--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though there are still many good people…" description: "\"Though there are still many good people out there in the world, it seems that they're vastly outnumbered by the stupid, selfish, violent ones.\" — Donal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c2/donald-ray-pollock-7796_good-people_though-there-are-still-many-good-people_2089720.png" --- # Though there are still many good people out there in the… ![“Though there are still many good people out there in the world, it seems that they're vastly outnumbered by the stupid, selfish, violent ones.” quote by Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c2/donald-ray-pollock-7796_good-people_though-there-are-still-many-good-people_2089720.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c2/donald-ray-pollock-7796_good-people_though-there-are-still-many-good-people_2089720.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c2/donald-ray-pollock-7796_good-people_though-there-are-still-many-good-people_2089720.png) > “Though there are still many good people out there in the world, it seems that they're vastly outnumbered by the stupid, selfish, violent ones.” [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good people exist but are outnumbered by those driven by selfishness and violence. **In simple terms:** Good is rarer than bad. Key Takeaway Promote kindness despite negativity. Themes goodness evil society Mood cynical concerned Type observational critical When to use this quote - community building - media consumption - political discourse Key Concepts ethical relativism social critique Questions to Reflect On - Can we change selfish behavior? - What fuels societal violence? A Different Perspective Not all bad people are irredeemable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Outnumbered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outnumbered/) [Outnumbered Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outnumbered-stupid-4125269/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-violent-4125271/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Vastly Outnumbered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vastly-outnumbered-4125270/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [In a world that contains tragedies, we must realize that they’re vastly outnumbered by blessings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/in-a-world-that-contains-tragedies-we-must-realize-that-they-re/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“I was outnumbered, unarmed, weak, and screwed. In that order.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-was-outnumbered-unarmed-weak-and-screwed-in-that-order/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“These flies were half the size of my fist. They came at you and stuck to you with a single-minded purpose you had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-cheney/these-flies-were-half-the-size-of-my-fist-they-came-at-you-and-stuck/) [Terri Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-cheney/) > [The enemy are only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/som-nath-sharma/the-enemy-are-only-50-yards-from-us-we-are-heavily-outnumbered-we-are/) [Som Nath Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/som-nath-sharma/) > [High school wasn't so bad though because, by then, I had worked out that there were far more nerdy kids and poor kids than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/high-school-wasn-t-so-bad-though-because-by-then-i-had-worked-out/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [“I don't like peoples, only persons among peoples. I've developed an allergy against being outnumbered, a price for originality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-spellman/i-don-t-like-peoples-only-persons-among-peoples-i-ve-developed-an/) [Brian Spellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-spellman/) > [I'm so thankful to Fox News for the chance to be on 'Outnumbered,' but I'm leaving to focus on other things. I have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-mccain/i-m-so-thankful-to-fox-news-for-the-chance-to-be-on-outnumbered-but-i/) [Meghan McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-mccain/) > [There are a lot of women screenwriters, but they are obviously outnumbered by men. And it still is a very much male-dominated industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-meriwether/there-are-a-lot-of-women-screenwriters-but-they-are-obviously/) [Elizabeth Meriwether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-meriwether/) > [“Maybe that was it - they were just afraid. Strange, they have me outnumbered and outgunned, but they're still so afraid. It's amazing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas/maybe-that-was-it-they-were-just-afraid-strange-they-have-me/) [Michael Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas/) > [“Today, scientists and doctors find themselves outnumbered and outgunned by vast armies of individuals who feel entitled to pass judgment on matters of evidence—an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-goldacre/today-scientists-and-doctors-find-themselves-outnumbered-and/) [Ben Goldacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-goldacre/) > [If you go to any boardroom... the women are, by far, outnumbered by the men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-bhattacharya/if-you-go-to-any-boardroom-the-women-are-by-far-outnumbered-by-the-men/) [Arundhati Bhattacharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-bhattacharya/) > [There is only one you. God wanted you to be you. Don't you dare change just because you're outnumbered!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/there-is-only-one-you-god-wanted-you-to-be-you-don-t-you-dare-change/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [“The vestiges of a once large and mighty army lay in scattered ruins. Its leaders had abandoned it – fled, to save their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-gemini-sasson/the-vestiges-of-a-once-large-and-mighty-army-lay-in-scattered-ruins/) [N. Gemini Sasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-gemini-sasson/) > [There is only one you…don't dare change because you are outnumbered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-swindoll/there-is-only-one-you-don-t-dare-change-because-you-are-outnumbered/) [Charles Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-swindoll/) > [Well, if you look at the programme that we're offering, I think that is a future which is fair for women as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-harman/well-if-you-look-at-the-programme-that-we-re-offering-i-think-that-is/) [Harriet Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-harman/) ## More by Donald Ray Pollock > [“Strangers complained about the stench, but the locals liked to brag that it was the sweet smell of money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/strangers-complained-about-the-stench-but-the-locals-liked-to-brag/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [I don't really think the outburst is recent; there have always been writers in Appalachia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-don-t-really-think-the-outburst-is-recent-there-have-always-been/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [Unless he had whiskey running through his veins, Willard came to the clearing every morning and evening to talk to God. Arvin didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/unless-he-had-whiskey-running-through-his-veins-willard-came-to-the/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [For example, if it's a sad scene, I need to feel that way, at least to a slight degree and for a short while,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/for-example-if-it-s-a-sad-scene-i-need-to-feel-that-way-at-least-to-a/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [As for how I feel about any success I've had, I just feel extremely lucky. Writing is a tough racket, and there are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/as-for-how-i-feel-about-any-success-i-ve-had-i-just-feel-extremely/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [Part of the reason might be that I was born in 1954 and I look upon my youth with great fondness, like many old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/part-of-the-reason-might-be-that-i-was-born-in-1954-and-i-look-upon/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [ I've never heard of that anthology \[Vance Randolph, Pissing in the Snow\], but you can be sure I'll buy it now. