--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel moderately bad about this whole…" description: "\"I feel moderately bad about this whole thing. On the one hand, I am providing myself with urgently required survival skills. Other lessons in this seri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/audrey-niffenegger-1298_climbing_i-feel-moderately-bad-about-this-whole-t_3206760.jpg" --- # I feel moderately bad about this whole thing. On the one… ![“I feel moderately bad about this whole thing. On the one hand, I am providing myself with urgently required survival skills. Other lessons in this series include Shoplifting, Beating People Up, Picking Locks, Climbing Trees, Driving, Housebreaking, Dumpster Diving, and How to Use Oddball Things…” quote by Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/audrey-niffenegger-1298_climbing_i-feel-moderately-bad-about-this-whole-t_3206760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/audrey-niffenegger-1298_climbing_i-feel-moderately-bad-about-this-whole-t_3206760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/audrey-niffenegger-1298_climbing_i-feel-moderately-bad-about-this-whole-t_3206760.jpg) > “I feel moderately bad about this whole thing. On the one hand, I am providing myself with urgently required survival skills. Other lessons in this series include Shoplifting, Beating People Up, Picking Locks, Climbing Trees, Driving, Housebreaking, Dumpster Diving, and How to Use Oddball Things like Venetian Blinds and Garbage Can Lids as Weapons. On the other hand, I’m corrupting my poor innocent little self. I sigh. Somebody’s got to do it.” [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing self‑improvement through questionable means creates moral conflict. **In simple terms:** Learning risky skills feels both useful and corrupting. Key Takeaway Weigh benefits against ethical costs. Themes ethics self‑improvement survival conflict Mood conflicted reflective Type cautionary philosophical When to use this quote - learning self‑defense - urban exploration - resourceful living - ethical decision making Key Concepts moral ambiguity skill acquisition personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your choice to learn dangerous skills? - Can you find safer alternatives? A Different Perspective The skills may cause harm or legal trouble despite usefulness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) [Climbing trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing-trees/) [Corrupting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupting-502370/) [Diving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diving/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Dumpsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumpsters/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Garbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garbage/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Include Shoplifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/include-shoplifting-5976216/) [Innocent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Locks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locks/) [Oddballs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oddballs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Sigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-sigh-5976218/) [Shoplifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoplifting/) [Shoplifting Beating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoplifting-beating-5976217/) [Sigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sigh/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Survival skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival-skills/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [“The baloney weighed the raven down, and the shopkeeper almost caught him as he whisked out the delicatessen door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-baloney-weighed-the-raven-down-and-the-shopkeeper-almost-caught/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [I learned lots of dirty jokes very young. There was this girl who told me them. The gang I led went in for shoplifting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-learned-lots-of-dirty-jokes-very-young-there-was-this-girl-who-told/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I've been in jail a couple times. I've been caught shoplifting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/i-ve-been-in-jail-a-couple-times-i-ve-been-caught-shoplifting/) [Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/) > [I used to love to go to the movies - I'd see two in a row. A few times I even snuck into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/i-used-to-love-to-go-to-the-movies-i-d-see-two-in-a-row-a-few-times-i/) [Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/) > [I definitely would say, by sixth grade, I was a professional shoplifter - and not because I wanted to. I'm not going out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolo-jones/i-definitely-would-say-by-sixth-grade-i-was-a-professional-shoplifter/) [Lolo Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolo-jones/) > [“Nobody from the Amazing Kingdom bothered to check with previous employers, such as the New York City Police Department, to inquire about allegations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hiaasen/nobody-from-the-amazing-kingdom-bothered-to-check-with-previous/) [Carl Hiaasen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hiaasen/) > [“I’m not a consumer, because consumers are consumed with shopping. No, I prefer shoplifting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-not-a-consumer-because-consumers-are-consumed-with-shopping-no-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I was an anorexic, beer drinking, class cutting, doodling, shoplifting, skater chick that was into nature, art class, and the beach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-miller/i-was-an-anorexic-beer-drinking-class-cutting-doodling-shoplifting/) [Rebecca Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-miller/) > [I think almost all manic depressives exhibit some kind of criminal behaviour, even if it's something as minimal as shoplifting, but then they often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/i-think-almost-all-manic-depressives-exhibit-some-kind-of-criminal/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [If you're a drug addict, often you're stealing - I've gotten done for shoplifting a few times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/if-you-re-a-drug-addict-often-you-re-stealing-i-ve-gotten-done-for/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [“Why the hell would I get arrested for shoplifting?” August pointed to Keegan's cock poking out of the slit of his boxers. “Because they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-wilder/why-the-hell-would-i-get-arrested-for-shoplifting-august-pointed-to/) [Adrienne Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-wilder/) > [When I was a kid, I got caught shoplifting by a store security guard in Ellensburg. The next time I saw that store guard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lanegan/when-i-was-a-kid-i-got-caught-shoplifting-by-a-store-security-guard/) [Mark Lanegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lanegan/) > [A Pennsylvania woman convicted for shoplifting was sentenced to wear a badge that reads "Convicted Shoplifter." However, her lawyers hope to plea bargain down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/a-pennsylvania-woman-convicted-for-shoplifting-was-sentenced-to-wear/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [“I recorded the ding-dong sound that shoplifting sensors at the doors of Wal-Mart make. Now I just stand at the exit and press play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-recorded-the-ding-dong-sound-that-shoplifting-sensors-at-the-doors/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Mom told us we would have to go shoplifting. Isn't that a sin?" I asked Mom. Not exactly," Mom said. "God doesn't mind you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/mom-told-us-we-would-have-to-go-shoplifting-isn-t-that-a-sin-i-asked/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) ## More by Audrey Niffenegger > [But you know: you know that if I could have stayed, if I could have gone on, that I would have clutched every second:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/but-you-know-you-know-that-if-i-could-have-stayed-if-i-could-have/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I look at him, look at the book, remember, this book, this moment, the first book I ever loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-look-at-him-look-at-the-book-remember-this-book-this-moment-the/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“When I was young I didn't understand, but now, I know, how absence can be present, like a damaged nerve, like a dark bird.