--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to be a bad example,” she said. “I…" description: "\"“I want to be a bad example,” she said. “I see.” Myrtle stirred herself, ready to walk to the prow. “Well, my dear, I think you have made an excellent ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/frances-hardinge-1417_bad-example_i-want-to-be-a-bad-example-she-said-i-se_2554128.png" --- # I want to be a bad example,” she said. “I see.” Myrtle… ![“I want to be a bad example,” she said. “I see.” Myrtle stirred herself, ready to walk to the prow. “Well, my dear, I think you have made an excellent start.” quote by Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/frances-hardinge-1417_bad-example_i-want-to-be-a-bad-example-she-said-i-se_2554128.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/frances-hardinge-1417_bad-example_i-want-to-be-a-bad-example-she-said-i-se_2554128.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/frances-hardinge-1417_bad-example_i-want-to-be-a-bad-example-she-said-i-se_2554128.png) > ““I want to be a bad example,” she said. “I see.” Myrtle stirred herself, ready to walk to the prow. “Well, my dear, I think you have made an excellent start.”” [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character seeks to be a cautionary example, yet receives unexpected encouragement, highlighting paradoxes of influence. **In simple terms:** Trying to be a bad example can inspire others. Key Takeaway Be mindful of the impact of your actions. Themes influence paradox growth Mood thoughtful reflective Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - teaching - leadership - personal development Key Concepts ethics social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What responsibility do you bear for others’ actions? - When can a “bad example” be constructive? A Different Perspective Good intentions can be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-example/) [Myrtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myrtle/) ## Related quotes > [“Myrtle goggled at them. "You're alive," she said blankly to Harry. "There's no need to sound so disappointed," he said grimly... "Oh, well... I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/myrtle-goggled-at-them-you-re-alive-she-said-blankly-to-harry-there-s/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [I wasn't paying attention," said Myrtle dramatically. "Peeves upset me so much I came in here and tried to kill myself. Then, of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wasn-t-paying-attention-said-myrtle-dramatically-peeves-upset-me-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Hair under the arms, for example, he said, should never be removed, for nature had put it there, and evidently it had some use.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/hair-under-the-arms-for-example-he-said-should-never-be-removed-for/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Mr. Branwell and Mr. Carstairs seem to have no problem cleaning their boots,” Sophie said, looking darkly from Will to Tessa. “Perhaps you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/mr-branwell-and-mr-carstairs-seem-to-have-no-problem-cleaning-their/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“...each living creature is said to be alive and to be the same individual-- as for example someone is said to be the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-living-creature-is-said-to-be-alive-and-to-be-the-same/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“thing we can do for the young is set an example,’ said Oliver slowly. ‘I discovered that long ago. They don’t listen to us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-vincenzi/thing-we-can-do-for-the-young-is-set-an-example-said-oliver-slowly-i/) [Penny Vincenzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-vincenzi/) > [Yet once more, O ye laurels, and once more Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sere, I come to pluck your berries harsh and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-once-more-o-ye-laurels-and-once-more-ye-myrtles-brown-with-ivy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Eau-de-vie- flavored with myrtle," said the old woman. "Try it!" She watched intently as Ellie raised the glass to her lips. "Myrtle from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-lawrenson/eau-de-vie-flavored-with-myrtle-said-the-old-woman-try-it-she-watched/) [Deborah Lawrenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-lawrenson/) > [My only failure was the restaurant in Myrtle Beach. I kept it open for four years. It was in a tourist town, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-gilley/my-only-failure-was-the-restaurant-in-myrtle-beach-i-kept-it-open-for/) [Mickey Gilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-gilley/) > [The scent organ was playing a delightfully refreshing Herbal Capriccio - rippling arpeggios of thyme and lavender, of rosemary, basil, myrtle, tarragon; a series…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-scent-organ-was-playing-a-delightfully-refreshing-herbal/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Smell brings to mind... a family dinner of pot roast and sweet potatoes during a myrtle-mad August in a Midwestern town. Smells detonate softly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/smell-brings-to-mind-a-family-dinner-of-pot-roast-and-sweet-potatoes/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [Maybe he murdered Myrtle; that would’ve done everyone a favor. