--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They were careless people, Tom and Daisy…" description: "\"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_careless-people_they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy_407162.jpg" --- # They were careless people, Tom and Daisy they smashed up… ![“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_careless-people_they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy_407162.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_careless-people_they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy_407162.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_careless-people_they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy_407162.jpg) > “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealthy people can act recklessly, leaving others to fix their messes. **In simple terms:** Rich people can be careless, burdening others. Key Takeaway Recognize and address careless behavior. Themes wealth irresponsibility social class Mood critical empathetic Type observational social When to use this quote - family gatherings - corporate settings - community projects Key Concepts privilege consequences collective responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle others' irresponsibility? - Can you set boundaries without alienating? A Different Perspective Not all wealthy people are careless; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Careless People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careless-people/) [Carelessness Kept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carelessness-kept-3638400/) [Creatures Retreated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures-retreated-3638401/) [Daisy Smashed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daisy-smashed-3638402/) [Retreated Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retreated-money-3638403/) ## Related quotes > [Nick, on the Buchanans: They were careless people, Tom and Daisy -- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald-2/nick-on-the-buchanans-they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy-they/) [F Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald-2/) > [“They were careless people...they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/they-were-careless-people-they-smashed-up-things-and-creatures-and/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [You're a rotten driver,' I protested. 'Either you ought to be more careful or you oughtn't to drive at all.' 'I am careful.' 'No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/you-re-a-rotten-driver-i-protested-either-you-ought-to-be-more/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“It made no difference to me. Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply—I was casually sorry, and then I forgot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/it-made-no-difference-to-me-dishonesty-in-a-woman-is-a-thing-you/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I couldn’t forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-couldn-t-forgive-him-or-like-him-but-i-saw-that-what-he-had-done-2/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“In recent years, a green burial movement has protested formaldehyde, which oxidizes to formic acid, the toxic in fire ants and bee stingers, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weisman/in-recent-years-a-green-burial-movement-has-protested-formaldehyde/) [Alan Weisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weisman/) > [The word stupid is nickname gave to careless people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mabor-maker-kulang/the-word-stupid-is-nickname-gave-to-careless-people/) [Mabor Maker Kulang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mabor-maker-kulang/) > [Actively we have woven ourselves with the very warp and woof of this nation-we have fought their battles, shared their sorrow, mingled our blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/actively-we-have-woven-ourselves-with-the-very-warp-and-woof-of-this/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [“There pass the careless people That call their souls their own: Here by the road I loiter, How idle and alone. Ah, past the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/there-pass-the-careless-people-that-call-their-souls-their-own-here/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [It's messed up to find comfort and relatability in a site, that can careless about you, with people that only pay attention to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adar-burks/it-s-messed-up-to-find-comfort-and-relatability-in-a-site-that-can/) [Adar Burks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adar-burks/) > [“The Reagan administration is full of such “careless people”; their kind of carelessness is immoral. And President Reagan calls himself a Christian! How does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-reagan-administration-is-full-of-such-careless-people-their-kind/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Take good care of the things you have. Careless people spend more for a given standard of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/take-good-care-of-the-things-you-have-careless-people-spend-more-for/) [Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/) ## More by F. Scott Fitzgerald > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“There was a ripe mystery about it, a hint of bedrooms upstairs more beautiful and cool than other bedrooms, of gay and radiant activities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/there-was-a-ripe-mystery-about-it-a-hint-of-bedrooms-upstairs-more/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I want you to take a red-hot bath as hot as you can bear it, and just relax your nerves. You can read in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-want-you-to-take-a-red-hot-bath-as-hot-as-you-can-bear-it-and-just/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I found something! Courage--just that; courage as a rule of life and something to cling to always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-found-something-courage-just-that-courage-as-a-rule-of-life-and/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Life is a series of successful gestures...