-shepherd-without-a/) [James Hogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hogg/) > [May God forgive us for the times when we as individuals and as a Church failed to seek out and care for those little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-brady/may-god-forgive-us-for-the-times-when-we-as-individuals-and-as-a/) [Sean Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-brady/) > [It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiberius/it-is-the-duty-of-a-good-shepherd-to-shear-his-sheep-not-to-skin-them/) [Tiberius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiberius/) ## More by Amy-Jill Levine > [“When personal resentment overrides familial and cultural values, we all lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jill-levine/when-personal-resentment-overrides-familial-and-cultural-values-we/) [Amy-Jill Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jill-levine/) > [Our responsibility is to love God and to love our neighbour which is what Jesus taught and it's also what Judaism taught - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jill-levine/our-responsibility-is-to-love-god-and-to-love-our-neighbour-which-is/) [Amy-Jill Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jill-levine/) > [Church reminded me very much of going to shul. It was a bunch of men wearing long robes, speaking in a language I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jill-levine/church-reminded-me-very-much-of-going-to-shul-it-was-a-bunch-of-men/) [Amy-Jill Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jill-levine/) > [“For far too long Jesus has been the wedge that drives Christians and Jews apart. I suggest that we can also see him as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jill-levine/for-far-too-long-jesus-has-been-the-wedge-that-drives-christians-and/) [Amy-Jill Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jill-levine/) > [“Jesus’s words are too familiar, too domesticated, too stripped of their initial edginess and urgency. Only when heard through first-century Jewish ears can their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jill-levine/jesus-s-words-are-too-familiar-too-domesticated-too-stripped-of-their/) [Amy-Jill Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jill-levine/) [Explore all 6 Amy-Jill Levine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jill-levine/) ## More Dentist quotes > [The higher animals get their teeth without pain or inconvenience. Man gets his through months and months of cruel torture; he will never get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-higher-animals-get-their-teeth-without-pain-or-inconvenience-man/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [At first I thought, if I were Superman, a perfect secret identity would be "Clark Kent, Dentist," because you could save money on tooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/at-first-i-thought-if-i-were-superman-a-perfect-secret-identity-would/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“Are your kids afraid of the Dentist?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-patton/are-your-kids-afraid-of-the-dentist/) [Rhonda Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-patton/) > [Gauguin flew into a frenzy! He held my head under the X-ray machine for ten straight minutes and for several hours after I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/gauguin-flew-into-a-frenzy-he-held-my-head-under-the-x-ray-machine/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Dentists tell you not to pick your teeth with any sharp metal object. Then you sit in their chair and the first thing they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/dentists-tell-you-not-to-pick-your-teeth-with-any-sharp-metal-object/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [Trips to the dentist - I like to postpone that kind of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/trips-to-the-dentist-i-like-to-postpone-that-kind-of-thing/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I'm like the guy who prepares your taxes or a dentist. I'm very conservative and boring in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-m-like-the-guy-who-prepares-your-taxes-or-a-dentist-i-m-very/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [My therapist was like, 'What brings joy to your heart?' And I was like, 'I like to see teeth. I guess maybe I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/my-therapist-was-like-what-brings-joy-to-your-heart-and-i-was-like-i/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [You can't escape history, or the needs and neuroses you've picked up like layers and layers of tartar on your teeth… Your every past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-escape-history-or-the-needs-and-neuroses-you-ve-picked-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/men-hang-out-their-signs-indicative-of-their-respective-trades-shoe/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Dentistry was an ego trip, and acting is a personal need. Usually it's the reverse, and I honestly don't think I had the talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilcox/dentistry-was-an-ego-trip-and-acting-is-a-personal-need-usually-it-s/) [Larry Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilcox/) > [So I went to the dentist. He said Say Aaah. I said Why? He said My dog's died.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-i-went-to-the-dentist-he-said-say-aaah-i-said-why-he-said-my-dog-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man loses his illusions first, his teeth second, and his follies last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/a-man-loses-his-illusions-first-his-teeth-second-and-his-follies-last/) [Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/) > [There are three proven rules for good teeth: brush after every meal; see your dentist twice a year; and mind your own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-boyd/there-are-three-proven-rules-for-good-teeth-brush-after-every-meal/) [Henry Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-boyd/) > [I wonder if there's such a thing as a spiritual dentist? I think my whole personality is full of cavities!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/i-wonder-if-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-spiritual-dentist-i-think-my/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) [Browse all 271 Dentist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dentist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've got a good shepherd; you've got a sadistic dentist.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Amy-Jill Levine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jill-levine/i-ve-got-a-good-shepherd-you-ve-got-a-sadistic-dentist/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dentist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jill-levine/i-ve-got-a-good-shepherd-you-ve-got-a-sadistic-dentist/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fe/amy-jill-levine-58095_dentist_i-ve-got-a-good-shepherd-you-ve-got-a-sa_3107141.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fe/amy-jill-levine-58095_dentist_i-ve-got-a-good-shepherd-you-ve-got-a-sa_3107141.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fe/amy-jill-levine-58095_dentist_i-ve-got-a-good-shepherd-you-ve-got-a-sa_3107141.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've got a good shepherd; you've got a sadistic dentist.” — Amy-Jill Levine", "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": "Amy-Jill Levine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jill-levine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've got a good shepherd; you've...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jill-levine/i-ve-got-a-good-shepherd-you-ve-got-a-sadistic-dentist/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jill-levine/i-ve-got-a-good-shepherd-you-ve-got-a-sadistic-dentist/#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 } } ] } ```