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-he-murdered-myrtle-that-would-ve-done-everyone-a-favor/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm blacked than midnight on Broadway and Myrtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-m-blacked-than-midnight-on-broadway-and-myrtle/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [“Oh, Myrtle, don't be didactic. It's not becoming in a young girl. Besides, men loathe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veta-louise-simmons/oh-myrtle-don-t-be-didactic-it-s-not-becoming-in-a-young-girl-besides/) Veta Louise Simmons > [Is it where the flow'r of the orange blows, And the fireflies dance thro' the myrtle boughs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-hemans/is-it-where-the-flow-r-of-the-orange-blows-and-the-fireflies-dance/) [Felicia Hemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-hemans/) ## More by Frances Hardinge > [“It is dangerous to lock oneself away and lose track of what is happening outside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/it-is-dangerous-to-lock-oneself-away-and-lose-track-of-what-is/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Clent, however, suppressed any sense of pity without the slightest difficulty. His brain was busy with the icy clockwork of calculation. If only this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/clent-however-suppressed-any-sense-of-pity-without-the-slightest/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“I swam across the torrent of my madness, and pulled myself upon the shore of a new and better sanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/i-swam-across-the-torrent-of-my-madness-and-pulled-myself-upon-the/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Before her escort could react, she sprinted out from their little pool of lantern-light into the darkness, her feet pounding the soft, treacherous clods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/before-her-escort-could-react-she-sprinted-out-from-their-little-pool/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“She was not undamaged, however, and she knew it. No food or drink had passed her lips, but she had drunk deep of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/she-was-not-undamaged-however-and-she-knew-it-no-food-or-drink-had/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“All her life, Neverfell had suffered the dull, embarrassed ache of the knowledge that she was always the maddest person in the room. Funnily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/all-her-life-neverfell-had-suffered-the-dull-embarrassed-ache-of-the/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Well, if you are to help me with my work, you had better get used to stories without endings. True stories seldom have endings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/well-if-you-are-to-help-me-with-my-work-you-had-better-get-used-to/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“And you may comfort yourself with the thought that you have been the caltrop under her satin shoe every step of the way. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/and-you-may-comfort-yourself-with-the-thought-that-you-have-been-the/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“The little pedlar, it seemed, fancied that he had the tools to fix the wheel. The footmen were glad to hear this, and agreed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/the-little-pedlar-it-seemed-fancied-that-he-had-the-tools-to-fix-the/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“For a second, she could almost see Caverna as the Kleptomancer did, a murky, monstrous beauty, smiling her fine-fanged smile as she prepared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/for-a-second-she-could-almost-see-caverna-as-the-kleptomancer-did-a/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you’re sane? That you’ve always been sane? That perhaps you’re the sanest person in the city?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/has-it-ever-occurred-to-you-that-maybe-you-re-sane-that-you-ve-always/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Thank you," she whispered. "I promise I will not interfere in Court business again." "Oh yes, you will." Zouelle looked up to see her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/thank-you-she-whispered-i-promise-i-will-not-interfere-in-court/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“People's personalities took up space, he sometimes thought. When they were trapped in a house or a job or a school together, they rubbed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/people-s-personalities-took-up-space-he-sometimes-thought-when-they/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [Revenge is a dish best served unexpectedly and from a distance - like a thrown trifle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-unexpectedly-and-from-a-distance-like-a/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Little god, you see the world through such black eyes." "Got no choice. My father give ’em to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/little-god-you-see-the-world-through-such-black-eyes-got-no-choice-my/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) [Explore all 244 Frances Hardinge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) ## More Bad example quotes > [Recipients of transfers set a bad example for others, including their children, other relatives, and friends, who see that one can receive goods, services,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/recipients-of-transfers-set-a-bad-example-for-others-including-their/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [“So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think, say and do are not due primarily to our environment, nor are they bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-which-we-think-say-and-do-are/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [The NBA's chosen ones think I'm setting a bad example? I think they need to look around and stop taking themselves so seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/the-nba-s-chosen-ones-think-i-m-setting-a-bad-example-i-think-they/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [When you have girlfriend, there is no room for lies, no room for anything but truth.anything other that is a bad example, I believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paritoshik-sharma/when-you-have-girlfriend-there-is-no-room-for-lies-no-room-for/) [Paritoshik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paritoshik-sharma/) > [“Claire was just coming down the stairs, humming and thinking about how nice it was to have things getting back to normal, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/claire-was-just-coming-down-the-stairs-humming-and-thinking-about-how/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [I like putting my money into things like food and shelter. I'm probably a bad example of an investor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baker/i-like-putting-my-money-into-things-like-food-and-shelter-i-m/) [Simon Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baker/) > [Feminism is not a fad. It's not like Angry Birds. Although it does involve a lot of angry birds. Bad example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-christie/feminism-is-not-a-fad-it-s-not-like-angry-birds-although-it-does/) [Bridget Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-christie/) > [Nothing is more confusing than people who give good advice but set a bad example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/nothing-is-more-confusing-than-people-who-give-good-advice-but-set-a/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Greenlight is a bad example of an election process. We came to the conclusion pretty quickly that we could just do away with Greenlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-newell/greenlight-is-a-bad-example-of-an-election-process-we-came-to-the/) [Gabe Newell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-newell/) > [Whatever parent gives his children good instruction and sets them at the same time a bad example, may be considered as bringing them food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balguy/whatever-parent-gives-his-children-good-instruction-and-sets-them-at/) John Balguy > [“BARBIE GOES TO WAR There are more than a billion Barbies. Only the Chinese outnumber them. The most beloved woman on the planet would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/barbie-goes-to-war-there-are-more-than-a-billion-barbies-only-the/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [Who said I was wise? I’m a professional bad example. You can learn a lot by watching me. Or listening to me. Either one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jubal/who-said-i-was-wise-i-m-a-professional-bad-example-you-can-learn-a/) Jubal > [I know I'm bad atleast I can be used as BAD EXAMPLE!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-i-m-bad-atleast-i-can-be-used-as-bad-example/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But as a Christian, let me say Merry Christmas on a national holiday called Christmas and you’d think Satan incarnate himself just showed up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-hutcherson/but-as-a-christian-let-me-say-merry-christmas-on-a-national-holiday/) [Ken Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-hutcherson/) > [The truth is very few of us are related to Napoleon or Cleopatra. Although, those are bad examples as I am actually descended from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-piddock/the-truth-is-very-few-of-us-are-related-to-napoleon-or-cleopatra/) [Jim Piddock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-piddock/) [Browse all 86 Bad example quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-example/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I want to be a bad example,” she said. “I see.” Myrtle stirred herself, ready to walk to the prow. “Well, my dear, I think you have made an excellent start.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frances Hardinge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/i-want-to-be-a-bad-example-she-said-i-see-myrtle-stirred-herself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad example" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/i-want-to-be-a-bad-example-she-said-i-see-myrtle-stirred-herself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/frances-hardinge-1417_bad-example_i-want-to-be-a-bad-example-she-said-i-se_2554128.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/frances-hardinge-1417_bad-example_i-want-to-be-a-bad-example-she-said-i-se_2554128.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/frances-hardinge-1417_bad-example_i-want-to-be-a-bad-example-she-said-i-se_2554128.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I want to be a bad example,” she said. “I see.” Myrtle stirred herself, ready to walk to the prow. “Well, my…” — Frances Hardinge", "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": "Frances Hardinge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I want to be a bad...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/i-want-to-be-a-bad-example-she-said-i-see-myrtle-stirred-herself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/i-want-to-be-a-bad-example-she-said-i-see-myrtle-stirred-herself/#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 } } ] } ```