--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing I didn't see back then is that…" description: "\"“The thing I didn't see back then is that people can be destroyed by goodness. Damage can be done by hope. If people aren't ready for hope, it's a crue..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/barbara-hall-34548_hope_the-thing-i-didn-t-see-back-then-is-that_645979.jpg" --- # The thing I didn't see back then is that people can be… ![“The thing I didn't see back then is that people can be destroyed by goodness. Damage can be done by hope. If people aren't ready for hope, it's a cruel trick to put it on their doorstep.” quote by Barbara Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/barbara-hall-34548_hope_the-thing-i-didn-t-see-back-then-is-that_645979.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/barbara-hall-34548_hope_the-thing-i-didn-t-see-back-then-is-that_645979.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/barbara-hall-34548_hope_the-thing-i-didn-t-see-back-then-is-that_645979.jpg) > ““The thing I didn't see back then is that people can be destroyed by goodness. Damage can be done by hope. If people aren't ready for hope, it's a cruel trick to put it on their doorstep.”” [Barbara Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Goodness and hope can be destructive if people are unprepared; imposing hope can be cruel. **In simple terms:** Unprepared hope and unchecked goodness may cause harm. Key Takeaway Offer hope responsibly and assess readiness. Themes hope goodness vulnerability Mood cautious empathetic Type ethical reflective When to use this quote - counseling - leadership - social activism Key Concepts psychology of optimism ethical responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you gauge someone's readiness for hope? - What safeguards prevent well‑intentioned actions from causing harm? A Different Perspective Hope can become a burden when expectations exceed capacity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Damage Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage-hope-5176644/) [Destroyed Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyed-goodness-5176646/) [Goodness Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness-damage-5176645/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hope People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-people/) [People Destroyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-destroyed-325599/) ## Related quotes > [They're criminals, they brutalized Afghanistan, they killed our people, they destroyed our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/they-re-criminals-they-brutalized-afghanistan-they-killed-our-people/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/my-people-are-destroyed-from-lack-of-knowledge/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [The people who have destroyed the health care system are also in line to destroy other aspects of our economy, the job market, immigration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-people-who-have-destroyed-the-health-care-system-are-also-in-line/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I knew that there had been times in the past-terrible times-when people had destroyed others in haste,in fear, and had brought about their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/i-knew-that-there-had-been-times-in-the-past-terrible-times-when/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [“My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-eyes-fail-from-weeping-i-am-in-torment-within-my-heart-is-poured/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Be cunning, and full of tricks, and your people will never be destroyed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/be-cunning-and-full-of-tricks-and-your-people-will-never-be-destroyed/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [Other people must be destroyed. In order that I might truly face the sun, the world itself must be destroyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/other-people-must-be-destroyed-in-order-that-i-might-truly-face-the/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [I've met people who were destroyed by Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-ve-met-people-who-were-destroyed-by-donald-trump/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“Has it ever struck you people how arrogant you are?" it asked, huge hands taking an attitude of query that bordered on accusation. "You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-abraham/has-it-ever-struck-you-people-how-arrogant-you-are-it-asked-huge/) [Daniel Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-abraham/) > [“That was what had finally broken through her blindness. Her father had saved his people and destroyed himself. As strong as he looked, inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/that-was-what-had-finally-broken-through-her-blindness-her-father-had/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [It is only when the hearts of the Women are in the mud, that the People are destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morning-star/it-is-only-when-the-hearts-of-the-women-are-in-the-mud-that-the/) [Morning Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morning-star/) > [“Oh! What honour for the female sex! It is perfectly obvious that God has special regard for it when all these wretched people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/oh-what-honour-for-the-female-sex-it-is-perfectly-obvious-that-god/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [If the liberties of the American people are ever destroyed, they will fall by the hands of the clergy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/if-the-liberties-of-the-american-people-are-ever-destroyed-they-will/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [Two things cause people to be destroyed: fear of poverty and seeking superiority through pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/two-things-cause-people-to-be-destroyed-fear-of-poverty-and-seeking/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [I hope people can see us SHINee, who are doing what we can do now, as we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onew/i-hope-people-can-see-us-shinee-who-are-doing-what-we-can-do-now-as/) [Onew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/onew/) ## More by Barbara Hall > [“I wanted to smell the guitars. It's hard to explain but they have a smell. And the best way I could ever describe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hall/i-wanted-to-smell-the-guitars-it-s-hard-to-explain-but-they-have-a/) [Barbara Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hall/) > [“You believe you have no soul. That's a disorganized thought in my world. -Sarah Lange to Dr. David Sutton”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hall/you-believe-you-have-no-soul-that-s-a-disorganized-thought-in-my/) [Barbara Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hall/) > [“Crazy people have color and imagination and the thing is, some of us aren't actually crazy. We're just right. -Sarah Lange”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hall/crazy-people-have-color-and-imagination-and-the-thing-is-some-of-us/) [Barbara Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hall/) > [“The greatest stories come from trying to make your own contradictions meet and get along.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hall/the-greatest-stories-come-from-trying-to-make-your-own-contradictions/) [Barbara Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hall/) > [ “\[The brain\] is just a landscape...We're Lewis and Clark. We have no idea what's going on in most of that terrain. It's wilderness, I'm… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hall/the-brain-is-just-a-landscape-we-re-lewis-and-clark-we-have-no-idea/) [Barbara Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hall/) > [You're alive. Do something. The directive in life, the moral imperative was so uncomplicated. It could be expressed in single words, not complete sentences.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hall/you-re-alive-do-something-the-directive-in-life-the-moral-imperative/) [Barbara Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hall/) > [“And maybe that is where rhythm comes from, I think. Our earliest understanding of rhythm. The sound of our own breath, the beating of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hall/and-maybe-that-is-where-rhythm-comes-from-i-think-our-earliest/) [Barbara Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hall/) > [“I felt for the first time, maybe ever, how much harder it was to be the adults. And I wasn't sure I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hall/i-felt-for-the-first-time-maybe-ever-how-much-harder-it-was-to-be-the/) [Barbara Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hall/) [Explore all 9 Barbara Hall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hall/) ## More Hope quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“What can we do in any hardship? We can hope with prayerful praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-can-we-do-in-any-hardship-we-can-hope-with-prayerful-praise/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stop trying to give me hope ... I have no room left for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-f/stop-trying-to-give-me-hope-i-have-no-room-left-for-it/) [Jenn F](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-f/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pray, hope, don't worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [I am at a point in my life where everything I have worked for starts to look like a burden, a weight on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-abou-samra/i-am-at-a-point-in-my-life-where-everything-i-have-worked-for-starts/) [Simone Abou Samra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-abou-samra/) > [Im really happy that I met you I hope you know that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/im-really-happy-that-i-met-you-i-hope-you-know-that/) [Im Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-nothing/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Browse all 24,868 Hope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The thing I didn't see back then is that people can be destroyed by goodness. 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