--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody does anything bad all at once…" description: "\"“Nobody does anything bad all at once. Wickedness needs an apprenticeship as well as more difficult trades.”\" — George MacDonald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/george-macdonald-295_apprenticeship_nobody-does-anything-bad-all-at-once-wic_2044905.png" --- # Nobody does anything bad all at once. Wickedness needs an… ![“Nobody does anything bad all at once. Wickedness needs an apprenticeship as well as more difficult trades.” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/george-macdonald-295_apprenticeship_nobody-does-anything-bad-all-at-once-wic_2044905.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/george-macdonald-295_apprenticeship_nobody-does-anything-bad-all-at-once-wic_2044905.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/george-macdonald-295_apprenticeship_nobody-does-anything-bad-all-at-once-wic_2044905.png) > ““Nobody does anything bad all at once. Wickedness needs an apprenticeship as well as more difficult trades.”” [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bad actions develop gradually, requiring a learning period before escalating. **In simple terms:** Evil develops through apprenticeship. Key Takeaway Recognize early signs of harmful behavior. Themes morality growth learning Mood thoughtful cautionary Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - education - parenting - workplace culture - self‑reflection Key Concepts ethical development behavioral patterns Questions to Reflect On - How can early intervention prevent escalation? - What factors influence moral development? A Different Perspective Not all harmful actions follow a clear apprenticeship model. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apprenticeship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apprenticeship/) [Wickedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wickedness/) ## Related quotes > [Thou art beautiful because God created thee, but thou art a slave to sin... wickedness has made you ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/thou-art-beautiful-because-god-created-thee-but-thou-art-a-slave-to/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Most people won't realise that writing is a craft. You have to take your apprenticeship in it like anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/most-people-won-t-realise-that-writing-is-a-craft-you-have-to-take/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [Our life is an apprenticeship to the truth that around every circle another can be drawn; that there is no end in nature, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-life-is-an-apprenticeship-to-the-truth-that-around-every-circle/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Work-based learning is a game changer. It's like test driving a career, and I have seen it in action with our registered apprenticeship programs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/work-based-learning-is-a-game-changer-it-s-like-test-driving-a-career/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [I come from a family with a long tradition in shoemaking, and I still live in a region famous for its shoemakers. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-della-valle/i-come-from-a-family-with-a-long-tradition-in-shoemaking-and-i-still/) [Diego Della Valle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-della-valle/) > [Life is an apprenticeship to the constant renunciations, to the steady failure of our claims, our hopes, our powers, our liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/life-is-an-apprenticeship-to-the-constant-renunciations-to-the-steady/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [ For the production of man a different apprenticeship \[from forests\] was needed to sharpen the wits and quicken the higher manifestations of intellect -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-dart/for-the-production-of-man-a-different-apprenticeship-from-forests-was/) Raymond Dart > [The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Every day should be Labor Day. We have to fight for the basic proposition that apprenticeship is a wonderful ticket to the middle class.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/every-day-should-be-labor-day-we-have-to-fight-for-the-basic/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) > [The best thing about writing programs is that it rationalized the apprenticeship of a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/the-best-thing-about-writing-programs-is-that-it-rationalized-the/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [Every endeavor should be used to weaken and destroy all those institutions relating to corporations, apprenticeships, &c, which cause the labours of agriculture to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-malthus/every-endeavor-should-be-used-to-weaken-and-destroy-all-those/) [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) > [There has never been a boy painter, nor can there be. The art requires a long apprenticeship, being mechanical, as well as intellectual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-constable/there-has-never-been-a-boy-painter-nor-can-there-be-the-art-requires/) [John Constable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-constable/) > [I was in the U.K. and Germany and went to Volkswagen and learned about their apprenticeship model - young people become paid apprentices in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perez/i-was-in-the-u-k-and-germany-and-went-to-volkswagen-and-learned-about/) [Tom Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perez/) > [From 1965 to 1974, I served the best possible apprenticeship for an actor. I learned firsthand how a truck driver lives, what a bartender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-dennehy/from-1965-to-1974-i-served-the-best-possible-apprenticeship-for-an/) [Brian Dennehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-dennehy/) > [For a young man to start his career with a love affair with an older woman was quite de rigueur ... Of course, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/for-a-young-man-to-start-his-career-with-a-love-affair-with-an-older/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) ## More by George MacDonald > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [In low theologies, hell is invariably the deepest truth, and the love of God is not so deep as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/in-low-theologies-hell-is-invariably-the-deepest-truth-and-the-love/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Life and religion are one, or neither is any thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/life-and-religion-are-one-or-neither-is-any-thing/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Ah, what is it we send up thither, where