--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t." description: "\"“Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t.”\" — Erin Hayes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/erin-hayes-30979_damned_damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don-t-247_2471754.jpg" --- # Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t. ![“Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t.” quote by Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/erin-hayes-30979_damned_damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don-t-247_2471754.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/erin-hayes-30979_damned_damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don-t-247_2471754.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/erin-hayes-30979_damned_damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don-t-247_2471754.jpg) > ““Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t.”” [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The saying expresses a dilemma where any choice leads to negative consequences. **In simple terms:** No good options, both choices have downsides. Key Takeaway Accept that some decisions are tough and seek the lesser harm. Themes dilemma choice consequence Mood thoughtful cautious Type ethical personal When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - policy choices - ethical debates Key Concepts ethical conflict decision making inevitability Questions to Reflect On - What criteria help you choose the lesser evil? - How can you mitigate negative outcomes? A Different Perspective May foster indecision or paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Damned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damned/) [Damned Damned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damned-damned-767147/) [Damned Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damned-don-767148/) ## Related quotes > [“You will be damned if you do, and you will be damned if you don’t”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-dow/you-will-be-damned-if-you-do-and-you-will-be-damned-if-you-don-t/) [Lorenzo Dow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-dow/) > [You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/you-ll-be-damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don-t/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“Basically, if you're a woman, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-steven/basically-if-you-re-a-woman-you-re-damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you/) [Laura Steven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-steven/) > [“You can and you can't — You shall and you shan't — You will and you won't — And you will be damned if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-dow/you-can-and-you-can-t-you-shall-and-you-shan-t-you-will-and-you-won-t/) [Lorenzo Dow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-dow/) > [“Be damned if I do. Be damned if I don't. Whatever I do, I can't do right by him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-khristin-brown/be-damned-if-i-do-be-damned-if-i-don-t-whatever-i-do-i-can-t-do-right/) [Angela Khristin Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-khristin-brown/) > [“For anyone who was ever stuck in the position of, “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t”. Don’t lose hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/for-anyone-who-was-ever-stuck-in-the-position-of-damned-if-i-do/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [Yeah, yeah, that's right. And I'd rather be damned if I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mcnamara/yeah-yeah-that-s-right-and-i-d-rather-be-damned-if-i-don-t/) [Robert McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mcnamara/) > [I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't holla fuck the world with my chest fulla smoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spm/i-m-damned-if-i-do-and-damned-if-i-don-t-holla-fuck-the-world-with-my/) [SPM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spm/) > [“So we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t.” She shrugged. “That pretty much sums up quantum physics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/so-we-re-damned-if-we-do-and-damned-if-we-don-t-she-shrugged-that/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [I am damned and damned and damned. How in heaven's name could I have done any of it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-nilsen/i-am-damned-and-damned-and-damned-how-in-heaven-s-name-could-i-have/) [Dennis Nilsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-nilsen/) > [“It often occurs to me that we love most what makes us miserable. In my opinion, the damned are damned because they enjoy being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/it-often-occurs-to-me-that-we-love-most-what-makes-us-miserable-in-my/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) > [Life is a paradox, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-cartwright/life-is-a-paradox-you-re-damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don-t/) [Nancy Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-cartwright/) > [Damned, damned be the rich! May not even their fingernails be left!... I'm sure that they are going to Hell head-first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-garc-a-lorca/damned-damned-be-the-rich-may-not-even-their-fingernails-be-left-i-m/) [Federico Garcia Lorca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-garc-a-lorca/) > [“The future be damned. Because right here, right now, I almost lost you. I won’t waste another moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renea-mason/the-future-be-damned-because-right-here-right-now-i-almost-lost-you-i/) [Renea Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renea-mason/) > [Sir, my friend John Baynes used to say that the man who published a book without an index ought to be damned ten miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-douce/sir-my-friend-john-baynes-used-to-say-that-the-man-who-published-a/) [Francis Douce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-douce/) ## More by Erin Hayes > [“Fate is taking Dad away. Please stay with me, Dad. Don’t leave me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/fate-is-taking-dad-away-please-stay-with-me-dad-don-t-leave-me/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“I can take shit from my brother-in-law. I can't take it from my cat too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/i-can-take-shit-from-my-brother-in-law-i-can-t-take-it-from-my-cat-too/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“For anyone who was ever stuck in the position of, “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t”. Don’t lose hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/for-anyone-who-was-ever-stuck-in-the-position-of-damned-if-i-do/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“I’m in love with a dying woman. Who hates my kind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/i-m-in-love-with-a-dying-woman-who-hates-my-kind/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“I’d like to say that dreams come true and never give up. That goes for you too, dear reader. Never. Give. Up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/i-d-like-to-say-that-dreams-come-true-and-never-give-up-that-goes-for/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“I need my father. Don’t leave me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/i-need-my-father-don-t-leave-me/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“Once I get under the water, however, I can't hold it in anymore. With a sob, I collapse on the tile floor. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/once-i-get-under-the-water-however-i-can-t-hold-it-in-anymore-with-a/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“I may be a monster, but I’m hoping that I still have a soul and that there is an afterlife. If there isn’t a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/i-may-be-a-monster-but-i-m-hoping-that-i-still-have-a-soul-and-that/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“A cry escapes my throat as I collapse to my knees. Dad’s gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/a-cry-escapes-my-throat-as-i-collapse-to-my-knees-dad-s-gone/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“Threaten my family, and I show no mercy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/threaten-my-family-and-i-show-no-mercy/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“English is my second language," she says, "and your bad comebacks are still a little over the top, sweetie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/english-is-my-second-language-she-says-and-your-bad-comebacks-are/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“You can tell as soon as you step inside her house that Aunt Tessa dabbles in the occult. In the door jamb, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/you-can-tell-as-soon-as-you-step-inside-her-house-that-aunt-tessa/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“Angry that Fate is fucking with me. I have a vampire in love with me. What’s worse, I’m in love with him too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/angry-that-fate-is-fucking-with-me-i-have-a-vampire-in-love-with-me/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“As sleep pulls at me, I keep praying my words into her body, wishing that she has longer. She has to live. Or else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/as-sleep-pulls-at-me-i-keep-praying-my-words-into-her-body-wishing/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) > [“However, she’s not without me, and I’m going to do everything I can to help her live a normal life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hayes/however-she-s-not-without-me-and-i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to/) [Erin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) [Explore all 17 Erin Hayes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hayes/) ## More Damned quotes > [Sir, my friend John Baynes used to say that the man who published a book without an index ought to be damned ten miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-douce/sir-my-friend-john-baynes-used-to-say-that-the-man-who-published-a/) [Francis Douce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-douce/) > [“The future be damned. Because right here, right now, I almost lost you. I won’t waste another moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renea-mason/the-future-be-damned-because-right-here-right-now-i-almost-lost-you-i/) [Renea Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renea-mason/) > [People are no damned good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/people-are-no-damned-good/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [Let them impeach and be damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-johnson/let-them-impeach-and-be-damned/) [Andrew Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-johnson/) > [Life is a paradox, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-cartwright/life-is-a-paradox-you-re-damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don-t/) [Nancy Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-cartwright/) > [The human race consists of the damned and the ought-to-be damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-human-race-consists-of-the-damned-and-the-ought-to-be-damned/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Dead star shine Light up the sky I'm all out of breath My walls are closing in Days go by Give me a sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proudlesbian/dead-star-shine-light-up-the-sky-i-m-all-out-of-breath-my-walls-are/) [ProudLesbian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proudlesbian/) > [You have told me, O God, to believe in hell. But you have forbidden me to think...of any man as damned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/you-have-told-me-o-god-to-believe-in-hell-but-you-have-forbidden-me/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [“Jonathan Edwards, the dear old soul, who, if his doctrine is true, is now in heaven rubbing his holy hands with glee, as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/jonathan-edwards-the-dear-old-soul-who-if-his-doctrine-is-true-is-now/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“With thousands of roads before us that lead nowhere, going in circles. There really are only two roads we will either travel, one going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/with-thousands-of-roads-before-us-that-lead-nowhere-going-in-circles/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [What rage for fame attends both great and small! Better be damned than mentioned not at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wolcot/what-rage-for-fame-attends-both-great-and-small-better-be-damned-than/) [John Wolcot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wolcot/) > [Those who think of freedom in this country as one long, broad path leading ever onward and upward are dead damned wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/those-who-think-of-freedom-in-this-country-as-one-long-broad-path/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Take what's yours and be damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis/take-what-s-yours-and-be-damned/) [Genesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis/) > [I'm damned if I do, but I'm only darned if I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-if-i-don-t/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [“Basically, if you're a woman, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-steven/basically-if-you-re-a-woman-you-re-damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you/) [Laura Steven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-steven/) [Browse all 219 Damned quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damned/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Damned if you do. 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