--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, child, I'd tell you to be careful…" description: "\"“Well, child, I'd tell you to be careful, except for two things. One, it wouldn't do any good anyhow. And two, I think we tell each other that too much..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/catherine-ryan-hyde-2597_careful_well-child-i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-ex_861668.png" --- # Well, child, I'd tell you to be careful, except for two… ![“Well, child, I'd tell you to be careful, except for two things. One, it wouldn't do any good anyhow. And two, I think we tell each other that too much. Be careful. Don't get hurt. Don't take chances. Don't try anything. Don't feel. Might as well be telling each other not to be alive at all. Boils…” quote by Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/catherine-ryan-hyde-2597_careful_well-child-i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-ex_861668.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/catherine-ryan-hyde-2597_careful_well-child-i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-ex_861668.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/catherine-ryan-hyde-2597_careful_well-child-i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-ex_861668.png) > ““Well, child, I'd tell you to be careful, except for two things. One, it wouldn't do any good anyhow. And two, I think we tell each other that too much. Be careful. Don't get hurt. Don't take chances. Don't try anything. Don't feel. Might as well be telling each other not to be alive at all. Boils down to the same thing.”” [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker warns against overcautiousness, suggesting that excessive fear prevents living fully and taking meaningful risks. **In simple terms:** Too much caution stops us from truly living. Key Takeaway Embrace risk, feel, and live. Themes caution risk authenticity Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - personal growth - creative pursuits - career decisions - health choices Key Concepts existentialism self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What risks are you avoiding? - How does fear limit your life? A Different Perspective Excessive caution can lead to missed opportunities and stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ## Related quotes > [“Be careful with the things you do to people because that person can do it back to you and they just might be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunnyz/be-careful-with-the-things-you-do-to-people-because-that-person-can/) [sunnyz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunnyz/) > [“I know better than to tell you to be careful, or to come home. But I want you home. Soon. And I want him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-know-better-than-to-tell-you-to-be-careful-or-to-come-home-but-i/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Be careful of things that shine too bright, they get you blinded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-p-uy/be-careful-of-things-that-shine-too-bright-they-get-you-blinded/) Mark P Uy > [Be careful of things like alcohol and drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/be-careful-of-things-like-alcohol-and-drugs/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [They tell you to be careful because maybe you don't want to meet your heroes. I've met pretty much every one, and I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/they-tell-you-to-be-careful-because-maybe-you-don-t-want-to-meet-your/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I'm pretty careful about the things I say ahead of time. I'm thoughtful about not going too far. The only thing you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/i-m-pretty-careful-about-the-things-i-say-ahead-of-time-i-m/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [“Next time when I tell you to do something, you do it. And be careful with your dirty mouth, it can get you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-sky/next-time-when-i-tell-you-to-do-something-you-do-it-and-be-careful/) [Dora Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-sky/) > [Never tell anyone to be careful, never ask what that noise was, and for the love of God, never, ever say that you'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-tell-anyone-to-be-careful-never-ask-what-that-noise-was-and-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We should definitely be more careful about the things that we chose to do with our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-knight/we-should-definitely-be-more-careful-about-the-things-that-we-chose/) [Gladys Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-knight/) > [Be careful out there. There are things that go bump in the night. Actually, there are things that go 'Give me your wallet or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larroquette/be-careful-out-there-there-are-things-that-go-bump-in-the-night/) [John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) > [I think that we all got to have respect for each other. And we could all be more careful with the things we say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sage-northcutt/i-think-that-we-all-got-to-have-respect-for-each-other-and-we-could/) [Sage Northcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sage-northcutt/) > [If you love me, like you tell me Please be careful with my heart You can take it, just don't break it Or my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/if-you-love-me-like-you-tell-me-please-be-careful-with-my-heart-you/) [Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/) > [I worry because I care. Gods help me, I know I shouldn't, but I do. So I will always tell you to be careful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-worry-because-i-care-gods-help-me-i-know-i-shouldn-t-but-i-do-so-i/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I’d tell you to be careful, but I know you’ve got eyes in the back of your head.” “Tried that once. Too disorienting.” “You’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-correia/i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-but-i-know-you-ve-got-eyes-in-the-back-of/) [Larry Correia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-correia/) > [I'm definitely very careful about the things that I want to be a part of, but it's also important for me to get dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-m-definitely-very-careful-about-the-things-that-i-want-to-be-a-part/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) ## More by Catherine Ryan Hyde > [“That’s all addiction really is. It’s trading away the future so you can feel OK right now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/that-s-all-addiction-really-is-it-s-trading-away-the-future-so-you/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“He knew then why his voice had abandoned him. Because it takes courage to talk to people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/he-knew-then-why-his-voice-had-abandoned-him-because-it-takes-courage/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“Besides, they looked like brothers. They looked like two examples of the same theme.