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/when-i-was-young-i-didn-t-understand-but-now-i-know-how-absence-can/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [Everything seems simple until you think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/everything-seems-simple-until-you-think-about-it/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I place my hands over her ears and tip her head back, and kiss her, and try to put my heart into hers, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-place-my-hands-over-her-ears-and-tip-her-head-back-and-kiss-her-and/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“Sister Carmelita says animals don't have souls" "Of course animals have souls, where did she get that idea?" "She said the Pope says." "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/sister-carmelita-says-animals-don-t-have-souls-of-course-animals-have/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [We didn't think the library was funny looking in it's faux- Greek splendor, nor did we find the cuisine limited or bland, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/we-didn-t-think-the-library-was-funny-looking-in-it-s-faux-greek/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [He said something interesting: he said that he thinks there is only free will when you are in time, in the present. He says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/he-said-something-interesting-he-said-that-he-thinks-there-is-only/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“Dead is the most alone you can be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/dead-is-the-most-alone-you-can-be/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [What are you doing?" Nothing. Breaking and entering. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/what-are-you-doing-nothing-breaking-and-entering-pay-no-attention-to/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I won't ever leave you, even though you're always leaving me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-won-t-ever-leave-you-even-though-you-re-always-leaving-me/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“It seems like we're going to collide, and we laugh, and laugh, and nothing can ever be sad, no one can be lost, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/it-seems-like-we-re-going-to-collide-and-we-laugh-and-laugh-and/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“We were royally miserable together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/we-were-royally-miserable-together/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“No.” Valentina closed her eyes. Of course not. “It’ll be great, Mouse. We’ll have our own apartment, we won’t have to work,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/no-valentina-closed-her-eyes-of-course-not-it-ll-be-great-mouse-we-ll/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“I make books because I love them as objects; because I want to put the pictures and the words together, because I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-make-books-because-i-love-them-as-objects-because-i-want-to-put-the/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) [Explore all 250 Audrey Niffenegger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) ## More Climbing quotes > [I'm always climbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-caldwell/i-m-always-climbing/) [Tommy Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-caldwell/) > [There is nothing to do, just be. Do nothing. Be. No climbing mountains and sitting in caves. I do not even say "be yourself"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/there-is-nothing-to-do-just-be-do-nothing-be-no-climbing-mountains/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [I liked climbing trees and could often be found up one reading a book. I played games with Dad and drew maps for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/i-liked-climbing-trees-and-could-often-be-found-up-one-reading-a-book/) [Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/) > [Classic mountaineering grows out of a traditional romantic imagination. Its heart is the feeling, its path is blood, sweat and tears, and its restriction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wojciech-kurtyka/classic-mountaineering-grows-out-of-a-traditional-romantic/) [Wojciech Kurtyka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wojciech-kurtyka/) > [Placing my buttocks on a cold toilet seat is my climbing Mount Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/placing-my-buttocks-on-a-cold-toilet-seat-is-my-climbing-mount-everest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The ascent of any route begins, in dreams at least, the autumn before. Our minds ring, involuntarily, with the alluring names of mountains, aiguilles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-rebuffat/the-ascent-of-any-route-begins-in-dreams-at-least-the-autumn-before/) [Gaston Rebuffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-rebuffat/) > [“Climbing mattered. The danger bathed the world in a halogen glow that caused everything—the sweep of the rock, the orange and yellow lichens, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/climbing-mattered-the-danger-bathed-the-world-in-a-halogen-glow-that/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [The difference between a mountain and a molehill is your perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-neuharth/the-difference-between-a-mountain-and-a-molehill-is-your-perspective/) [Al Neuharth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-neuharth/) > [While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/while-cares-will-drop-off-like-autumn-leaves/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Climbing has worked for me in a number of ways on Capitol Hill. I'm much more inclined to look at what people do, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-udall/climbing-has-worked-for-me-in-a-number-of-ways-on-capitol-hill-i-m/) [Mark Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-udall/) > [I love finding something. For me it's not just about the athletic challenge, it's about finding new things. When I'm not doing that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/i-love-finding-something-for-me-it-s-not-just-about-the-athletic/) [Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/) > [I'm a man's man. I go out climbing and live outdoors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mccann/i-m-a-man-s-man-i-go-out-climbing-and-live-outdoors/) [Rory McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mccann/) > [The things that inform student culture are created and controlled by the unseen culture, the sociological aspects of our climbing culture, our 'me' generation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-things-that-inform-student-culture-are-created-and-controlled-by/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [For me, the most relevant factor in my ability to perform well on the rock has to do with my love of climbing. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-hill/for-me-the-most-relevant-factor-in-my-ability-to-perform-well-on-the/) [Lynn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-hill/) [Browse all 1,082 Climbing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel moderately bad about this whole thing. On the one hand, I am providing myself with urgently required survival skills. Other lessons in this series include Shoplifting, Beating People Up, Picking Locks, Climbing Trees, Driving, Housebreaking, Dumpster Diving, and How to Use Oddball Things like Venetian Blinds and Garbage Can Lids as Weapons. On the other hand, I’m corrupting my poor innocent little self. I sigh. 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