our thoughts are either a dissonance or a sweetness and a grace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-what-is-it-we-send-up-thither-where-our-thoughts-are-either-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [You must learn to be strong in the dark as well as in the day, else you will always be only half brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-must-learn-to-be-strong-in-the-dark-as-well-as-in-the-day-else/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/few-delights-can-equal-the-mere-presence-of-one-whom-we-trust-utterly/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“You have tasted of death now,” said the old man. “Is it good?” “It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-have-tasted-of-death-now-said-the-old-man-is-it-good-it-is-good/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [ “I wish I had \[made that song\]. No, I don't That would be to take it from somebody else. But it's mine for all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-wish-i-had-made-that-song-no-i-don-t-that-would-be-to-take-it-from/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Past tears are present strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/past-tears-are-present-strength/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/age-is-not-all-decay-it-is-the-ripening-the-swelling-of-the-fresh/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I want to help you grow as beautiful as God meant you to be when he thought of you first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-want-to-help-you-grow-as-beautiful-as-god-meant-you-to-be-when-he/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Immeasurably imperfect it was, but false the impression could not be, for she saw with the eyes made for seeing, and saw indeed what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/immeasurably-imperfect-it-was-but-false-the-impression-could-not-be/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Those that hope little cannot grow much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/those-that-hope-little-cannot-grow-much/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) [Explore all 720 George MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More Apprenticeship quotes > [For a young man to start his career with a love affair with an older woman was quite de rigueur ... Of course, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/for-a-young-man-to-start-his-career-with-a-love-affair-with-an-older/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) > [From 1965 to 1974, I served the best possible apprenticeship for an actor. I learned firsthand how a truck driver lives, what a bartender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-dennehy/from-1965-to-1974-i-served-the-best-possible-apprenticeship-for-an/) [Brian Dennehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-dennehy/) > [I was in the U.K. and Germany and went to Volkswagen and learned about their apprenticeship model - young people become paid apprentices in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perez/i-was-in-the-u-k-and-germany-and-went-to-volkswagen-and-learned-about/) [Tom Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perez/) > [There has never been a boy painter, nor can there be. The art requires a long apprenticeship, being mechanical, as well as intellectual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-constable/there-has-never-been-a-boy-painter-nor-can-there-be-the-art-requires/) [John Constable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-constable/) > [Every endeavor should be used to weaken and destroy all those institutions relating to corporations, apprenticeships, &c, which cause the labours of agriculture to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-malthus/every-endeavor-should-be-used-to-weaken-and-destroy-all-those/) [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) > [The best thing about writing programs is that it rationalized the apprenticeship of a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/the-best-thing-about-writing-programs-is-that-it-rationalized-the/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [Every day should be Labor Day. We have to fight for the basic proposition that apprenticeship is a wonderful ticket to the middle class.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/every-day-should-be-labor-day-we-have-to-fight-for-the-basic/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) > [The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [ For the production of man a different apprenticeship \[from forests\] was needed to sharpen the wits and quicken the higher manifestations of intellect -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-dart/for-the-production-of-man-a-different-apprenticeship-from-forests-was/) Raymond Dart > [Life is an apprenticeship to the constant renunciations, to the steady failure of our claims, our hopes, our powers, our liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/life-is-an-apprenticeship-to-the-constant-renunciations-to-the-steady/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [I come from a family with a long tradition in shoemaking, and I still live in a region famous for its shoemakers. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-della-valle/i-come-from-a-family-with-a-long-tradition-in-shoemaking-and-i-still/) [Diego Della Valle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-della-valle/) > [Work-based learning is a game changer. It's like test driving a career, and I have seen it in action with our registered apprenticeship programs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/work-based-learning-is-a-game-changer-it-s-like-test-driving-a-career/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [Our life is an apprenticeship to the truth that around every circle another can be drawn; that there is no end in nature, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-life-is-an-apprenticeship-to-the-truth-that-around-every-circle/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Most people won't realise that writing is a craft. You have to take your apprenticeship in it like anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/most-people-won-t-realise-that-writing-is-a-craft-you-have-to-take/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [I've been working for many years and I think I've managed to work with some of the best people in the business, which has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-eckhart/i-ve-been-working-for-many-years-and-i-think-i-ve-managed-to-work/) [Aaron Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-eckhart/) [Browse all 134 Apprenticeship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apprenticeship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Nobody does anything bad all at once. 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