--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not bad, not bad. That's one down. Only a…" description: "\"“Not bad, not bad. That's one down. Only a million to go.' 'Right. Thanks, Shark.' I should have known to expect something like that from him. 'Now tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/bill-condon-10295_gratitude_not-bad-not-bad-that-s-one-down-only-a-m_537866.jpg" --- # Not bad, not bad. That's one down. Only a million to go.'… ![“Not bad, not bad. That's one down. Only a million to go.' 'Right. Thanks, Shark.' I should have known to expect something like that from him. 'Now that you've proven yourself I reckon you've earned a go at a very important assignment.' 'Making tea?' 'No, I said important. You want to have a crack…” quote by Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/bill-condon-10295_gratitude_not-bad-not-bad-that-s-one-down-only-a-m_537866.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/bill-condon-10295_gratitude_not-bad-not-bad-that-s-one-down-only-a-m_537866.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/bill-condon-10295_gratitude_not-bad-not-bad-that-s-one-down-only-a-m_537866.jpg) > ““Not bad, not bad. That's one down. Only a million to go.' 'Right. Thanks, Shark.' I should have known to expect something like that from him. 'Now that you've proven yourself I reckon you've earned a go at a very important assignment.' 'Making tea?' 'No, I said important. You want to have a crack at it?' 'All right. That'd be good.' 'That's the way. Run down the post office and get the mail for us. Key's hanging up in the front office. When you come back, I want you to open it up and sort it into three piles: good stuff, bad stuff, and shit. Off you go.' You bastard, Shark. You bastard . I say that to myself as I trudge away.”” [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character assigns a seemingly trivial task that masks deeper trust and responsibility, highlighting how small duties can reveal character and loyalty. **In simple terms:** A small task tests loyalty and reveals character. Key Takeaway Recognize the significance in mundane assignments. Themes trust loyalty testing character responsibility Mood cautious reflective Type analytical observational When to use this quote - team projects - mentorship - office tasks - personal growth - leadership Key Concepts psychology social dynamics power relations Questions to Reflect On - What hidden expectations might be behind simple requests? - How do you gauge trust in everyday interactions? A Different Perspective The task may be a distraction, preventing focus on larger goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) ## Related quotes > [“What on earth did I ask him to tea for!” he said to himself, as he went to the pantry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/what-on-earth-did-i-ask-him-to-tea-for-he-said-to-himself-as-he-went/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“He doesn't drink coffee or tea,' I said. 'We just drink the blood of our enemies,' Nicky said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-doesn-t-drink-coffee-or-tea-i-said-we-just-drink-the-blood-of-our/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Lord Teddie?" she said. "Will you stay for tea?" " Rather! " said the carpet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/lord-teddie-she-said-will-you-stay-for-tea-rather-said-the-carpet/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“sense that, and did not ask. Instead he inclined his head toward the daycare center and said, “It’s kind of sad if you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tigner/sense-that-and-did-not-ask-instead-he-inclined-his-head-toward-the/) [Tim Tigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tigner/) > [Now you understand the Oriental passion for tea, said Japhy. Remember that book I told you about the first sip is joy, the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/now-you-understand-the-oriental-passion-for-tea-said-japhy-remember/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I can just imagine myself sitting down at the head of the table and pouring out the tea," said Anne, shutting her eyes ecstatically.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-just-imagine-myself-sitting-down-at-the-head-of-the-table-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He grimaced. ‘Jesus, for a girl who made tea for a living you make a terrible cup.’ ‘You’re just used to lesbian tea,’ I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/he-grimaced-jesus-for-a-girl-who-made-tea-for-a-living-you-make-a/) [jojo moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [“Tea, tea, tea - what? What?' I said. It wasn't what I had meant to say. My idea had been to be a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/tea-tea-tea-what-what-i-said-it-wasn-t-what-i-had-meant-to-say-my/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“When she offered me a spot of tea, I said, “No thanks, I’ve already got a spot of tea on my shirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/when-she-offered-me-a-spot-of-tea-i-said-no-thanks-i-ve-already-got-a/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“You go away and have a nice cup of hot tea,' said the agent, soothingly, 'and you'll be as right as anything in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/you-go-away-and-have-a-nice-cup-of-hot-tea-said-the-agent-soothingly/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [I don't want tea," said Clary, with muffled force. "I want to find my mother. And then I want to find out who took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-want-tea-said-clary-with-muffled-force-i-want-to-find-my/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Hot tea," he said, holding the cups. "It's just wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/hot-tea-he-said-holding-the-cups-it-s-just-wrong/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [As far as her mom was concerned, tea fixed everything. Have a cold? Have