--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People were always sorry. Sorry they had…" description: "\"People were always sorry. Sorry they had done what they had done, sorry they were doing what they were doing, sorry they were going to do what they wer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/anonymous-1_done_people-were-always-sorry-sorry-they-had_2179574.jpg" --- # People were always sorry. Sorry they had done what they… ![“People were always sorry. Sorry they had done what they had done, sorry they were doing what they were doing, sorry they were going to do what they were going to do; but they still did whatever it is. The sorrow never stopped them; it just made them feel better. And so the sorrow never stopped.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/anonymous-1_done_people-were-always-sorry-sorry-they-had_2179574.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/anonymous-1_done_people-were-always-sorry-sorry-they-had_2179574.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/anonymous-1_done_people-were-always-sorry-sorry-they-had_2179574.jpg) > “People were always sorry. Sorry they had done what they had done, sorry they were doing what they were doing, sorry they were going to do what they were going to do; but they still did whatever it is. The sorrow never stopped them; it just made them feel better. And so the sorrow never stopped.” [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. Continuous remorse does not prevent harmful actions; it merely soothes guilt without change **In simple terms:** Sorrow alone doesn't stop bad deeds Key Takeaway Recognize remorse and act to change Themes guilt behavior self-awareness Mood reflective serious Type ethical psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace ethics - public policy Key Concepts Moral psychology habit formation cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - What actions could replace empty sorrow? - How can you turn regret into concrete change? A Different Perspective Sorrow can become a rationalization for inaction ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) ## Related quotes > [APOLOGIES ,don't mean anything if you keep doing what you are ''sorry'' for !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/apologies-don-t-mean-anything-if-you-keep-doing-what-you-are-sorry-for/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [I love doing 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue' on Radio 4. It's my favourite thing to do because it's just daft: it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-hardy/i-love-doing-i-m-sorry-i-haven-t-a-clue-on-radio-4-it-s-my-favourite/) [Jeremy Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-hardy/) > [Hate self centered people. Not everything is about you. Sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hate-self-centered-people-not-everything-is-about-you-sorry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate most of you people now, sorry lol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-most-of-you-people-now-sorry-lol/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I'm not perfect...im sorry I cant do everything right..im sorry I mess up...im sorry I'm diffrent from other people, I'm sorry...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-m-not-perfect-im-sorry-i-cant-do-everything-right-im-sorry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't have time for petty people, sorry...Point. Blank. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-have-time-for-petty-people-sorry-point-blank-period/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't stand judgmental people. I'm sorry, I just wasn't raised that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-stand-judgmental-people-i-m-sorry-i-just-wasn-t-raised-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's all that counts. People being sorry. Makes you feel better; gives you a sense of dignity, and that's all that's important; a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/that-s-all-that-counts-people-being-sorry-makes-you-feel-better-gives/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [I don't go in for being sorry for people. For one thing it's insulting. One is only sorry for people if they are sorry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-don-t-go-in-for-being-sorry-for-people-for-one-thing-it-s-insulting-2/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Then the town was sorry with being glad, as people sometimes are sorry for those whom they have at last forced to do as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/then-the-town-was-sorry-with-being-glad-as-people-sometimes-are-sorry/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Hey everyone this is the real me and I wanted to come clean!! I was a fake and ive hurt alot of people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james/hey-everyone-this-is-the-real-me-and-i-wanted-to-come-clean-i-was-a/) [James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james/) > [I'm sorry I'm not perfect. I'm sorry I make mistakes. I'm sorry I hurt people and offend people. I'm sorry I don't always look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myothersweetangel199/i-m-sorry-i-m-not-perfect-i-m-sorry-i-make-mistakes-i-m-sorry-i-hurt/) Myothersweetangel199 > [I don't go in for being sorry for people. For one thing it's insulting. One is only sorry for people when they're sorry for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-don-t-go-in-for-being-sorry-for-people-for-one-thing-it-s-insulting/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [I have done my duty by the laws of my people and I am sorry my people were led this time by men who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-kaltenbrunner/i-have-done-my-duty-by-the-laws-of-my-people-and-i-am-sorry-my-people/) [Ernst Kaltenbrunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-kaltenbrunner/) > [To be honest I'm sorry doesn't mean shit to me. Don't keep saying you're sorry if your gonna keep doing the same shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-honest-i-m-sorry-doesn-t-mean-shit-to-me-don-t-keep-saying-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Apology quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/) [Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) Allison Pataki > [And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/and-apologies-once-postponed-become-harder-and-harder-to-make-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [“I don’t care if you’ve changed. I don’t care who you are now. I don’t need or want your explanations because what you did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-don-t-care-if-you-ve-changed-i-don-t-care-who-you-are-now-i-don-t/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. This is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-this-is-when-we-must/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“It's clear he still feels something, but what? Is the whole reason he made such a big deal about wanting to talk to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-heywood/it-s-clear-he-still-feels-something-but-what-is-the-whole-reason-he/) [Carey Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-heywood/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [For every person who atones, a hundred others find regret sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/for-every-person-who-atones-a-hundred-others-find-regret-sufficient/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) [Browse all 1,300 Apology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People were always sorry. Sorry they had done what they had done, sorry they were doing what they were doing, sorry they were going to do what they were going to do; but they still did whatever it is. The sorrow never stopped them; it just made them feel better. 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