--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Peabody only smiled. Guilt was the best…" description: "\"“Peabody only smiled. Guilt was the best tool, she knew. She’d learned that one at her mother’s knee.”\" — J.D. Robb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/j-d-robb-662_parenting_peabody-only-smiled-guilt-was-the-best-t_1870603.jpg" --- # Peabody only smiled. Guilt was the best tool, she knew… ![“Peabody only smiled. Guilt was the best tool, she knew. She’d learned that one at her mother’s knee.” quote by J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/j-d-robb-662_parenting_peabody-only-smiled-guilt-was-the-best-t_1870603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/j-d-robb-662_parenting_peabody-only-smiled-guilt-was-the-best-t_1870603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/j-d-robb-662_parenting_peabody-only-smiled-guilt-was-the-best-t_1870603.jpg) > ““Peabody only smiled. Guilt was the best tool, she knew. She’d learned that one at her mother’s knee.”” [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Guilt can be a powerful motivator, learned early from a mother’s lesson. **In simple terms:** Guilt drives action, taught by mother. Key Takeaway Use guilt constructively, not destructively. Themes guilt motivation learning Mood introspective serious Type literary psychological When to use this quote - crime investigation - personal development - parental influence - moral decision making - stress management Key Concepts psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What guilt fuels you positively? - When does guilt become harmful? A Different Perspective Excessive guilt can harm wellbeing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Guilt Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt-best-852290/) [Learned Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-mother-539872/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Peabody Smiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peabody-smiled-2578927/) [Smiled Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled-guilt-2578929/) ## Related quotes > [Guilt is not the best way to remedy your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/guilt-is-not-the-best-way-to-remedy-your-mistakes/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“So, really, this was all Ramirez's fault. (What can I say? Twelve years of Catholic school had taught me how to reassign guilt with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-halliday/so-really-this-was-all-ramirez-s-fault-what-can-i-say-twelve-years-of/) [Gemma Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-halliday/) > [Where all are guilty, no one is; confessions of collective guilt are the best possible safeguard against the discovery of culprits, and the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/where-all-are-guilty-no-one-is-confessions-of-collective-guilt-are/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [“Guilt was best eked from silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-swift/guilt-was-best-eked-from-silence/) [E.J. Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-swift/) > [“If there is anything I’ve learned being the mother of many children, it’s that you’d better laugh at yourself, because everyone else already is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/if-there-is-anything-i-ve-learned-being-the-mother-of-many-children/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [I h a v e a l l t h a t I r e q u e s t e d and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/i-h-a-v-e-a-l-l-t-h-a-t-i-r-e-q-u-e-s-t-e-d-and-i-do-not-want-what-i/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) > [My mother was an administrator at a nursing home, and my first job was working at a nursing home as an activities assistant. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/my-mother-was-an-administrator-at-a-nursing-home-and-my-first-job-was/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [“learned by my mother’s example that if you think of yourself as a victim, you’ll be one”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-d-schwartz/learned-by-my-mother-s-example-that-if-you-think-of-yourself-as-a/) [Marian D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-d-schwartz/) > [I’d learned that my mother was a badass in disguise. She was Van Helsing in an apron and heels, and—at least for the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/i-d-learned-that-my-mother-was-a-badass-in-disguise-she-was-van/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“of all the things I'd either inherited or learned from my mother, the art of the lie was the most useful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-miranda/of-all-the-things-i-d-either-inherited-or-learned-from-my-mother-the/) [Megan Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-miranda/) > [The greatest lessons I have every learned were at my mother's knees... All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-greatest-lessons-i-have-every-learned-were-at-my-mother-s-knees/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I shoe my p-ssy and I get whatever I what. I learned that from my mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/i-shoe-my-p-ssy-and-i-get-whatever-i-what-i-learned-that-from-my/) [Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/) > [I'm loyal to a fault. I may have learned that from my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cavill/i-m-loyal-to-a-fault-i-may-have-learned-that-from-my-mother/) [Henry Cavill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cavill/) > [I learned more from my mother than from all the art historians and curators who have informed me about technical aspects of art history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/i-learned-more-from-my-mother-than-from-all-the-art-historians-and/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [Much of what I have learned about being a mother comes from my mom, and she has instilled in me a very good maternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/much-of-what-i-have-learned-about-being-a-mother-comes-from-my-mom/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) ## More by J.D. Robb > [“The man could stop her heart, then send it into full gallop. Just a look at him. They’d been married more than two years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/the-man-could-stop-her-heart-then-send-it-into-full-gallop-just-a/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“When his mouth was on hers, when he could feel her about to shatter yet again, he plunged into her, knocking her over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/when-his-mouth-was-on-hers-when-he-could-feel-her-about-to-shatter/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“So he found her. Most people would have said she was relaxed. But then, Roarke thought, most people didn’t really know and certainly didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/so-he-found-her-most-people-would-have-said-she-was-relaxed-but-then/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“Why is that? Why do we love each other?” “Because we are what we are, and we’re both okay with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/why-is-that-why-do-we-love-each-other-because-we-are-what-we-are-and/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“People, she thought, could be unbelievably stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/people-she-thought-could-be-unbelievably-stupid/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“Eve: “If you ended up naked and dead with another woman, I'd do the Rumba on your corpse.” Roarke: “You can't do the Rumba.