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/life-is-a-series-of-successful-gestures/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Another dawn flung itself across the river; a belated taxi hurried along the street, its lamps still shining like burning eyes in a face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/another-dawn-flung-itself-across-the-river-a-belated-taxi-hurried/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“She plucked a twig and broke it, but she found no spring in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/she-plucked-a-twig-and-broke-it-but-she-found-no-spring-in-it/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“I'm one of those people who go through the world giving other people thrills but getting few myself except those I read into men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-go-through-the-world-giving-other-people/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [The Montana sunset lay between the mountains like a giant bruise from which darkened arteries spread across a poisoned sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-montana-sunset-lay-between-the-mountains-like-a-giant-bruise-from/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“You loved me too?" he repeated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/you-loved-me-too-he-repeated/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“He was good looking, "sort of distinguished when he wants to be", had a line, and was properly inconstant. In fact, he summed up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/he-was-good-looking-sort-of-distinguished-when-he-wants-to-be-had-a/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [What are you going to do? "Can't say - run for president, write -" "Greenwich Village?" "Good heavens, no - I said write -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/what-are-you-going-to-do-can-t-say-run-for-president-write-greenwich/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“The latter was considered a good fellow and a fine leader, until a year later, when he disappeared with a mess fund of eleven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-latter-was-considered-a-good-fellow-and-a-fine-leader-until-a/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/it-eluded-us-then-but-that-s-no-matter-tomorrow-we-will-run-faster/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Explore all 1,568 F. Scott Fitzgerald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## More Careless People quotes > [Take good care of the things you have. Careless people spend more for a given standard of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/take-good-care-of-the-things-you-have-careless-people-spend-more-for/) [Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/) > [“There pass the careless people That call their souls their own: Here by the road I loiter, How idle and alone. Ah, past the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/there-pass-the-careless-people-that-call-their-souls-their-own-here/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [I couldn’t forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-couldn-t-forgive-him-or-like-him-but-i-saw-that-what-he-had-done-2/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“In recent years, a green burial movement has protested formaldehyde, which oxidizes to formic acid, the toxic in fire ants and bee stingers, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weisman/in-recent-years-a-green-burial-movement-has-protested-formaldehyde/) [Alan Weisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weisman/) > [“It made no difference to me. Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply—I was casually sorry, and then I forgot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/it-made-no-difference-to-me-dishonesty-in-a-woman-is-a-thing-you/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [The word stupid is nickname gave to careless people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mabor-maker-kulang/the-word-stupid-is-nickname-gave-to-careless-people/) [Mabor Maker Kulang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mabor-maker-kulang/) > [You're a rotten driver,' I protested. 'Either you ought to be more careful or you oughtn't to drive at all.' 'I am careful.' 'No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/you-re-a-rotten-driver-i-protested-either-you-ought-to-be-more/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Actively we have woven ourselves with the very warp and woof of this nation-we have fought their battles, shared their sorrow, mingled our blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/actively-we-have-woven-ourselves-with-the-very-warp-and-woof-of-this/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [“They were careless people...they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/they-were-careless-people-they-smashed-up-things-and-creatures-and/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [It's messed up to find comfort and relatability in a site, that can careless about you, with people that only pay attention to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adar-burks/it-s-messed-up-to-find-comfort-and-relatability-in-a-site-that-can/) [Adar Burks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adar-burks/) > [“The Reagan administration is full of such “careless people”; their kind of carelessness is immoral. And President Reagan calls himself a Christian! How does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-reagan-administration-is-full-of-such-careless-people-their-kind/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Nick, on the Buchanans: They were careless people, Tom and Daisy -- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald-2/nick-on-the-buchanans-they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy-they/) [F Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald-2/) [Browse all 13 Careless People quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careless-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "F. Scott Fitzgerald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy-they-smashed-up-things-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Careless People" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy-they-smashed-up-things-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_careless-people_they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy_407162.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_careless-people_they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy_407162.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_careless-people_they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy_407162.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into…” — F. Scott Fitzgerald", "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": "F. Scott Fitzgerald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "They were careless people, Tom and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy-they-smashed-up-things-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/they-were-careless-people-tom-and-daisy-they-smashed-up-things-and/#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 } } ] } ```