--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the most dangerous word in the…" description: "\"I think the most dangerous word in the English language is 'should.' 'I should have done this.' Or 'I should do that.' 'Should' implies responsibility...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/chris-pine-2168_dangerous_i-think-the-most-dangerous-word-in-the-e_746566.png" --- # I think the most dangerous word in the English language is… ![“I think the most dangerous word in the English language is 'should.' 'I should have done this.' Or 'I should do that.' 'Should' implies responsibility. It connotes demand. Which is just not the case. Life ebbs and flows.” quote by Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/chris-pine-2168_dangerous_i-think-the-most-dangerous-word-in-the-e_746566.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/chris-pine-2168_dangerous_i-think-the-most-dangerous-word-in-the-e_746566.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/chris-pine-2168_dangerous_i-think-the-most-dangerous-word-in-the-e_746566.png) > “I think the most dangerous word in the English language is 'should.' 'I should have done this.' Or 'I should do that.' 'Should' implies responsibility. It connotes demand. Which is just not the case. Life ebbs and flows.” [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The word “should” creates unnecessary pressure by implying obligation, which can hinder natural flow of life. **In simple terms:** “Should” adds pressure and limits freedom. Key Takeaway Release the burden of “should.” Themes responsibility self‑expectation mindset Mood reflective critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal decisions - career choices - relationship expectations - creative projects Key Concepts psychology self‑talk agency Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if you let go of “should”? - How does “should” affect your confidence? A Different Perspective Overcoming “should” may ignore useful standards or accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-language/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [Every right implies a responsibility; Every opportunity, an obligation, Every possession, a duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/every-right-implies-a-responsibility-every-opportunity-an-obligation/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-believe-that-every-right-implies-a-responsibility-every-opportunity/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [“Everything we do has significance. Every action, every thought leaves an imprint - not only on the self, but on the world, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/everything-we-do-has-significance-every-action-every-thought-leaves/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [I try to avoid saying 'fantastic' too often and 'obviously' is a dangerous word for all broadcasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/i-try-to-avoid-saying-fantastic-too-often-and-obviously-is-a/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [Someday. That's a dangerous word. It's really just a code for 'never'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/someday-that-s-a-dangerous-word-it-s-really-just-a-code-for-never/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [“Danger is the most dangerous word, because it encompasses all the dangerous words like gun, killer, etc.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/danger-is-the-most-dangerous-word-because-it-encompasses-all-the/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Established is a dangerous word for me. It could imply a modicum of complacency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/established-is-a-dangerous-word-for-me-it-could-imply-a-modicum-of/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) > [Beauty is a dangerous word. Beauty becomes slightly indulgent for me. It's a snatched kind of moment for me because I'm entitled to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/beauty-is-a-dangerous-word-beauty-becomes-slightly-indulgent-for-me/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [“someday" is a very dangerous word. it's a codeword for "never”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knight-and-day/someday-is-a-very-dangerous-word-it-s-a-codeword-for-never/) Knight and Day > [“Such a dangerous word, “why.” Because so often its answer led to places a person didn’t want to go. Vulnerable places.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-wilson/such-a-dangerous-word-why-because-so-often-its-answer-led-to-places-a/) [C.L. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-wilson/) > [“They won'y hurt me, right?" "Right," he said. "You're probably then times more dangerous than fireflies are" Dangerous. The word made his heart spike.Something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/they-won-y-hurt-me-right-right-he-said-you-re-probably-then-times/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [The most dangerous word in any human tongue is the word for brother. It's inflammatory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-most-dangerous-word-in-any-human-tongue-is-the-word-for-brother/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Welcome!" I said—the most dangerous word in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/welcome-i-said-the-most-dangerous-word-in-the-world/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [“Dangerous was the first word to come to mind as she held the blue eyes of the kitten holder. “I’m more likely to hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-theia/dangerous-was-the-first-word-to-come-to-mind-as-she-held-the-blue/) [V. Theia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-theia/) > [“Everything…dangerous word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-dangerous-word/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Chris Pine > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [Imagination is a pretty powerful thing, and when you're in the moment and you're riding a train and