--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He did not say that because he knew that…" description: "\"He did not say that because he knew that if you said a good thing it might not happen.\" — Ernest Hemingway" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/ernest-hemingway-83_good-thing_he-did-not-say-that-because-he-knew-that_1956595.jpg" --- # He did not say that because he knew that if you said a… ![“He did not say that because he knew that if you said a good thing it might not happen.” quote by Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/ernest-hemingway-83_good-thing_he-did-not-say-that-because-he-knew-that_1956595.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/ernest-hemingway-83_good-thing_he-did-not-say-that-because-he-knew-that_1956595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/ernest-hemingway-83_good-thing_he-did-not-say-that-because-he-knew-that_1956595.jpg) > “He did not say that because he knew that if you said a good thing it might not happen.” [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He avoided saying something positive because he feared it wouldn’t materialize. **In simple terms:** He didn’t speak positively out of fear. Key Takeaway Beware of self‑censorship driven by doubt. Themes communication fear self‑censorship expectation Mood reflective thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - creative writing - public speaking Key Concepts psychology of optimism risk aversion speech dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you withholding? - How does fear shape your language? A Different Perspective Silence can also be a missed opportunity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) ## Related quotes > [“I used to think there was nothing I could do to change the way my family saw me. There was nothing I couldn’t say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/i-used-to-think-there-was-nothing-i-could-do-to-change-the-way-my/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [Don't be too affected with what other people say about you. It's you who knew your self well, not them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-too-affected-with-what-other-people-say-about-you-it-s-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Although there was much I wanted to say, I knew that I should not. His mind and heart were out of alignment, and only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/although-there-was-much-i-wanted-to-say-i-knew-that-i-should-not-his/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [How could I look my grandchildren in the eye and say I knew what was happening to the world and did nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/how-could-i-look-my-grandchildren-in-the-eye-and-say-i-knew-what-was/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [“Oh God. Kisten.What would he say if he knew Ivy had bitten me? “I told you so,” or maybe “My turn”?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/oh-god-kisten-what-would-he-say-if-he-knew-ivy-had-bitten-me-i-told/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [One more thing: don’t feel bad for not telling me that you loved me. You didn’t need to say it. I knew all along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/one-more-thing-don-t-feel-bad-for-not-telling-me-that-you-loved-me/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [I used to tell everyone to shut up and say I knew best - my coaches, my mum, my dad, my fiancee, my mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-pimblett/i-used-to-tell-everyone-to-shut-up-and-say-i-knew-best-my-coaches-my/) [Paddy Pimblett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-pimblett/) > [“Sometimes it hurts to look at you,” I said. I loved that I could say that and he knew exactly what I meant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/sometimes-it-hurts-to-look-at-you-i-said-i-loved-that-i-could-say/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [I will go only so far as to say that I knew what an atom was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tibbets/i-will-go-only-so-far-as-to-say-that-i-knew-what-an-atom-was/) Paul Tibbets > [She wouldn't say what we both knew. 'The reason you will not say it is, when you say it, even to yourself, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/she-wouldn-t-say-what-we-both-knew-the-reason-you-will-not-say-it-is/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Min, you’re a friend,” he protested. “I don’t think of you as a woman.” It was the wrong thing to say; he knew it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/min-you-re-a-friend-he-protested-i-don-t-think-of-you-as-a-woman-it/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“When people say "If I only knew then what I know now" makes me wonder why they aren't using that wisdom now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liano/when-people-say-if-i-only-knew-then-what-i-know-now-makes-me-wonder/) [Rob Liano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liano/) > [I'd always said never say never, because I knew that Warner Brothers wanted to do something with "Fantastic Beasts," and I did have kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-d-always-said-never-say-never-because-i-knew-that-warner-brothers/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [“You could tell him whatever you wanted, but he knew what he knew, and if what you said contradicted what he knew, he simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/you-could-tell-him-whatever-you-wanted-but-he-knew-what-he-knew-and/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) ## More by Ernest Hemingway > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“There was no wind, and, outside now of the warm air of the cave, heavy with smoke of both tobacco and charcoal, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-was-no-wind-and-outside-now-of-the-warm-air-of-the-cave-heavy/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“It was not brilliant bull-fighting. It was only perfect