--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps,\" said Miss Ophelia, \"it is…" description: "\"“Perhaps,\" said Miss Ophelia, \"it is impossible for a person who does no good not to do harm.”\" — Harriet Beecher Stowe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/harriet-beecher-stowe-1149_quote_perhaps-said-miss-ophelia-it-is-impossib_1695929.jpg" --- # Perhaps," said Miss Ophelia, "it is impossible for a… ![“Perhaps," said Miss Ophelia, "it is impossible for a person who does no good not to do harm.” quote by Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/harriet-beecher-stowe-1149_quote_perhaps-said-miss-ophelia-it-is-impossib_1695929.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/harriet-beecher-stowe-1149_quote_perhaps-said-miss-ophelia-it-is-impossib_1695929.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/harriet-beecher-stowe-1149_quote_perhaps-said-miss-ophelia-it-is-impossib_1695929.jpg) > ““Perhaps," said Miss Ophelia, "it is impossible for a person who does no good not to do harm.”” [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who avoid good deeds often cause unintended harm, highlighting moral responsibility. **In simple terms:** Avoiding good can still cause harm. Key Takeaway Act responsibly, not just avoid wrongdoing. Themes morality responsibility consequences Mood reflective thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - community work - volunteering Key Concepts ethical theory intentionality Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your in don’t cause harm? - What responsibilities come with in? A Different Perspective Good intentions don’t guarantee harmless outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Impossible Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-person-751152/) [Miss Ophelia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miss-ophelia-1102771/) [Ophelia Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ophelia-impossible-1102770/) ## Related quotes > [“Well," said Miss Ophelia, "do you think slavery right or wrong?" "I'm not going to have any of your horrid New England directness, cousin,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/well-said-miss-ophelia-do-you-think-slavery-right-or-wrong-i-m-not/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [What's your hurry?" Because now is the only time there ever is to do a thing in," said Miss Ophelia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/what-s-your-hurry-because-now-is-the-only-time-there-ever-is-to-do-a/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [“But I want it done now, " said Miss Ophelia. What's your hurry?" Because now is the only time there ever is to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/but-i-want-it-done-now-said-miss-ophelia-what-s-your-hurry-because/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [“Now is all the time I have anything to do with," said Miss Ophelia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/now-is-all-the-time-i-have-anything-to-do-with-said-miss-ophelia/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [“Because now is the only time there ever is to do a thing in," said Miss Ophelia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/because-now-is-the-only-time-there-ever-is-to-do-a-thing-in-said-miss/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [“Perhaps it is impossible for a person who does no good not to do harm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/perhaps-it-is-impossible-for-a-person-who-does-no-good-not-to-do-harm/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [Perhaps it is impossible for a person who does no good to do no harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/perhaps-it-is-impossible-for-a-person-who-does-no-good-to-do-no-harm/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [“It seems to me that women would make much better sailors,” Miss Ophelia interjected, setting aside her cup of rosehip tea. “You men are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-parparita/it-seems-to-me-that-women-would-make-much-better-sailors-miss-ophelia/) [Diana Parparita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-parparita/) > [The South African native is probably the one impossible person to train in the entire world; he is probably impossible by any human standard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/the-south-african-native-is-probably-the-one-impossible-person-to/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [World peace is impossible. There will always be that one person that wants to ruin things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/world-peace-is-impossible-there-will-always-be-that-one-person-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When God wants to do an impossible task, He takes an impossible person and breaks her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-demuth/when-god-wants-to-do-an-impossible-task-he-takes-an-impossible-person/) [Mary E. DeMuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-demuth/) > [There is so much going on all over the world that it's impossible for one person to keep up. And I can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/there-is-so-much-going-on-all-over-the-world-that-it-s-impossible-for/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [It's impossible for one person to think of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-impossible-for-one-person-to-think-of-everything/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [He insists on a version of you that is funnier, stranger, more eccentric and prfound thatn you suspect yourself to be--capable of doing more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/he-insists-on-a-version-of-you-that-is-funnier-stranger-more/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) ## More by Harriet Beecher Stowe > [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [I wrote what I did because as a woman, as a mother, I was oppressed and broken-hearted with the sorrows and injustice I saw,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/i-wrote-what-i-did-because-as-a-woman-as-a-mother-i-was-oppressed-and/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [People who hate trouble generally get a good deal of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/people-who-hate-trouble-generally-get-a-good-deal-of-it/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [Common sense is seeing things as they are; and doing things as they ought to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/common-sense-is-seeing-things-as-they-are-and-doing-things-as-they/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [Love needs new leaves every summer of life, as much as your elm-tree, and new branches to grow broader and wider, and new flowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/love-needs-new-leaves-every-summer-of-life-as-much-as-your-elm-tree/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [God has always been to me not so much like a father as like a dear and tender mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/god-has-always-been-to-me-not-so-much-like-a-father-as-like-a-dear/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [If I am to write, I must have a room to myself, which shall be my room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/if-i-am-to-write-i-must-have-a-room-to-myself-which-shall-be-my-room/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [The longest way must have its close - the gloomiest night will wear on to a morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/the-longest-way-must-have-its-close-the-gloomiest-night-will-wear-on/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [Home is a place not only of strong affections, but of entire unreserved; it is life's undress rehearsal, its backroom, its dressing room, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/home-is-a-place-not-only-of-strong-affections-but-of-entire/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [I am speaking now of the highest duty we owe our friends, the noblest, the most sacred - that of keeping their own nobleness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/i-am-speaking-now-of-the-highest-duty-we-owe-our-friends-the-noblest/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [No ornament of a house can compare with books; they are constant company in a room, even when you are not reading them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/no-ornament-of-a-house-can-compare-with-books-they-are-constant/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [The greater the interest involved in a truth the more careful, self-distrustful, and patient should be the inquiry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/the-greater-the-interest-involved-in-a-truth-the-more-careful-self/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [We can make ourselves say the kind things that rise in our hearts and tremble on our lips - do the gentle and helpful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/we-can-make-ourselves-say-the-kind-things-that-rise-in-our-hearts-and/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [It's a matter of taking the side of the weak against the strong, something the best people have always done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-s-a-matter-of-taking-the-side-of-the-weak-against-the-strong/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [What's your hurry?" Because now is the only time there ever is to do a thing in," said Miss Ophelia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/what-s-your-hurry-because-now-is-the-only-time-there-ever-is-to-do-a/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) [Explore all 280 Harriet Beecher Stowe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) ## More Harm quotes > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Much of what I saw in Geneva really disillusioned me about how my government functions and what its impact is in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/much-of-what-i-saw-in-geneva-really-disillusioned-me-about-how-my/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I've never done anybody any harm in my entire life. No need to chase girls, I've thousands of them on Top Of The Pops,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-savile/i-ve-never-done-anybody-any-harm-in-my-entire-life-no-need-to-chase/) [Jimmy Savile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-savile/) > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [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/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [There is no question but that nominally religious scientists like Francis Collins and Kenneth R. Miller are doing lasting harm to our discourse by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/there-is-no-question-but-that-nominally-religious-scientists-like/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [If any man has done wrong, the harm is his own. But perhaps he has not done wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-any-man-has-done-wrong-the-harm-is-his-own-but-perhaps-he-has-not/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Be Kind - If not, Bring No Harm”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-r-west/be-kind-if-not-bring-no-harm/) [Bianca R. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-r-west/) > [“In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but at the same time they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death-doctors-all-too-frequently-do/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“I have noticed that nothing I have never said ever did me any harm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/i-have-noticed-that-nothing-i-have-never-said-ever-did-me-any-harm/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [I've said before, the number one thing that we have to work on is protecting the gay community from sharia law. Now, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foster-friess/i-ve-said-before-the-number-one-thing-that-we-have-to-work-on-is/) [Foster Friess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foster-friess/) [Browse all 2,207 Harm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Perhaps,\" said Miss Ophelia, \"it is impossible for a person who does no good not to do harm.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harriet Beecher Stowe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/perhaps-said-miss-ophelia-it-is-impossible-for-a-person-who-does-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Harm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/perhaps-said-miss-ophelia-it-is-impossible-for-a-person-who-does-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/harriet-beecher-stowe-1149_quote_perhaps-said-miss-ophelia-it-is-impossib_1695929.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/harriet-beecher-stowe-1149_quote_perhaps-said-miss-ophelia-it-is-impossib_1695929.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/harriet-beecher-stowe-1149_quote_perhaps-said-miss-ophelia-it-is-impossib_1695929.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Perhaps,\" said Miss Ophelia, \"it is impossible for a person who does no good not to do harm.” — Harriet Beecher Stowe", "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": "Harriet Beecher Stowe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Perhaps,\" said Miss Ophelia, \"it is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/perhaps-said-miss-ophelia-it-is-impossible-for-a-person-who-does-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/perhaps-said-miss-ophelia-it-is-impossible-for-a-person-who-does-no/#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 } } ] } ```