some tea. Broken bones? There's a tea for that too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/as-far-as-her-mom-was-concerned-tea-fixed-everything-have-a-cold-have/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [Perhaps there can be too much making of cups of tea, I thought, as I watched Miss Statham filling the heavy teapot. Did we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pym/perhaps-there-can-be-too-much-making-of-cups-of-tea-i-thought-as-i/) [Barbara Pym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-pym/) > [“My aunt seems to think you need res­cu­ing, sir,” Viola laughed. “Are you afraid of me?” “Ter­ri­fied,” he replied, chuck­ling. “See? I’m drink­ing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-lejeune/my-aunt-seems-to-think-you-need-res-cu-ing-sir-viola-laughed-are-you/) Tamara Lejeune ## More by Bill Condon > [I really think the biopic thing so rarely works, because peoples lives dont have a dramatic shape that can be satisfying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/i-really-think-the-biopic-thing-so-rarely-works-because-peoples-lives/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [But you really - I always think that a director has got to adapt to whatever the needs of the actor are. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/but-you-really-i-always-think-that-a-director-has-got-to-adapt-to/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [“Bull spots us and gives his two-thumbs salute, trotting backwards. Imm-pressive! All those years of practice are starting to pay off - his footy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/bull-spots-us-and-gives-his-two-thumbs-salute-trotting-backwards-imm/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [“I stroll into the kitchen. Bull's making lunch. He's actually no relation to me, though secretly I look on him as my big brother,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/i-stroll-into-the-kitchen-bull-s-making-lunch-he-s-actually-no/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [In Hollywood through the 50s, there were black, English, and Middle European housekeepers and maids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/in-hollywood-through-the-50s-there-were-black-english-and-middle/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [I know a little more about Kinsey than I know about sex because that is his subject not mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/i-know-a-little-more-about-kinsey-than-i-know-about-sex-because-that/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [That day I think we really saw each other for the first time. I mean, saw beyond the bag of bones on the outside.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/that-day-i-think-we-really-saw-each-other-for-the-first-time-i-mean/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [When it comes to two of the big social earthquakes in the last fifty years - which are the gay movement and the women's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/when-it-comes-to-two-of-the-big-social-earthquakes-in-the-last-fifty/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [Kinsey kick started a lot in shocking people with how much homosexual activity there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/kinsey-kick-started-a-lot-in-shocking-people-with-how-much-homosexual/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [I don't think 'Twilight' should be approached like 'Batman.' Because it is an invented kind of world, especially this one, I think it's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/i-don-t-think-twilight-should-be-approached-like-batman-because-it-is/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [I do think that's so much a part of what being a director is - in working with actors - to really try and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/i-do-think-that-s-so-much-a-part-of-what-being-a-director-is-in/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [Kinsey thought that Freud in his own way was as dangerous as the Catholic Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/kinsey-thought-that-freud-in-his-own-way-was-as-dangerous-as-the/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [“Tiff like in Breakfast at Tiffany's,' he says. 'Right?' I couldn't be more shocked. 'Um... yes, that's right - it's an old movie.' 'Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/tiff-like-in-breakfast-at-tiffany-s-he-says-right-i-couldn-t-be-more/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [But the imposition of morality onto science, - where it does not belong - has become rampant in recent years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/but-the-imposition-of-morality-onto-science-where-it-does-not-belong/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [I had a couple of movies that I was passionately involved with that I could never get made. 'Richard Pryor,' I wrote for -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/i-had-a-couple-of-movies-that-i-was-passionately-involved-with-that-i/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) [Explore all 66 Bill Condon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) ## More Front office quotes > [We have a lot of guys from different backgrounds in pit crews and even in the front offices of NASCAR and race teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/we-have-a-lot-of-guys-from-different-backgrounds-in-pit-crews-and/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [There's a responsibility to the coaches, to the organization, to the front office, to the owners, to everybody who believes in you enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/there-s-a-responsibility-to-the-coaches-to-the-organization-to-the/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I always thought front office work, being with the team day in and day out, that was something I wasn't going