--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bad guys are not bad guys twenty-four…" description: "\"Bad guys are not bad guys twenty-four hours a day.\" — Elmore Leonard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/elmore-leonard-3471_bad-guy_bad-guys-are-not-bad-guys-twenty-four-ho_1268316.jpg" --- # Bad guys are not bad guys twenty-four hours a day. ![“Bad guys are not bad guys twenty-four hours a day.” quote by Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/elmore-leonard-3471_bad-guy_bad-guys-are-not-bad-guys-twenty-four-ho_1268316.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/elmore-leonard-3471_bad-guy_bad-guys-are-not-bad-guys-twenty-four-ho_1268316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/elmore-leonard-3471_bad-guy_bad-guys-are-not-bad-guys-twenty-four-ho_1268316.jpg) > “Bad guys are not bad guys twenty-four hours a day.” [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People can change roles; “bad” individuals may act differently at different times. **In simple terms:** Bad guys aren’t always bad. Key Takeaway Expect flexibility in character behavior. Themes morality character change Mood thoughtful reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - workplace dynamics - personal relationships - storytelling - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethical ambiguity role fluidity Questions to Reflect On - How do you judge someone’s true nature? - When have you seen a “bad” person act kindly? A Different Perspective Not all actions are purely good or evil. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Bad guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guys/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Guys Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys-bad-342682/) [Guys Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys-hours-1614006/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Hours Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-day/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) ## Related quotes > [In war, good guys always become bad guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/in-war-good-guys-always-become-bad-guys/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [It's amazing to me - what is this love affair we have with bad guys? With the bad boy in high school, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/it-s-amazing-to-me-what-is-this-love-affair-we-have-with-bad-guys/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [“That's the trouble about the good guys and the bad guys! They're all guys!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/that-s-the-trouble-about-the-good-guys-and-the-bad-guys-they-re-all/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's not a hard job, radio or standup, there are hard parts of it, sure. There are guys who do ten hours of construction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/it-s-not-a-hard-job-radio-or-standup-there-are-hard-parts-of-it-sure/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [After a full morning working on 'TBC,' I don't feel like talking to any guys for a few hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-yee/after-a-full-morning-working-on-tbc-i-don-t-feel-like-talking-to-any/) [Angela Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-yee/) > [I never see my bad guys as simply bad. They want pretty much the same thing that you and I want: they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-never-see-my-bad-guys-as-simply-bad-they-want-pretty-much-the-same/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [The bad guys are the fun guys. The only people I have trouble with are the so-called normal types. Their language isn't very colorful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/the-bad-guys-are-the-fun-guys-the-only-people-i-have-trouble-with-are/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [If I have several bad guys and I only want to end up with one of them, then I have to decide which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/if-i-have-several-bad-guys-and-i-only-want-to-end-up-with-one-of-them/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [When I was a kid, 'Robocop' to me was just good guys and bad guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/when-i-was-a-kid-robocop-to-me-was-just-good-guys-and-bad-guys/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [“first the good guys are bad then the bad guys are bad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-lanteigne/first-the-good-guys-are-bad-then-the-bad-guys-are-bad/) [Gerald Lanteigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-lanteigne/) > [“First the bad guys are bad , then the good guys are bad .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-lanteigne/first-the-bad-guys-are-bad-then-the-good-guys-are-bad/) [Gerald Lanteigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-lanteigne/) > [Not every single person is bad, not all guys are bad, and I found my good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-barrett/not-every-single-person-is-bad-not-all-guys-are-bad-and-i-found-my/) [Gabby Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-barrett/) > [The division needs a guy like me. It's a bunch of good guys, and I'm the only bad guy in the division. There always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-covington/the-division-needs-a-guy-like-me-it-s-a-bunch-of-good-guys-and-i-m/) [Colby Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-covington/) > [You can't get any more evil than Iago or Richard III. Those guys are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/you-can-t-get-any-more-evil-than-iago-or-richard-iii-those-guys-are/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [Single guys get a bad rap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/single-guys-get-a-bad-rap/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) ## More by Elmore Leonard > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [These are rules I've picked up along the way to help me remain invisible when I'm writing a book, to help me show rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/these-are-rules-i-ve-picked-up-along-the-way-to-help-me-remain/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“There’s something happening here, I know it. It’s right in front of my face, but I just can’t see it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/there-s-something-happening-here-i-know-it-it-s-right-in-front-of-my/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/the-line-of-dialogue-belongs-to-the-character-the-verb-is-the-writer/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“I try to leave out the parts that people skip.