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/besides-they-looked-like-brothers-they-looked-like-two-examples-of/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“he was upset. Though hopefully not at her. But upset is a funny thing. It looks for places to direct itself. It’s an emotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/he-was-upset-though-hopefully-not-at-her-but-upset-is-a-funny-thing/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“I see the sun, high overhead, and then I know. This darkness doesn’t belong to the night. It belongs to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/i-see-the-sun-high-overhead-and-then-i-know-this-darkness-doesn-t/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“No. It’s not your job to convince him. It’s his job to believe it. This is his shortcoming, not yours. He needs to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/no-it-s-not-your-job-to-convince-him-it-s-his-job-to-believe-it-this/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“When are you going to learn to act in your own best interests? In spite of what your emotions tell you to do?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/when-are-you-going-to-learn-to-act-in-your-own-best-interests-in/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“Until you get it that’s he’s only what his experience has shaped him to be, you’re seeing him as subhuman. As ‘other’ somehow. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/until-you-get-it-that-s-he-s-only-what-his-experience-has-shaped-him/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“I find it touching, almost enviable, that a person with so little feels she has all she needs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/i-find-it-touching-almost-enviable-that-a-person-with-so-little-feels/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [Because it proves that you don't need much to change the entire world for the better. You can start with the most ordinary ingredients.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/because-it-proves-that-you-don-t-need-much-to-change-the-entire-world/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“Other people always bring complications. That’s just the nature of human relationships. You can’t separate people from their complications. Uncomplicated and alone are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/other-people-always-bring-complications-that-s-just-the-nature-of/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“Everything grows best in oxygen and sunlight except secrets and guilt and regrets. They”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/everything-grows-best-in-oxygen-and-sunlight-except-secrets-and-guilt/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“No happy marriage was, in his estimation, ever based on thoughtless, automatic untruths and exclusions. And the best way to make someone unhappy, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/no-happy-marriage-was-in-his-estimation-ever-based-on-thoughtless/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“But mostly I just kept reminding myself to burn every moment into my memory. I just tried to be sure I was always there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/but-mostly-i-just-kept-reminding-myself-to-burn-every-moment-into-my/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“So, I guess people figure it's not as hard to lose your mother when you never got along anyway. But they're wrong. They're dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/so-i-guess-people-figure-it-s-not-as-hard-to-lose-your-mother-when/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) [Explore all 154 Catherine Ryan Hyde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) ## More Careful quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Only careful political manoeuvring will be able to manage the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davan-yahya-khalil/only-careful-political-manoeuvring-will-be-able-to-manage-the/) Davan Yahya Khalil > [Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the worst Spanish student in the history of the language.” I laughed. “No problemo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/be-careful-i-wouldn-t-want-anything-to-happen-to-the-worst-spanish/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/) [Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/) > [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [Be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone-2/be-careful-the-friends-you-choose-for-you-will-become-like-them/) W Clement Stone > [A woman who is careful with her words is a gift to all who know her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/a-woman-who-is-careful-with-her-words-is-a-gift-to-all-who-know-her/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have to be careful to get out before I become the grotesque caricature of a hatchet-faced woman with big knockers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-have-to-be-careful-to-get-out-before-i-become-the-grotesque/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/) [Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/) > [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) Browse all 2,861 Careful quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Well, child, I'd tell you to be careful, except for two things. One, it wouldn't do any good anyhow. And two, I think we tell each other that too much. Be careful. Don't get hurt. Don't take chances. Don't try anything. Don't feel. Might as well be telling each other not to be alive at all. Boils down to the same thing.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catherine Ryan Hyde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/well-child-i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-except-for-two-things-one-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Careful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/well-child-i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-except-for-two-things-one-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/catherine-ryan-hyde-2597_careful_well-child-i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-ex_861668.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/catherine-ryan-hyde-2597_careful_well-child-i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-ex_861668.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/826/catherine-ryan-hyde-2597_careful_well-child-i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-ex_861668.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well, child, I'd tell you to be careful, except for two things. One, it wouldn't do any good anyhow. And…” — Catherine Ryan Hyde", "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 Ryan Hyde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Well, child, I'd tell you to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/well-child-i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-except-for-two-things-one-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/well-child-i-d-tell-you-to-be-careful-except-for-two-things-one-it/#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 } } ] } ```