--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad…" description: "\"I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/anonymous-1_ashamed_i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad_652555.jpg" --- # I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the… ![“I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/anonymous-1_ashamed_i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad_652555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/anonymous-1_ashamed_i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad_652555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/anonymous-1_ashamed_i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad_652555.jpg) > “I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging a bad source is acceptable when its content is valuable. **In simple terms:** Use good lines even from bad authors. Key Takeaway Value quality over reputation. Themes integrity literature critique Mood reflective analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - writing - editing - academic work Key Concepts evaluation citation quality control Questions to Reflect On - When is it justified to cite a weak author? - How to assess line quality? A Different Perspective May encourage reliance on poor sources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Ashamed Citing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed-citing-5215393/) [Author Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author-line-4422729/) [Bad Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-author-3526302/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Citing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citing/) [Citing Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citing-bad-4422728/) [Line Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line-good-734241/) ## Related quotes > [I don’t mind citing a bad author if the line is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the-line-is-good/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [In movies there is a clear line between the good guys and the bad guys. In life, not so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-movies-there-is-a-clear-line-between-the-good-guys-and-the-bad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A bad author can take the most moral issue and make you want to just never, ever think about that moral issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/a-bad-author-can-take-the-most-moral-issue-and-make-you-want-to-just/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [I shall never be ashamed to quote a bad author if what he says is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/i-shall-never-be-ashamed-to-quote-a-bad-author-if-what-he-says-is-good/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [One of the things that I've always appreciated about the 'X-Men' style of storytelling versus other Marvel stories is how fluid the line between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/one-of-the-things-that-i-ve-always-appreciated-about-the-x-men-style/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [I like to work and it kind of keeps me in line, which is very good because I need that structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-anderson/i-like-to-work-and-it-kind-of-keeps-me-in-line-which-is-very-good/) [Pamela Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-anderson/) > [“Why did you date all of those girls?” “Sometimes, you’re just looking for something that’s right.” Oh, it was a line. It was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-fine/why-did-you-date-all-of-those-girls-sometimes-you-re-just-looking-for/) [Chelsea Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-fine/) > [“In a long line of good exits, that was one of his best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/in-a-long-line-of-good-exits-that-was-one-of-his-best/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [The image people have of comedians staring defiantly over a stationary line of good taste is simply inaccurate. We don't approach this line, put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/the-image-people-have-of-comedians-staring-defiantly-over-a/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [The bottom line for everyone is I'm not good enough. It's only a thought, and a thought can be changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/the-bottom-line-for-everyone-is-i-m-not-good-enough-it-s-only-a/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [The line between good and evil is movable and it's permeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/the-line-between-good-and-evil-is-movable-and-it-s-permeable/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [“Earth never grieves, I thought, walking across the park, watching seagulls cruising greedily above the ground looking for heaven knows what. Don't you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/earth-never-grieves-i-thought-walking-across-the-park-watching/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [To me the bottom line is: good music is good music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-haywood/to-me-the-bottom-line-is-good-music-is-good-music/) [Dave Haywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-haywood/) > [To see the line between being good and bad is really thin. It's not easy for anyone, not the manager, the players or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikel-arteta/to-see-the-line-between-being-good-and-bad-is-really-thin-it-s-not/) [Mikel Arteta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikel-arteta/) > [Even when there's not a joke or a hook, the first line has to be good and snapem to attention. Songs ain't novels. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bern/even-when-there-s-not-a-joke-or-a-hook-the-first-line-has-to-be-good/) [Dan Bern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bern/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Ashamed quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) [Robert Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-preston/) > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“with her own life. And I was ashamed.” Humiliated. Broken. Miserable. If Wilcher had stood by Jaymee, if her father hadn’t berated her, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-green/with-her-own-life-and-i-was-ashamed-humiliated-broken-miserable-if/) [Stacy Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-green/) > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) [Vernon Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-johns/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/whoever-is-ashamed-of-me-and-my-words-the-son-of-man-will-be-ashamed/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“To survive during the Khmer Rouge, you had to steal, cheat, lie, point fingers at others, even kill. And now you are ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brinkley/to-survive-during-the-khmer-rouge-you-had-to-steal-cheat-lie-point/) [Joel Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brinkley/) [Browse all 1,607 Ashamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad-author-if-the-line-is-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ashamed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad-author-if-the-line-is-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/anonymous-1_ashamed_i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad_652555.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/anonymous-1_ashamed_i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad_652555.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/anonymous-1_ashamed_i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad_652555.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I shall never be ashamed of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad-author-if-the-line-is-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad-author-if-the-line-is-good/#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 } } ] } ```