--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing could bother me more than the way…" description: "\"Nothing could bother me more than the way a thing goes dead once it has been said.\" — Gertrude Stein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/gertrude-stein-667_bother_nothing-could-bother-me-more-than-the-wa_2740211.jpg" --- # Nothing could bother me more than the way a thing goes… ![“Nothing could bother me more than the way a thing goes dead once it has been said.” quote by Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/gertrude-stein-667_bother_nothing-could-bother-me-more-than-the-wa_2740211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/gertrude-stein-667_bother_nothing-could-bother-me-more-than-the-wa_2740211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/gertrude-stein-667_bother_nothing-could-bother-me-more-than-the-wa_2740211.jpg) > “Nothing could bother me more than the way a thing goes dead once it has been said.” [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words lose power once spoken, making the original idea feel dead and unchanging. **In simple terms:** Spoken words become static and lose impact. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of language and seek fresh expression. Themes communication impermanence expression Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - public speaking - debates - personal reflection Key Concepts existentialism literary criticism Questions to Reflect On - How do you revive ideas after they’re spoken? - Can silence be more powerful than speech? A Different Perspective Words can be re‑energized through action or reinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bother/) [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Dead Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-said/) [Goes Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-dead-2249629/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Self control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-control/) [Thing Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-goes-937954/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“Immortality goes through dead before all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/immortality-goes-through-dead-before-all/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [“And at times the fact of her absence will hit you like a blow to the chest, and you will weep. But this will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/and-at-times-the-fact-of-her-absence-will-hit-you-like-a-blow-to-the/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [It turns out that there is nothing so 'ex' as an ex-politician, especially a defeated one. Your phone goes dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/it-turns-out-that-there-is-nothing-so-ex-as-an-ex-politician/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [Sit a man on his ass with nothing to do but eat and the first thing that goes is his mind. It never fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-russ/sit-a-man-on-his-ass-with-nothing-to-do-but-eat-and-the-first-thing/) [Joanna Russ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-russ/) > [When a good thing goes bad , Its not the end of the world , its just the of the world , that you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/when-a-good-thing-goes-bad-its-not-the-end-of-the-world-its-just-the-2/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [The world doesn't end just because one thing goes wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-duvall/the-world-doesn-t-end-just-because-one-thing-goes-wrong/) [Shelley Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-duvall/) > [I believe it's a shoulder thing that goes up...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-mccarthy/i-believe-it-s-a-shoulder-thing-that-goes-up/) [Carolyn McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-mccarthy/) > [Even if it doesn't mean a thing to us; when it goes down hill it means the world to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-if-it-doesn-t-mean-a-thing-to-us-when-it-goes-down-hill-it-means/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That lifeline thing goes both ways, you know? Use it. Use him. He won’t break if you do … but you just might if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-bromberg/that-lifeline-thing-goes-both-ways-you-know-use-it-use-him-he-won-t/) [K. Bromberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-bromberg/) > [When a good thing goes bad it's not the end of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/when-a-good-thing-goes-bad-it-s-not-the-end-of-the-world/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [If a thing goes without saying -- let it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-braude/if-a-thing-goes-without-saying-let-it/) [Jacob Braude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-braude/) > [I've seen how this thing goes, the waves, the ins and outs of the season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tannehill/i-ve-seen-how-this-thing-goes-the-waves-the-ins-and-outs-of-the-season/) [Ryan Tannehill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tannehill/) > [Courage is the thing. All goes if courage goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-the-thing-all-goes-if-courage-goes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'd much rather do one or two takes of one thing and then see how it goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rider-strong/i-d-much-rather-do-one-or-two-takes-of-one-thing-and-then-see-how-it/) [Rider Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rider-strong/) > [The only thing that goes on in your life is what your allow to go on in your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/the-only-thing-that-goes-on-in-your-life-is-what-your-allow-to-go-on/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) ## More by Gertrude Stein > [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“When is there some discharge when. There never is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/when-is-there-some-discharge-when-there-never-is/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [There is no such thing as repetition. Only insistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/there-is-no-such-thing-as-repetition-only-insistance/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I am I because my little dog knows me but, creatively speaking the little dog knowing that you are you and your recognising that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-am-i-because-my-little-dog-knows-me-but-creatively-speaking-the/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [How likely are definitions to be pleasurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/how-likely-are-definitions-to-be-pleasurable/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [ “What is the answer?" \[ I \[Alice B Toklas\] was silent \] In that case, what is the question?