bull-fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/it-was-not-brilliant-bull-fighting-it-was-only-perfect-bull-fighting/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Creation's probably overrated. After all, God made the world in only six days and rested on the seventh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/creation-s-probably-overrated-after-all-god-made-the-world-in-only/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Viva my husband who was Mayor of this town”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/viva-my-husband-who-was-mayor-of-this-town/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“The earth gets tired of being exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-earth-gets-tired-of-being-exploited/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [What is moral is what you feel good after, and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/what-is-moral-is-what-you-feel-good-after-and-what-is-immoral-is-what/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“We drove out along the coast road. There was the green of the headlands, the white, red-roofed villas, patches of forest, and the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/we-drove-out-along-the-coast-road-there-was-the-green-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Oh, darling, I've been so miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/oh-darling-i-ve-been-so-miserable/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I read my own books sometimes to cheer me when it is hard to write, and then I remember that it was always difficult,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-read-my-own-books-sometimes-to-cheer-me-when-it-is-hard-to-write/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“You find everything on earth at Harry's." "Yes, my Colonel. Except, possibly, happiness." "I'll damn well find happiness, too," the Colonel assured him. "Happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-find-everything-on-earth-at-harry-s-yes-my-colonel-except/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“No. It's bad for me. Cole Porter wrote the words and the music. This knowledge that you're going mad for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/no-it-s-bad-for-me-cole-porter-wrote-the-words-and-the-music-this/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“everything kills everything else in some way. Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive. The boy keeps me alive, he thought. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/everything-kills-everything-else-in-some-way-fishing-kills-me-exactly/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) [Explore all 1,464 Ernest Hemingway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## More Good thing quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [“At times, competition can be a good thing. But a person's value isn't something that can be ranked, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotaru-odagiri/at-times-competition-can-be-a-good-thing-but-a-person-s-value-isn-t/) [Hotaru Odagiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hotaru-odagiri/) > [Here are the good things about independent films: They do the more interesting, chancy scripts. They're run by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/here-are-the-good-things-about-independent-films-they-do-the-more/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/) [J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/) > [“I took that warm feeling running through my veins as a good thing and embraced the darkness for I knew it was only temporary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/i-took-that-warm-feeling-running-through-my-veins-as-a-good-thing-and/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) > [If good things come to those who wait then I must have something ridiculously awesome coming!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/if-good-things-come-to-those-who-wait-then-i-must-have-something/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [IVE LEARNED THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO HAVE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU , ALL THE TIME, IS TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-paul-rose/ive-learned-the-best-way-for-you-to-have-good-things-happen-to-you/) [LEONARD PAUL ROSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-paul-rose/) > [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [Too many good things all seem the same after a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/too-many-good-things-all-seem-the-same-after-a-while/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) Browse all 6,343 Good thing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He did not say that because he knew that if you said a good thing it might not happen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest Hemingway" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-did-not-say-that-because-he-knew-that-if-you-said-a-good-thing-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good thing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-did-not-say-that-because-he-knew-that-if-you-said-a-good-thing-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/ernest-hemingway-83_good-thing_he-did-not-say-that-because-he-knew-that_1956595.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/ernest-hemingway-83_good-thing_he-did-not-say-that-because-he-knew-that_1956595.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/ernest-hemingway-83_good-thing_he-did-not-say-that-because-he-knew-that_1956595.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He did not say that because he knew that if you said a good thing it might not happen.” — Ernest Hemingway", "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": "Ernest Hemingway", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He did not say that because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-did-not-say-that-because-he-knew-that-if-you-said-a-good-thing-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-did-not-say-that-because-he-knew-that-if-you-said-a-good-thing-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 } } ] } ```