--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's nothing to be gained from passive…" description: "\"There's nothing to be gained from passive observance, the simple documenting of conditions, because, at its core, it sets a bad example. Every time som..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/dave-eggers-638_bad-example_there-s-nothing-to-be-gained-from-passiv_2516782.png" --- # There's nothing to be gained from passive observance, the… ![“There's nothing to be gained from passive observance, the simple documenting of conditions, because, at its core, it sets a bad example. Every time something is observed and not fixed, or when one has a chance to give in some way and does not, there is a lie being told, the same lie we all know by…” quote by Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/dave-eggers-638_bad-example_there-s-nothing-to-be-gained-from-passiv_2516782.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/dave-eggers-638_bad-example_there-s-nothing-to-be-gained-from-passiv_2516782.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/dave-eggers-638_bad-example_there-s-nothing-to-be-gained-from-passiv_2516782.png) > “There's nothing to be gained from passive observance, the simple documenting of conditions, because, at its core, it sets a bad example. Every time something is observed and not fixed, or when one has a chance to give in some way and does not, there is a lie being told, the same lie we all know by heart but which needn't be reiterated.” [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Passive observation without action creates falsehoods and undermines responsibility. **In simple terms:** Not acting while observing is lying. Key Takeaway Act when you can. Themes responsibility integrity activism Mood reflective serious Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - workplace - community activism - environmental issues - personal relationships Key Concepts ethical duty social accountability Questions to Reflect On - What situation have you observed but not addressed? - How can you turn observation into constructive action? A Different Perspective Passive observation can be necessary for learning before action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-example/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Fixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixed/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Lie Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie-told-400104/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Observance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observance/) [Observance Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observance-simple-1211107/) [Passive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passive/) [Passive Observance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passive-observance-1211106/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“Jon, could there be honor in a lie, if it were told for a...good purpose? - Samwell”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/jon-could-there-be-honor-in-a-lie-if-it-were-told-for-a-good-purpose/) [George R.R. 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And that was the biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-ritter/all-i-see-is-someone-running-away-from-who-he-really-is-i-ain-t/) [John H Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-ritter/) > [A myth is the name of a terrible lie told by a smelly little brown person to a man in a white suit with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-antin/a-myth-is-the-name-of-a-terrible-lie-told-by-a-smelly-little-brown/) [David Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-antin/) > [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The history of our race, and each individual’s experience, are sown thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-history-of-our-race-and-each-individual-s-experience-are-sown/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [What hurts the most is thinking you finally found a guy who promised to never lie to you. Told you everything you wanna hear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-hurts-the-most-is-thinking-you-finally-found-a-guy-who-promised/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Dave Eggers > [“4. THE CRUMBLING WALL (Hamburger, prepared medium well, with bacon and barbecue sauce. Courtesy of that place on Solano, where, it should be mentioned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/4-the-crumbling-wall-hamburger-prepared-medium-well-with-bacon-and/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [“LOW-FLYING, QUICK-MOVING CLOUDS: I haven't long to live. TREETOPS, ROUNDED AND ROUGH: That's probably true. LOW-FLYING, QUICK-MOVING CLOUDS: I won't even make it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/low-flying-quick-moving-clouds-i-haven-t-long-to-live-treetops/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [But the grind has begun. 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The trolls, who had more or less overtaken the internet, were driven back into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/overnight-all-comment-boards-became-civil-all-posters-held/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [“Have we wasted precious space dust on you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/have-we-wasted-precious-space-dust-on-you/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [“What can one do with one's hands when the camera is interested in other things?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/what-can-one-do-with-one-s-hands-when-the-camera-is-interested-in/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [“The money that could have saved the Shuttle, and the money we send to random countries, that we use to remake unchangeable countries ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/the-money-that-could-have-saved-the-shuttle-and-the-money-we-send-to/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [Write your goddamned book now. The world awaits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/write-your-goddamned-book-now-the-world-awaits/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [The only infallible truth of our lives is that everything we love in life will be taken from us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/the-only-infallible-truth-of-our-lives-is-that-everything-we-love-in/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [“First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And Also: You are tired. You are true of heart!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/first-of-all-i-am-tired-i-am-true-of-heart-and-also-you-are-tired-you/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [And what we were trying to offer every day was one-on-one attention. The goal was to have a one-to-one ratio with every one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/and-what-we-were-trying-to-offer-every-day-was-one-on-one-attention/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [Suffering is only suffering if it’s done in silence, in solitude. Pain experienced in public, in view of loving millions, was no longer pain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/suffering-is-only-suffering-if-it-s-done-in-silence-in-solitude-pain/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) [Explore all 428 Dave Eggers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) ## More Bad example quotes > [Recipients of transfers set a bad example for others, including their children, other relatives, and friends, who see that one can receive goods, services,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/recipients-of-transfers-set-a-bad-example-for-others-including-their/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [“So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think, say and do are not due primarily to our environment, nor are they bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-which-we-think-say-and-do-are/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [The NBA's chosen ones think I'm setting a bad example? I think they need to look around and stop taking themselves so seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/the-nba-s-chosen-ones-think-i-m-setting-a-bad-example-i-think-they/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [When you have girlfriend, there is no room for lies, no room for anything but truth.anything other that is a bad example, I believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paritoshik-sharma/when-you-have-girlfriend-there-is-no-room-for-lies-no-room-for/) [Paritoshik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paritoshik-sharma/) > [“Claire was just coming down the stairs, humming and thinking about how nice it was to have things getting back to normal, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/claire-was-just-coming-down-the-stairs-humming-and-thinking-about-how/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [I like putting my money into things like food and shelter. I'm probably a bad example of an investor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baker/i-like-putting-my-money-into-things-like-food-and-shelter-i-m/) [Simon Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baker/) > [Feminism is not a fad. It's not like Angry Birds. Although it does involve a lot of angry birds. Bad example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-christie/feminism-is-not-a-fad-it-s-not-like-angry-birds-although-it-does/) [Bridget Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-christie/) > [Nothing is more confusing than people who give good advice but set a bad example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/nothing-is-more-confusing-than-people-who-give-good-advice-but-set-a/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Greenlight is a bad example of an election process. We came to the conclusion pretty quickly that we could just do away with Greenlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-newell/greenlight-is-a-bad-example-of-an-election-process-we-came-to-the/) [Gabe Newell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-newell/) > [Whatever parent gives his children good instruction and sets them at the same time a bad example, may be considered as bringing them food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balguy/whatever-parent-gives-his-children-good-instruction-and-sets-them-at/) [John Balguy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-balguy/) > [“BARBIE GOES TO WAR There are more than a billion Barbies. Only the Chinese outnumber them. The most beloved woman on the planet would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/barbie-goes-to-war-there-are-more-than-a-billion-barbies-only-the/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [Who said I was wise? I’m a professional bad example. You can learn a lot by watching me. 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Although, those are bad examples as I am actually descended from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-piddock/the-truth-is-very-few-of-us-are-related-to-napoleon-or-cleopatra/) [Jim Piddock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-piddock/) [Browse all 86 Bad example quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-example/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's nothing to be gained from passive observance, the simple documenting of conditions, because, at its core, it sets a bad example. 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