--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you can't be a good example, then you…" description: "\"If you can't be a good example, then you will just have to be a horrible warning.\" — Catherine Aird" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/catherine-aird-59363_quote_if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you_2077843.jpg" --- # If you can't be a good example, then you will just have to… ![“If you can't be a good example, then you will just have to be a horrible warning.” quote by Catherine Aird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/catherine-aird-59363_quote_if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you_2077843.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/catherine-aird-59363_quote_if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you_2077843.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/catherine-aird-59363_quote_if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you_2077843.jpg) > “If you can't be a good example, then you will just have to be a horrible warning.” [Catherine Aird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-aird/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If you cannot model positive behavior, you become a negative example that deters others. **In simple terms:** Bad example serves as a warning. Key Takeaway Avoid being a negative role model. Themes leadership ethics influence Mood reflective concerned Type advice ethical When to use this quote - workplace - family gatherings - community events - public policy Key Concepts role modeling social learning Questions to Reflect On - How can you become a better role model? - What warning does your behavior send? A Different Perspective Positive impact requires proactive good behavior, not just avoiding harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Example Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example-just-4042816/) [Good example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-example/) [Horrible Warning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible-warning-516843/) [Just Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-horrible-361530/) [Warning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warning/) ## Related quotes > [If you can't be a good example, you'll just have to be a horrible warning." -Gwen Goodnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-you-ll-just-have-to-be-a-horrible/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [If you can't be a good example . . . you'll just have to be a horrible warning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-you-ll-just-have-to-be-a-horrible-2/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“If you can't be a good example, At least be a horrible warning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aileen-wuornos/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-at-least-be-a-horrible-warning/) [Aileen Wuornos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aileen-wuornos/) > [“If you can't be a good example, settle for being a horrible warning”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-settle-for-being-a-horrible-warning/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [If I couldn't be a good example, I'd just have to be a horrible warning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/if-i-couldn-t-be-a-good-example-i-d-just-have-to-be-a-horrible-warning/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [Instagram is a great example of you just doing your thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-coyne/instagram-is-a-great-example-of-you-just-doing-your-thing/) [Wayne Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-coyne/) > [“So maybe this was another example of nothing ever being just one thing. No motive is pure. No one is good or bad—but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/so-maybe-this-was-another-example-of-nothing-ever-being-just-one/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [Actions speak louder than words, and the best way to set an example is to just go out and do a good job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/actions-speak-louder-than-words-and-the-best-way-to-set-an-example-is/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [If you cant be a good example, be a terrible warning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-cant-be-a-good-example-be-a-terrible-warning/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you can't be a good example then you'll have to be a terrible warning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-braun-levine/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you-ll-have-to-be-a-terrible/) [Suzanne Braun Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-braun-levine/) > [If you can't be a good example, then be a terrible warning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-be-a-terrible-warning/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [The writing is just a boring job. It's just a horrible job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemaine-clement/the-writing-is-just-a-boring-job-it-s-just-a-horrible-job/) [Jemaine Clement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemaine-clement/) > [“You could just go for 'not horrible' and consider it done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-younge-ullman/you-could-just-go-for-not-horrible-and-consider-it-done/) [Danielle Younge-Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-younge-ullman/) > [I just keep my horrible side well hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-browne/i-just-keep-my-horrible-side-well-hidden/) [Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-browne/) > [“I don’t bother to explain that just because something is horrible does not make it any less true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/i-don-t-bother-to-explain-that-just-because-something-is-horrible/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) ## More by Catherine Aird > [“He did his best to explain this to Inspector Sloan afterwards. 'A funny feeling, sir.' 'Yes?' Funny feelings were not encouraged at Berebury Police…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-aird/he-did-his-best-to-explain-this-to-inspector-sloan-afterwards-a-funny/) [Catherine Aird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-aird/) > [“Though,' observed Sloan profoundly, 'where there's a will there's usually a relative.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-aird/though-observed-sloan-profoundly-where-there-s-a-will-there-s-usually/) [Catherine Aird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-aird/) > [“Sloane wasn't interested. As a police officer he was concerned with crime, not punishment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-aird/sloane-wasn-t-interested-as-a-police-officer-he-was-concerned-with/) [Catherine Aird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-aird/) > [“Although the last enemy might be death, in long and sad police experience, the first enemy could usually be found, Cain and Abel fashion, within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-aird/although-the-last-enemy-might-be-death-in-long-and-sad-police/) [Catherine Aird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-aird/) [Explore all 5 Catherine Aird quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-aird/) ## More Good example quotes > [I just feel that the only power I have is setting a good example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-just-feel-that-the-only-power-i-have-is-setting-a-good-example/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) > [Share the way by being a good example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/share-the-way-by-being-a-good-example/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you can't be a good example, then be a terrible warning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-be-a-terrible-warning/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [I am not a good example of an urban pastor. Because of the way I believe God calls me to use my time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/i-am-not-a-good-example-of-an-urban-pastor-because-of-the-way-i/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Diego Costa is a good example. He's doing very well, and he's arguably one of the best strikers in the world, so I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-abraham/diego-costa-is-a-good-example-he-s-doing-very-well-and-he-s-arguably/) [Tammy Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-abraham/) > [You never realize what you have until its gone. Toilet paper is a good example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itsme867/you-never-realize-what-you-have-until-its-gone-toilet-paper-is-a-good/) [Itsme867](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itsme867/) > [I wish people had given me things when I didn't have any money then I would take it, but now, I've got a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naughty-boy/i-wish-people-had-given-me-things-when-i-didn-t-have-any-money-then-i/) [Naughty Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naughty-boy/) > [If I'm doing a logo, I'll do it in black and white. Once the form is feeling right, only then do I start exploring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carson/if-i-m-doing-a-logo-i-ll-do-it-in-black-and-white-once-the-form-is/) [David Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carson/) > [If you can't be a good example, you'll just have to be a horrible warning." -Gwen Goodnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-you-ll-just-have-to-be-a-horrible/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [What we have achieved is a good example of how the right policies deliver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodrigo-rato/what-we-have-achieved-is-a-good-example-of-how-the-right-policies/) [Rodrigo Rato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodrigo-rato/) > [If you can be a good example to other people, why not try to be that person? I have a bit of a people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-osnes/if-you-can-be-a-good-example-to-other-people-why-not-try-to-be-that/) [Laura Osnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-osnes/) > [We live in an age that hath more need of good example than precepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/we-live-in-an-age-that-hath-more-need-of-good-example-than-precepts/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [My dream is to own a Hockney - I'm a Yorkshireman, and his vibrant colours are a good example of how the north-country people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/my-dream-is-to-own-a-hockney-i-m-a-yorkshireman-and-his-vibrant/) [Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/) > [Really, if the lower orders don't set a good example, what on earth is the use of them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/really-if-the-lower-orders-don-t-set-a-good-example-what-on-earth-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I never wanted to be a good example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-never-wanted-to-be-a-good-example/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) [Browse all 110 Good example quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-example/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you can't be a good example, then you will just have to be a horrible warning.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catherine Aird" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-aird/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you-will-just-have-to-be-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good example" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-aird/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you-will-just-have-to-be-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/catherine-aird-59363_quote_if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you_2077843.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/catherine-aird-59363_quote_if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you_2077843.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/catherine-aird-59363_quote_if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you_2077843.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you can't be a good example, then you will just have to be a horrible warning.” — Catherine Aird", "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": "Catherine Aird", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-aird/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you can't be a good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-aird/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you-will-just-have-to-be-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-aird/if-you-can-t-be-a-good-example-then-you-will-just-have-to-be-a/#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 } } ] } ```