--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes you got to hurt something to…" description: "\"Sometimes you got to hurt something to help something. Sometimes you have to plow under one thing in order for something else to grow.\" — Ernest Gaines" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/ernest-gaines-15825_got-hurt_sometimes-you-got-to-hurt-something-to-h_2677549.jpg" --- # Sometimes you got to hurt something to help something… ![“Sometimes you got to hurt something to help something. Sometimes you have to plow under one thing in order for something else to grow.” quote by Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/ernest-gaines-15825_got-hurt_sometimes-you-got-to-hurt-something-to-h_2677549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/ernest-gaines-15825_got-hurt_sometimes-you-got-to-hurt-something-to-h_2677549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/ernest-gaines-15825_got-hurt_sometimes-you-got-to-hurt-something-to-h_2677549.jpg) > “Sometimes you got to hurt something to help something. Sometimes you have to plow under one thing in order for something else to grow.” [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sometimes harm is necessary for growth; removing one element allows another to flourish. **In simple terms:** Pain can enable new growth. Key Takeaway Accept necessary sacrifice for progress. Themes sacrifice growth transformation Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - gardening - business restructuring Key Concepts life cycles ecology Questions to Reflect On - What must you let go to grow? - When is harm justified for benefit? A Different Perspective Destruction may cause unintended loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Got hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-hurt/) [Help Plow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-plow-2554182/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Hurt Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-help-1467009/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Plow Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plow-thing-2554183/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [“When there’s nothing else you can do, breathe slower. There’s no way it can hurt, and it might help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/when-there-s-nothing-else-you-can-do-breathe-slower-there-s-no-way-it/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“It is certain that if there is someone to hurt you on one side, there is also someone to help you on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/it-is-certain-that-if-there-is-someone-to-hurt-you-on-one-side-there/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“We've all been hurt somehow in our lives! It makes no sense to hurt others when we all can somehow help them better their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/we-ve-all-been-hurt-somehow-in-our-lives-it-makes-no-sense-to-hurt/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“Never make choices that will make you hurt others. If you will not help them, don’t hurt them!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/never-make-choices-that-will-make-you-hurt-others-if-you-will-not/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“When you find out that someone you care about was hurt, how do you help them? How do you help them after pouring salt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-mcavoy/when-you-find-out-that-someone-you-care-about-was-hurt-how-do-you/) [J.J. McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-mcavoy/) > [Your loved ones will inevitably get hurt and we can only be there to help pick themselves up over and over again. Sadly, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aokigahara29/your-loved-ones-will-inevitably-get-hurt-and-we-can-only-be-there-to/) [Aokigahara29](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aokigahara29/) > [“When someone hurts you, do not hurt them back. Remember those hurt spread hurt, so help break the cycle. Your little empathy towards the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani/when-someone-hurts-you-do-not-hurt-them-back-remember-those-hurt/) [Drishti Bablani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani/) > [I will never hurt you. I will always help you. If you are hungry Ill give you my food. If you are frightened I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-will-never-hurt-you-i-will-always-help-you-if-you-are-hungry-ill/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Some people will hurt you, some will help. But in the end both will have made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-will-hurt-you-some-will-help-but-in-the-end-both-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mother never warned me not to do this or that for fear of being hurt. Of course I got hurt, but I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-stinson/my-mother-never-warned-me-not-to-do-this-or-that-for-fear-of-being/) [Katherine Stinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-stinson/) > [I was in a love that was wonderful until it was terrible, and both people got hurt from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-was-in-a-love-that-was-wonderful-until-it-was-terrible-and-both/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I was aggressive but I played the game because I loved and enjoyed it. I might have hurt people and I got hurt myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-paisley/i-was-aggressive-but-i-played-the-game-because-i-loved-and-enjoyed-it/) [Bob Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-paisley/) > [I did everything by the seat of my pants. That's why I got hurt so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-did-everything-by-the-seat-of-my-pants-that-s-why-i-got-hurt-so-much/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I played a lot of ball and got hurt, stitches and this and that. That, sometimes they said, built character. I don't think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-marshall/i-played-a-lot-of-ball-and-got-hurt-stitches-and-this-and-that-that/) [Garry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-marshall/) > [After she got hurt by someone that she cared about, she's so scared to get attached again. Do you know what kind of effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callhershorty/after-she-got-hurt-by-someone-that-she-cared-about-she-s-so-scared-to/) [CallHerShorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callhershorty/) ## More by Ernest Gaines > [I try to write something that would interest anybody and keep them turning the page. You must have a plot and good storyline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-try-to-write-something-that-would-interest-anybody-and-keep-them/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [Words mean nothing. Action is the only thing. Doing. That's the only thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/words-mean-nothing-action-is-the-only-thing-doing-that-s-the-only/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [In all my stories and novels, no one ever escapes Louisiana. Maybe that is because my soul never left Louisiana, although my body did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/in-all-my-stories-and-novels-no-one-ever-escapes-louisiana-maybe-that/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [I think I'm a very religious person. I think I believe in God as much as any man does. I don't only believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-think-i-m-a-very-religious-person-i-think-i-believe-in-god-as-much/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [There will always be men struggling...