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-try-to-leave-out-the-parts-that-people-skip/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I have fun writing. I don't make it a chore. I don't have to struggle with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-have-fun-writing-i-don-t-make-it-a-chore-i-don-t-have-to-struggle/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can't allow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/if-it-sounds-like-writing-i-rewrite-it-or-if-proper-usage-gets-in-the/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I don’t think writers compete, I think they’re all doing separate things in their own style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-don-t-think-writers-compete-i-think-they-re-all-doing-separate/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [After 58 years you'd think writing would get easier. It doesn't. If you're lucky, you become harder to please. That's all right, it's still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/after-58-years-you-d-think-writing-would-get-easier-it-doesn-t-if-you/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“He saw Harvey and Edgar catch each other's eye as he looked off toward the strains of "Alley Cat," Jesus, hoping they'd rush it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/he-saw-harvey-and-edgar-catch-each-other-s-eye-as-he-looked-off/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I'm not going to write for posterity. I'm going to write to make a buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-m-not-going-to-write-for-posterity-i-m-going-to-write-to-make-a-buck/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“A wife's faithful to her husband, subject to him. It's in the bible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/a-wife-s-faithful-to-her-husband-subject-to-him-it-s-in-the-bible/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Using adverbs is a mortal sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/using-adverbs-is-a-mortal-sin/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Try not to write the parts that people skip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/try-not-to-write-the-parts-that-people-skip/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I want the reader to know what's going on. So there's never a mystery in my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-want-the-reader-to-know-what-s-going-on-so-there-s-never-a-mystery/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) [Explore all 130 Elmore Leonard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) ## More Bad guy quotes > [“This is what is called "honor among thieves," for the really dangerous people are those who do not recognize that they are thieves— the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/this-is-what-is-called-honor-among-thieves-for-the-really-dangerous/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [“Here you can shoot the bad guys,' a mercenary says in Baghdad. 'In America we give them corporate bonuses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/here-you-can-shoot-the-bad-guys-a-mercenary-says-in-baghdad-in/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [To us, being the bad guys is cool, because we always root for the bad guys in the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hanneman/to-us-being-the-bad-guys-is-cool-because-we-always-root-for-the-bad/) [Jeff Hanneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hanneman/) > [In 'Gran Torino,' Eastwood moves towards the climax of the movie not by staging a shoot-out, but by putting his weapons to one side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/in-gran-torino-eastwood-moves-towards-the-climax-of-the-movie-not-by/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [In order to have your best good guy, you have to be that bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/in-order-to-have-your-best-good-guy-you-have-to-be-that-bad-guy/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [After I did 'Brooklyn,' I did about five or six violent films in one way or another, and not always with me being the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emory-cohen/after-i-did-brooklyn-i-did-about-five-or-six-violent-films-in-one-way/) [Emory Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emory-cohen/) > [The first act is the easiest to plot. The second act is always the hardest to plot. Generally a good, you know, sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-cannell/the-first-act-is-the-easiest-to-plot-the-second-act-is-always-the/) [Stephen J. Cannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-cannell/) > [“We fall into the fallacy of believing we can litigate the complicated story before us into a black-and-white binary of good guys and bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-lowery/we-fall-into-the-fallacy-of-believing-we-can-litigate-the-complicated/) [Wesley Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-lowery/) > [“If there was a bad guy we could appeal to the people because, like it or not, we, the huddled masses, want our public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-carter/if-there-was-a-bad-guy-we-could-appeal-to-the-people-because-like-it/) [Bill Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-carter/) > [But the thing about bad guys is that they have the biggest bosomed blond, they have great clothes and cars, and get great death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-roberts/but-the-thing-about-bad-guys-is-that-they-have-the-biggest-bosomed/) [Eric Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-roberts/) > [I don't know what it is that I do, but when I play a really bad guy, I'm able to bring some level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-when-i-play-a-really-bad-guy-i/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [In my career, I've been lucky to do the bad guys that are more interesting, where the audience wants to spend more time with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stormare/in-my-career-i-ve-been-lucky-to-do-the-bad-guys-that-are-more/) [Peter Stormare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stormare/) > [Playing a bad guy is always more fun than playing the good guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/playing-a-bad-guy-is-always-more-fun-than-playing-the-good-guy/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) [Browse all 1,228 Bad guy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bad guys are not bad guys twenty-four hours a day.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elmore Leonard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/bad-guys-are-not-bad-guys-twenty-four-hours-a-day/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad guy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/bad-guys-are-not-bad-guys-twenty-four-hours-a-day/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/elmore-leonard-3471_bad-guy_bad-guys-are-not-bad-guys-twenty-four-ho_1268316.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/elmore-leonard-3471_bad-guy_bad-guys-are-not-bad-guys-twenty-four-ho_1268316.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/elmore-leonard-3471_bad-guy_bad-guys-are-not-bad-guys-twenty-four-ho_1268316.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Bad guys are not bad guys twenty-four hours a day.” — Elmore Leonard", "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": "Elmore Leonard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Bad guys are not bad guys...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/bad-guys-are-not-bad-guys-twenty-four-hours-a-day/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/bad-guys-are-not-bad-guys-twenty-four-hours-a-day/#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 } } ] } ```