---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things were bad but now they are OK."
description: "\"Things were bad but now they are OK.\" — Harold J. Seymour"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/harold-j-seymour-80699_adversity_things-were-bad-but-now-they-are-ok-2749_2749604.jpg"
---

#  Things were bad but now they are OK.

![“Things were bad but now they are OK.” quote by Harold J. Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/harold-j-seymour-80699_adversity_things-were-bad-but-now-they-are-ok-2749_2749604.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/harold-j-seymour-80699_adversity_things-were-bad-but-now-they-are-ok-2749_2749604.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/harold-j-seymour-80699_adversity_things-were-bad-but-now-they-are-ok-2749_2749604.jpg)

> “Things were bad but now they are OK.”

[Harold J. Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-j-seymour/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Notes a shift from poor conditions to acceptable ones, implying improvement.

**In simple terms:** Things got worse before getting okay.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate progress.

Themes

resilience change optimism

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

motivational observational

When to use this quote

- personal recovery
- economic recovery
- health improvement

Key Concepts

improvement acceptance timeline

Questions to Reflect On

- What helped the situation improve?
- How can you sustain the okay state?

A Different Perspective

May ignore ongoing challenges.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-bad/)

## Related quotes

> [Things are never as bad or as good as they seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hsieh/things-are-never-as-bad-or-as-good-as-they-seem/)

[Tony Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hsieh/)

> [I know there is something out there and like most people, I tend to believe in it more when things go bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-smith/i-know-there-is-something-out-there-and-like-most-people-i-tend-to/)

[Maggie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-smith/)

> [I miss all the good things, not the bad things or the sad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolann-centeno/i-miss-all-the-good-things-not-the-bad-things-or-the-sad-things/)

[Carolann Centeno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolann-centeno/)

> [“Many times I worry cause I think that the things are bad ,,but maybe I just think .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makis-philosofukciss/many-times-i-worry-cause-i-think-that-the-things-are-bad-but-maybe-i/)

[Makis Philosofukciss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makis-philosofukciss/)

> [In life the things that seems good for you, are the things that's bad for your health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-coleman/in-life-the-things-that-seems-good-for-you-are-the-things-that-s-bad/)

[Damian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-coleman/)

> [The only constant in life is that everything is always changing. And thats a little scary, but it means that things cant be bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-only-constant-in-life-is-that-everything-is-always-changing-and/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [“Things happen in this life. Sometimes they're good things, and sometimes they're bad things. You have to come to terms with the bad things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-wendig/things-happen-in-this-life-sometimes-they-re-good-things-and/)

[Chuck Wendig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-wendig/)

> [Few things are as bad as a guilty conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buchi-emecheta/few-things-are-as-bad-as-a-guilty-conscience/)

[Buchi Emecheta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buchi-emecheta/)

> [“Here’s something about Mom: she’s bad with annoyances, but great in a crisis. If a waiter doesn’t refill her water after she’s asked three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/here-s-something-about-mom-she-s-bad-with-annoyances-but-great-in-a/)

[Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/)

> [Same thing every year, getting up at the crack of dawn, drinking, fighting, throwing up, pissing on walls and then you leave the house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-fitzsimmons/same-thing-every-year-getting-up-at-the-crack-of-dawn-drinking/)

[Greg Fitzsimmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-fitzsimmons/)

> [We're told, everybody, that all things are bad. Bad is not good and good is not bad. Bad and good go together. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/we-re-told-everybody-that-all-things-are-bad-bad-is-not-good-and-good/)

[Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/)

> [The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-doctor/the-way-i-see-it-every-life-is-a-pile-of-good-things-and-bad-things/)

[The Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-doctor/)

> [Things are as bad as you fear they are. People are as bad as you think they are. The Universe does not care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-huston/things-are-as-bad-as-you-fear-they-are-people-are-as-bad-as-you-think/)

[Charlie Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-huston/)

> [When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always be worse. And when they are, we find hope in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-things-are-bad-we-take-comfort-in-the-thought-that-they-could/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

> [There is no positive law: Many things are bad by that, which otherwise were not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-murray-1st-earl-of-mansfield/there-is-no-positive-law-many-things-are-bad-by-that-which-otherwise/)

[William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-murray-1st-earl-of-mansfield/)

## More by Harold J. Seymour

> [The vineyards of philanthropy are pleasant places, and I would hope good men and women will be drawn there… If these vineyards are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-j-seymour/the-vineyards-of-philanthropy-are-pleasant-places-and-i-would-hope/)

[Harold J. Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-j-seymour/)

> [The usual trouble with volunteers is not killing them with overwork, but simply boring them to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-j-seymour/the-usual-trouble-with-volunteers-is-not-killing-them-with-overwork/)

[Harold J. Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-j-seymour/)

[Explore all 3 Harold J. Seymour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-j-seymour/)

## More Adversity quotes

> [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/)

[Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/)

> [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/)

[Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/)

> [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/)

[George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/)

> [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/)

[Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/)

> [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/)

[Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/)

> [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/)

[James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/)

> [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/)

[Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/)

> [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/)

[Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/)

> [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/)

[S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/)

> [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Things were bad but now they are OK.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Harold J. Seymour"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-j-seymour/things-were-bad-but-now-they-are-ok/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adversity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-j-seymour/things-were-bad-but-now-they-are-ok/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/harold-j-seymour-80699_adversity_things-were-bad-but-now-they-are-ok-2749_2749604.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/harold-j-seymour-80699_adversity_things-were-bad-but-now-they-are-ok-2749_2749604.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/harold-j-seymour-80699_adversity_things-were-bad-but-now-they-are-ok-2749_2749604.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Things were bad but now they are OK.” — Harold J. Seymour",
                "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": "Harold J. Seymour",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-j-seymour/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Things were bad but now they...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-j-seymour/things-were-bad-but-now-they-are-ok/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-j-seymour/things-were-bad-but-now-they-are-ok/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
