--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always been bad. Probably I shall be…" description: "\"I've always been bad. Probably I shall be bad again, punished again. But the worse I am, the more I need God. I can't shut myself out from His mercy. ...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/evelyn-waugh-850_compassion_i-ve-always-been-bad-probably-i-shall-be_80630.jpg" --- # I've always been bad. Probably I shall be bad again… ![“I've always been bad. Probably I shall be bad again, punished again. But the worse I am, the more I need God. I can't shut myself out from His mercy. ... Or it may be a private bargain between me and God, that if I give up this one thing I want so much, however bad I am, He won't quite despair of…” quote by Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/evelyn-waugh-850_compassion_i-ve-always-been-bad-probably-i-shall-be_80630.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/evelyn-waugh-850_compassion_i-ve-always-been-bad-probably-i-shall-be_80630.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/evelyn-waugh-850_compassion_i-ve-always-been-bad-probably-i-shall-be_80630.jpg) > “I've always been bad. Probably I shall be bad again, punished again. But the worse I am, the more I need God. I can't shut myself out from His mercy. ... Or it may be a private bargain between me and God, that if I give up this one thing I want so much, however bad I am, He won't quite despair of me in the end.” [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges personal moral failure yet believes that divine mercy persists, suggesting a personal covenant where surrendering a deep desire could secure God's continued hope. **In simple terms:** Badness meets divine mercy through surrender. Key Takeaway Even the worst can seek redemption. Themes redemption faith self-awareness sacrifice hope Mood reflective hopeful humble Type personal confession theological reflection When to use this quote - confession of sin - seeking forgiveness - renouncing a passion - prayerful introspection Key Concepts moral failure divine mercy personal covenant Practical Applications - spiritual counseling - personal transformation Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be worthy of mercy? - How does surrender change the relationship with the divine? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad Punished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-punished-1028620/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [I need god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-need-god-87634/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Need god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-god/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Punished Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punished-worse-1028621/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-bad/) ## Related quotes > [“I’ve always been bad. Probably I shall be bad again, punished again. But the worse I am, the more I need God. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/i-ve-always-been-bad-probably-i-shall-be-bad-again-punished-again-but-2/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [The worse I am, the more I need God. I can't shut myself out from His mercy. That is what it would mean; starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/the-worse-i-am-the-more-i-need-god-i-can-t-shut-myself-out-from-his/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [My secret is that I need God—that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/my-secret-is-that-i-need-god-that-i-am-sick-and-can-no-longer-make-it/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [The fact is, I need God to help me love God. And if I need His help to love Him, a perfect being, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/the-fact-is-i-need-god-to-help-me-love-god-and-if-i-need-his-help-to/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [When I need God most, He comes to me the fastest and closest. When I need the creation most, they run from me the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/when-i-need-god-most-he-comes-to-me-the-fastest-and-closest-when-i/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [Even in my prime, I need God in my life because without God, we're nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/even-in-my-prime-i-need-god-in-my-life-because-without-god-we-re/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [Sometimes I pray when I really feel like I need God to help me with something, and sometimes we just have conversations. We just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/sometimes-i-pray-when-i-really-feel-like-i-need-god-to-help-me-with/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [We need silence to be able to touch souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-need-silence-to-be-able-to-touch-souls/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I was brought up an atheist and have always remained so. But at no time was I led to believe that morality was unimportant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigella-lawson/i-was-brought-up-an-atheist-and-have-always-remained-so-but-at-no/) [Nigella Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigella-lawson/) > [People get into a heavy-duty sin and guilt trip, feeling that if things are going wrong, that means that they did something bad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/people-get-into-a-heavy-duty-sin-and-guilt-trip-feeling-that-if/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“The worse I am, the more I need God. I can't shut myself out from His mercy. That is what it would mean; starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/the-worse-i-am-the-more-i-need-god-i-can-t-shut-myself-out-from-his-2/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [When you want someone so bad but you can't do anything about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-want-someone-so-bad-but-you-can-t-do-anything-about-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you want something bad enough and you have that desire, you'll walk to another state or country if you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puff-daddy/if-you-want-something-bad-enough-and-you-have-that-desire-you-ll-walk/) [Puff Daddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puff-daddy/) > [When you tell me to be good, it makes me want to be good,' I say, hearing the undisguised desire in my voice. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammara-webber/when-you-tell-me-to-be-good-it-makes-me-want-to-be-good-i-say-hearing/) [Tammara Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammara-webber/) > [All I am certain of right now is that I don't want to go anywhere, and that's not bad for someone who always used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/all-i-am-certain-of-right-now-is-that-i-don-t-want-to-go-anywhere-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) ## More by Evelyn Waugh > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [One can write, think and pray exclusively of others; dreams are all egocentric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/one-can-write-think-and-pray-exclusively-of-others-dreams-are-all/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Sometimes," Helena continued, "I have a terrible dream of the future. Not now, but presently, people may forget their loyalty to their kings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/sometimes-helena-continued-i-have-a-terrible-dream-of-the-future-not/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Rex has never been unkind to me intentionally. It's just that he isn't a real person at all; he's just a few faculties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/rex-has-never-been-unkind-to-me-intentionally-it-s-just-that-he-isn-t/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [If it could only be like this always – always summer, always alone, the fruit always ripe and Aloysius in a good temper...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-it-could-only-be-like-this-always-always-summer-always-alone-the/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“My dear, I should like to stick you full of barbed arrows like a p-p-pin cushion...Where do you lurk? I shall come down your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/my-dear-i-should-like-to-stick-you-full-of-barbed-arrows-like-a-p-p/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [There is something incomparably thrilling in first opening a brand new book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/there-is-something-incomparably-thrilling-in-first-opening-a-brand/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Beware the Anglo-Catholics. They're all sodomites with unpleasant accents." --Cousin Jasper”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/beware-the-anglo-catholics-they-re-all-sodomites-with-unpleasant/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“The fortnight at Venice passed quickly and sweetly-- perhaps too sweetly; I was drowning in honey, stingless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/the-fortnight-at-venice-passed-quickly-and-sweetly-perhaps-too/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“It’s awful to think that I shall probably never, as long as I live, see you dancing like that again all by yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/it-s-awful-to-think-that-i-shall-probably-never-as-long-as-i-live-see/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Limbo is the place. In Limbo one has natural happiness without the beatific vision; no harps; no communal order; but wine and conversation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/limbo-is-the-place-in-limbo-one-has-natural-happiness-without-the/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“What is adolescence without trash?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/what-is-adolescence-without-trash/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Perhaps host and guest is really the happiest relation for father and son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/perhaps-host-and-guest-is-really-the-happiest-relation-for-father-and/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [...its a rather pleasant change when all your life you've had people looking after you, to have someone to look after yourself. Only of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/its-a-rather-pleasant-change-when-all-your-life-you-ve-had-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) [Explore all 347 Evelyn Waugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always been bad. 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