you're asked to look scared, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/imagination-is-a-pretty-powerful-thing-and-when-you-re-in-the-moment/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [The first audition I went out on was because my father was on an audition for a TV show called the 'Gilmore Girls,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/the-first-audition-i-went-out-on-was-because-my-father-was-on-an/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I'm very familiar with Tyler Perry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-m-very-familiar-with-tyler-perry/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [“I had a nose tickle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-had-a-nose-tickle/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I was a shy kid, a late bloomer. At 22, I was probably 16 emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-was-a-shy-kid-a-late-bloomer-at-22-i-was-probably-16-emotionally/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I'm an actor, but I am an awful liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-m-an-actor-but-i-am-an-awful-liar/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [It's not always the case that things will fall into your lap or that life will be great, but it's all about perspective and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/it-s-not-always-the-case-that-things-will-fall-into-your-lap-or-that/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [The only thing you sometimes have control over is perspective. You don't have control over your situation. But you have a choice about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/the-only-thing-you-sometimes-have-control-over-is-perspective-you-don/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I don't usually read self-help books, but I read a great book by a guy called Wayne Dyer: 'The Power of Intention,' which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-don-t-usually-read-self-help-books-but-i-read-a-great-book-by-a-guy/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [There's certainly the ego-based me that is very competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/there-s-certainly-the-ego-based-me-that-is-very-competitive/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I know the Just My Luck posters are around town and if it happens, I hope I deal with it well with certain relativity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-know-the-just-my-luck-posters-are-around-town-and-if-it-happens-i/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I broke my finger in a stunt in a very not-too-romantic way. I was just trying to tackle someone, and I just flicked his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-broke-my-finger-in-a-stunt-in-a-very-not-too-romantic-way-i-was/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I still assume that, any day, I'm going to be exposed as a fraud. That, like I once heard Gene Hackman say, the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-still-assume-that-any-day-i-m-going-to-be-exposed-as-a-fraud-that/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [Uh, I do not wear a wig in 'Star Trek' like I did in 'Bottle Shock,' thank God. 'Bottle Shock' will be the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/uh-i-do-not-wear-a-wig-in-star-trek-like-i-did-in-bottle-shock-thank/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) [Explore all 182 Chris Pine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) ## More Dangerous quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [“It is dangerous to lock oneself away and lose track of what is happening outside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/it-is-dangerous-to-lock-oneself-away-and-lose-track-of-what-is/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [Its extremely dangerous to compare anyone else to Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/its-extremely-dangerous-to-compare-anyone-else-to-shakespeare/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [In my youth-team days, I was always a left-winger who would stay close to the byline and put crosses in the box, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/in-my-youth-team-days-i-was-always-a-left-winger-who-would-stay-close/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [The temptations of God were always more dangerous for mankind than those of Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-temptations-of-god-were-always-more-dangerous-for-mankind-than/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [When you start talking about elections being rigged, you're pushing people beyond democratic governance. And it's a very, very dangerous thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-you-start-talking-about-elections-being-rigged-you-re-pushing/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Die gefährlichste Weltanschauung ist die Weltanschauung derer, die die Welt nie angeschaut haben. (The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/die-gef-hrlichste-weltanschauung-ist-die-weltanschauung-derer-die-die/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [The most dangerous creature here would have to be me. So maybe I'm just scared of my own shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-most-dangerous-creature-here-would-have-to-be-me-so-maybe-i-m/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The more people that learn about you, even if you're an underdog, then you can come under fire a lot and the more attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/the-more-people-that-learn-about-you-even-if-you-re-an-underdog-then/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) Browse all 6,450 Dangerous quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the most dangerous word in the English language is 'should.' 'I should have done this.' Or 'I should do that.' 'Should' implies responsibility. It connotes demand. Which is just not the case. 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