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-ve-never-heard-of-that-anthology-vance-randolph-pissing-in-the-snow/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [When I first started out, I was trying to write stories about nurses and lawyers and a lot of people I didn't know anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/when-i-first-started-out-i-was-trying-to-write-stories-about-nurses/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [“It's hard to live a good life...It seems like the Devil don't ever let up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/it-s-hard-to-live-a-good-life-it-seems-like-the-devil-don-t-ever-let/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [I'm not sure what the proper label might be, or the most accurate one, but someone once called my stuff Southern Ohio Gothic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-m-not-sure-what-the-proper-label-might-be-or-the-most-accurate-one/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [Don't get me wrong: I think that everyone should put forth an effort to do better, but let's face it, some of us are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/don-t-get-me-wrong-i-think-that-everyone-should-put-forth-an-effort/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [ I look upon \[writing about religion\] as a nice way to get by in this precarious world, though I've never been able to do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-look-upon-writing-about-religion-as-a-nice-way-to-get-by-in-this/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [ \[Degree in English\] gave me a little more self-confidence, to know that I'd managed to complete something like that. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/degree-in-english-gave-me-a-little-more-self-confidence-to-know-that/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [When I was growing up, I always wanted to be somebody else and live somewhere else. I've always felt a little uncomfortable around people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-wanted-to-be-somebody-else-and-live/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [There are a lot of writers from the South who would probably have once figured they needed to go to New York to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/there-are-a-lot-of-writers-from-the-south-who-would-probably-have/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) [Explore all 87 Donald Ray Pollock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) ## More Good people quotes > [“Any discussion of money and success would be lacking if I did not state that money is neither good nor bad. In the hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-stovall/any-discussion-of-money-and-success-would-be-lacking-if-i-did-not/) [Jim Stovall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-stovall/) > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Constantly look for the good in people and in situations. When you find it, tell the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/constantly-look-for-the-good-in-people-and-in-situations-when-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [Good people do not let others suffer needlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/good-people-do-not-let-others-suffer-needlessly/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Freedom and liberty lose out by default because good people are not vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/freedom-and-liberty-lose-out-by-default-because-good-people-are-not/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [“...I'd be interested in any tips you have for somebody starting out.” “Uh-huh,” I said, looking out the window. I decided, as we drove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-jenkins-reid/i-d-be-interested-in-any-tips-you-have-for-somebody-starting-out-uh/) [Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-jenkins-reid/) > [I've had a lot of good people, lot of good mentors, coaches along the way to get me where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-good-people-lot-of-good-mentors-coaches-along-the/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) > [On the West Coast, things are more relaxed, maybe because people have more fun outdoors. In the East, where the weather is not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/on-the-west-coast-things-are-more-relaxed-maybe-because-people-have/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I want to spend my time with people who don't look to be respected. But such good people won't want to spend their time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-want-to-spend-my-time-with-people-who-don-t-look-to-be-respected/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) [Browse all 2,064 Good people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Though there are still many good people out there in the world, it seems that they're vastly outnumbered by the stupid, selfish, violent ones.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donald Ray Pollock" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/though-there-are-still-many-good-people-out-there-in-the-world-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good people" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/though-there-are-still-many-good-people-out-there-in-the-world-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c2/donald-ray-pollock-7796_good-people_though-there-are-still-many-good-people_2089720.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c2/donald-ray-pollock-7796_good-people_though-there-are-still-many-good-people_2089720.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c2/donald-ray-pollock-7796_good-people_though-there-are-still-many-good-people_2089720.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Though there are still many good people out there in the world, it seems that they're vastly outnumbered by…” — Donald Ray Pollock", "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": "Donald Ray Pollock", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Though there are still many good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/though-there-are-still-many-good-people-out-there-in-the-world-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/though-there-are-still-many-good-people-out-there-in-the-world-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 } } ] } ```