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/there-will-always-be-men-struggling/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [What for?" I said. "What for, Tante Lou? He treated me the same way he treated her. He wants me to feel guilty, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/what-for-i-said-what-for-tante-lou-he-treated-me-the-same-way-he/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [We all have much more in common than we have difference. I would say that about people all over the world. They don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/we-all-have-much-more-in-common-than-we-have-difference-i-would-say/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [I believe that the writer should tell a story. I believe in plot. I believe in creating characters and suspense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-believe-that-the-writer-should-tell-a-story-i-believe-in-plot-i/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [A myth is an old lie that people believe in. White people believe that they're better than anyone else on earth - and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/a-myth-is-an-old-lie-that-people-believe-in-white-people-believe-that/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have by reading novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-have-learned-as-much-about-writing-about-my-people-by-listening-to/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [When I'm sitting in the church alone, I can hear singing of the old people. I can hear their singing and I can hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/when-i-m-sitting-in-the-church-alone-i-can-hear-singing-of-the-old/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [Question everything. Every stripe, every star, every word spoken. Everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/question-everything-every-stripe-every-star-every-word-spoken/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [Now, about that mulatto teacher and me. There was no love there for each other. There was not even respect. We were enemies if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/now-about-that-mulatto-teacher-and-me-there-was-no-love-there-for/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [Without love for my fellow man and respect for nature, to me, life is an obscenity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/without-love-for-my-fellow-man-and-respect-for-nature-to-me-life-is/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [I knew I wanted to be a writer and I knew if I had a wife and family, I would neglect something, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-and-i-knew-if-i-had-a-wife-and-family/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) [Explore all 41 Ernest Gaines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) ## More Got hurt quotes > [After she got hurt by someone that she cared about, she's so scared to get attached again. Do you know what kind of effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callhershorty/after-she-got-hurt-by-someone-that-she-cared-about-she-s-so-scared-to/) [CallHerShorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callhershorty/) > [My mother never warned me not to do this or that for fear of being hurt. Of course I got hurt, but I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-stinson/my-mother-never-warned-me-not-to-do-this-or-that-for-fear-of-being/) [Katherine Stinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-stinson/) > [I played a lot of ball and got hurt, stitches and this and that. That, sometimes they said, built character. I don't think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-marshall/i-played-a-lot-of-ball-and-got-hurt-stitches-and-this-and-that-that/) [Garry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-marshall/) > [I did everything by the seat of my pants. That's why I got hurt so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/i-did-everything-by-the-seat-of-my-pants-that-s-why-i-got-hurt-so-much/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [I was aggressive but I played the game because I loved and enjoyed it. I might have hurt people and I got hurt myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-paisley/i-was-aggressive-but-i-played-the-game-because-i-loved-and-enjoyed-it/) [Bob Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-paisley/) > [I was in a love that was wonderful until it was terrible, and both people got hurt from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-was-in-a-love-that-was-wonderful-until-it-was-terrible-and-both/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [“ambulances were a bit over the top. Nobody got hurt and the fire was only in the waste paper basket.   I’ve”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-campbell/ambulances-were-a-bit-over-the-top-nobody-got-hurt-and-the-fire-was/) [Bill Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-campbell/) > [I actually got hurt in a steel factory in 1985 and so that changed my life. I went to a junior college and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corbett/i-actually-got-hurt-in-a-steel-factory-in-1985-and-so-that-changed-my/) [John Corbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corbett/) > [You got to hurt in order to know. Fall in order to grow. Lose in order to gain because most of life's lessons. Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-got-to-hurt-in-order-to-know-fall-in-order-to-grow-lose-in-order/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just got so hurt, really hurt, and sometimes when that happens something inside just shuts off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-got-so-hurt-really-hurt-and-sometimes-when-that-happens/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have fought my brother some times before. We got hurt sometimes, needed stitches, but it was normal after the fights. We always had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyoto-machida/i-have-fought-my-brother-some-times-before-we-got-hurt-sometimes/) [Lyoto Machida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyoto-machida/) > [You've got to be hurt and upset; otherwise you can't think of the really good, penetrating, X-rayish phrases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/you-ve-got-to-be-hurt-and-upset-otherwise-you-can-t-think-of-the/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [What is a 'lucky punch?' Who do these people think I was trying to punch in the face if not Georges? Seriously - where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/what-is-a-lucky-punch-who-do-these-people-think-i-was-trying-to-punch/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [I got hurt some many times I just wont wanna be hurt no more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiajohnson123/i-got-hurt-some-many-times-i-just-wont-wanna-be-hurt-no-more/) [Shiajohnson123](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiajohnson123/) > [Well, you can’t have just some of me, Jai,” I told her. “You appreciate the part of me that didn’t get angry because two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/well-you-can-t-have-just-some-of-me-jai-i-told-her-you-appreciate-the/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 89 Got hurt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-hurt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes you got to hurt something to help something. 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