to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-always-thought-front-office-work-being-with-the-team-day-in-and-day/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I put that on myself with not telling the Knicks. It was just bad timing but I'm not perfect, far from it. The front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/i-put-that-on-myself-with-not-telling-the-knicks-it-was-just-bad/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [Playing 16 years is completely unexpected and going through everything we went through. Big disappointments, huge wins, creating that type of union with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-ginobili/playing-16-years-is-completely-unexpected-and-going-through/) [Manu Ginobili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-ginobili/) > [What I made clear to our front office is we're going to be judged by wins and losses. It isn't about having a marquee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanie-buss/what-i-made-clear-to-our-front-office-is-we-re-going-to-be-judged-by/) [Jeanie Buss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanie-buss/) > [I have a vision for what I want wrestling to be, and I was fortunate not just to have the opportunity to show my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-omega/i-have-a-vision-for-what-i-want-wrestling-to-be-and-i-was-fortunate/) [Kenny Omega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-omega/) > [It's hard to be successful over the long term if you're not unified and there's not that synergy between coach and front office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-van-gundy/it-s-hard-to-be-successful-over-the-long-term-if-you-re-not-unified/) [Stan Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-van-gundy/) > [One of the reasons I'm lucky is to be around an owner like Jerry Jones. I'm not just saying it. The reality of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-romo/one-of-the-reasons-i-m-lucky-is-to-be-around-an-owner-like-jerry/) [Tony Romo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-romo/) > [At the end of the day, when you are in the front office, your tenure is dictated by the people surrounding you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/at-the-end-of-the-day-when-you-are-in-the-front-office-your-tenure-is/) [Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/) > [“That God is in truth the sort of bloodthirsty paranoid Who would rend to bits forty-two children for the crime of sassing one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/that-god-is-in-truth-the-sort-of-bloodthirsty-paranoid-who-would-rend/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Communicate with the front office, communicate with the staff, communicate with the secretaries, everybody. And make everybody feel a part of something. That's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-pederson/communicate-with-the-front-office-communicate-with-the-staff/) [Doug Pederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-pederson/) > [I can't tell you how much it means for the Dodgers' front office, who were already winning without me, to bring me over to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-machado/i-can-t-tell-you-how-much-it-means-for-the-dodgers-front-office-who/) [Manny Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-machado/) > [It's a business with the coaches. It's a business with the front office. So I don't get too tied up if I'm appreciated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jae-crowder/it-s-a-business-with-the-coaches-it-s-a-business-with-the-front/) [Jae Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jae-crowder/) > [“Rosenfeld runs the metropolitan staff, the Post's largest, like a football coach. He prods his players, letting them know that he has promised the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-bernstein/rosenfeld-runs-the-metropolitan-staff-the-post-s-largest-like-a/) [Carl Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-bernstein/) Browse all 62 Front office quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Not bad, not bad. That's one down. Only a million to go.' 'Right. Thanks, Shark.' I should have known to expect something like that from him. 'Now that you've proven yourself I reckon you've earned a go at a very important assignment.' 'Making tea?' 'No, I said important. You want to have a crack at it?' 'All right. That'd be good.' 'That's the way. Run down the post office and get the mail for us. Key's hanging up in the front office. When you come back, I want you to open it up and sort it into three piles: good stuff, bad stuff, and shit. Off you go.' You bastard, Shark. You bastard . I say that to myself as I trudge away.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Condon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/not-bad-not-bad-that-s-one-down-only-a-million-to-go-right-thanks/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Front office" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/not-bad-not-bad-that-s-one-down-only-a-million-to-go-right-thanks/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/bill-condon-10295_gratitude_not-bad-not-bad-that-s-one-down-only-a-m_537866.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/bill-condon-10295_gratitude_not-bad-not-bad-that-s-one-down-only-a-m_537866.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/bill-condon-10295_gratitude_not-bad-not-bad-that-s-one-down-only-a-m_537866.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not bad, not bad. That's one down. Only a million to go.' 'Right. Thanks, Shark.' I should have known to…” — Bill Condon", "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": "Bill Condon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Not bad, not bad. That's one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/not-bad-not-bad-that-s-one-down-only-a-million-to-go-right-thanks/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/not-bad-not-bad-that-s-one-down-only-a-million-to-go-right-thanks/#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 } } ] } ```