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/what-is-the-answer-i-alice-b-toklas-was-silent-in-that-case-what-is/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [More and more I like to take a train. I understand why the French prefer it to automobiling it is so much more sociable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/more-and-more-i-like-to-take-a-train-i-understand-why-the-french/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Adventure is making the distant approach nearer but romance is having what is where it is which is not where you are stay where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/adventure-is-making-the-distant-approach-nearer-but-romance-is-having/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Forensics is eloquence and reduction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/forensics-is-eloquence-and-reduction/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Eating and sleeping are not like loving and breathing. Washing is not like eating and sleeping. Believing is like breathing and loving. Religion can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/eating-and-sleeping-are-not-like-loving-and-breathing-washing-is-not/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I write for myself and strangers. The strangers, dear Readers, are an afterthought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-write-for-myself-and-strangers-the-strangers-dear-readers-are-an/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“A bag which was left and not only taken but turned away was not found. The place was shown to be very like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/a-bag-which-was-left-and-not-only-taken-but-turned-away-was-not-found/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I don't envisage collectivism. There is no such animal, it is always individualism, sometimes the rest vote and sometimes they do not, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-don-t-envisage-collectivism-there-is-no-such-animal-it-is-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) [Explore all 418 Gertrude Stein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) ## More Bother quotes > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [One day I decided I would like to put a record into my system. So I picked up a record that was lying on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/one-day-i-decided-i-would-like-to-put-a-record-into-my-system-so-i/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [There is an idea that you can take the spiritual teachings of a religion outside of a religion and practice them; these ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/there-is-an-idea-that-you-can-take-the-spiritual-teachings-of-a/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [I've always been a late bloomer in some ways, and extremely precocious in other ways. When I was twenty I was living in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-daum/i-ve-always-been-a-late-bloomer-in-some-ways-and-extremely-precocious/) [Meghan Daum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-daum/) > [“Shut up. Stand up. Put this on. That’s right . . . if you were the kind of man who found it easy to do that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/shut-up-stand-up-put-this-on-that-s-right-if-you-were-the-kind-of-man/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [We have reached the point where we can lose a game or two and not drop out of sight in the rankings. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavell-edwards/we-have-reached-the-point-where-we-can-lose-a-game-or-two-and-not/) [LaVell Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavell-edwards/) > [I've said I want the meanest, toughest SOB I can find to protect America. And so that's why Trump's tone doesn't bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-ve-said-i-want-the-meanest-toughest-sob-i-can-find-to-protect/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [I was a loner as a child. I had an imaginary friend - I didn't bother with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-was-a-loner-as-a-child-i-had-an-imaginary-friend-i-didn-t-bother/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [This hype word bothers me though It always sounds like an accusation, what does it mean, advertising, column inches in the press? Bands themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/this-hype-word-bothers-me-though-it-always-sounds-like-an-accusation/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [Our students wanted to know everything: but only the newest theory seemed to them worth bothering with. Knowing nothing of the intellectual achievements of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-levi-strauss/our-students-wanted-to-know-everything-but-only-the-newest-theory/) [Claude Levi-Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-levi-strauss/) > [Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-dale-bell/show-me-a-man-who-cannot-bother-to-do-little-things-and-i-ll-show-you/) [Lawrence Dale Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-dale-bell/) > [People are people. All that celebrity tagging doesn't bother me at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-price/people-are-people-all-that-celebrity-tagging-doesn-t-bother-me-at-all/) [Katie Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-price/) [Browse all 1,604 Bother quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bother/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing could bother me more than the way a thing goes dead once it has been said.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gertrude Stein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/nothing-could-bother-me-more-than-the-way-a-thing-goes-dead-once-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bother" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/nothing-could-bother-me-more-than-the-way-a-thing-goes-dead-once-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/gertrude-stein-667_bother_nothing-could-bother-me-more-than-the-wa_2740211.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/gertrude-stein-667_bother_nothing-could-bother-me-more-than-the-wa_2740211.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/gertrude-stein-667_bother_nothing-could-bother-me-more-than-the-wa_2740211.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing could bother me more than the way a thing goes dead once it has been said.” — Gertrude Stein", "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": "Gertrude Stein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing could bother me more than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/nothing-could-bother-me-more-than-the-way-a-thing-goes-dead-once-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/nothing-could-bother-me-more-than-the-way-a-thing-goes-dead-once-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 } } ] } ```