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/eve-if-you-ended-up-naked-and-dead-with-another-woman-i-d-do-the/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“Santa exists in the hearts of all true believers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/santa-exists-in-the-hearts-of-all-true-believers/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“You'll stay in the surveillance vehicle and assist McNab. Any arguments from you, Detective?" she said, looking at McNab. "No. No, sir, Lieutenant." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/you-ll-stay-in-the-surveillance-vehicle-and-assist-mcnab-any/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“Eve woke, violently aroused. It was Roarke’s hands on her. She knew their texture, their rhythm. Her heart tripped against her ribs, then bounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/eve-woke-violently-aroused-it-was-roarke-s-hands-on-her-she-knew/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“She took his mouth, gave it a nice little bite as she ground against him. "There you are," she murmured. "Well, you've left me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/she-took-his-mouth-gave-it-a-nice-little-bite-as-she-ground-against/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“He watched, somewhat fascinated as she swished a slice of bacon through the pool of syrup. His steely-minded cop had the appetite of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/he-watched-somewhat-fascinated-as-she-swished-a-slice-of-bacon/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“Eve: "Keep your mind off sex" Roake: "Why? It's so happy there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/eve-keep-your-mind-off-sex-roake-why-it-s-so-happy-there/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“How can I love you and not be afraid? You’re my life, Eve, my heart. You’re asking, you’re wondering if I ever worry, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/how-can-i-love-you-and-not-be-afraid-you-re-my-life-eve-my-heart-you/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“I will give you more pain than you can imagine. Your brains will leak out of your ears, and your bowels out of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/i-will-give-you-more-pain-than-you-can-imagine-your-brains-will-leak/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“Lust dazzles, sure, at least for the short term. But love clears the vision. You see better, sharper, because you feel more than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/lust-dazzles-sure-at-least-for-the-short-term-but-love-clears-the/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) [Explore all 413 J.D. Robb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) ## More Guilt quotes > [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/) [Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Regrets are just a way for the foolish and the guilty to pass the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gensoumaden-saiyuki/regrets-are-just-a-way-for-the-foolish-and-the-guilty-to-pass-the-time/) [Gensoumaden Saiyuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gensoumaden-saiyuki/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Money should not be in the hands of individuals; otherwise it will create this problem of being burdened with guilt. And money can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/money-should-not-be-in-the-hands-of-individuals-otherwise-it-will/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Food ... love ... mother ... career ... Live every day to the fullest. Partake of the four basic guilt groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/food-love-mother-career-live-every-day-to-the-fullest-partake-of-the/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [Anger was better than tears, better than grief, better than guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anger-was-better-than-tears-better-than-grief-better-than-guilt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Phil and Hannah had decided that Christian guilt was better than bad math”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/phil-and-hannah-had-decided-that-christian-guilt-was-better-than-bad/) [rhoda janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) > [No amount of guilt can solve the past & No amount of anxiety can change the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananymous/no-amount-of-guilt-can-solve-the-past-no-amount-of-anxiety-can-change/) [Ananymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananymous/) > [The essence of having fun is enjoying without guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-essence-of-having-fun-is-enjoying-without-guilt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) [Browse all 2,943 Guilt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Peabody only smiled. Guilt was the best tool, she knew. She’d learned that one at her mother’s knee.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.D. Robb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/peabody-only-smiled-guilt-was-the-best-tool-she-knew-she-d-learned/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Guilt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/peabody-only-smiled-guilt-was-the-best-tool-she-knew-she-d-learned/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/j-d-robb-662_parenting_peabody-only-smiled-guilt-was-the-best-t_1870603.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/j-d-robb-662_parenting_peabody-only-smiled-guilt-was-the-best-t_1870603.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/j-d-robb-662_parenting_peabody-only-smiled-guilt-was-the-best-t_1870603.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Peabody only smiled. Guilt was the best tool, she knew. She’d learned that one at her mother’s knee.” — J.D. Robb", "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": "J.D. Robb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Peabody only smiled. Guilt was the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/peabody-only-smiled-guilt-was-the-best-tool-she-knew-she-d-learned/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/peabody-only-smiled-guilt-was-the-best-tool-she-knew-she-d-learned/#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 } } ] } ```