--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I picked up the bird and felt its…" description: "\"“When I picked up the bird and felt its light weight in my hands, I realized that carelessness was a form of cruelty. See, I'd always told myself that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/j-r-ward-148_carelessness_when-i-picked-up-the-bird-and-felt-its-l_2075537.png" --- # When I picked up the bird and felt its light weight in my… ![“When I picked up the bird and felt its light weight in my hands, I realized that carelessness was a form of cruelty. See, I'd always told myself that because I meant no harm, anything that happened wasn't my fault. At that moment, though, I knew I was wrong. If I hadn't given the female my gun…” quote by J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/j-r-ward-148_carelessness_when-i-picked-up-the-bird-and-felt-its-l_2075537.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/j-r-ward-148_carelessness_when-i-picked-up-the-bird-and-felt-its-l_2075537.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/j-r-ward-148_carelessness_when-i-picked-up-the-bird-and-felt-its-l_2075537.png) > ““When I picked up the bird and felt its light weight in my hands, I realized that carelessness was a form of cruelty. See, I'd always told myself that because I meant no harm, anything that happened wasn't my fault. At that moment, though, I knew I was wrong. If I hadn't given the female my gun, the bird wouldn't have been shot. I was responsible even though I didn't pull the trigger.”” [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing that neglect can cause harm even without direct action, highlighting indirect responsibility. **In simple terms:** Neglect can be cruel even if you don’t act. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for outcomes you influence. Themes responsibility compassion ethics Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - environmental stewardship - workplace safety - animal welfare Key Concepts moral accountability unintended consequences Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess hidden impacts of your actions? - What steps can you take to avoid careless harm? A Different Perspective It can be hard to see indirect effects of our choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carelessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carelessness/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) ## Related quotes > [I never rebelled against my parents - I worked hard, I was responsible, and I didn't go to high-school parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-lohan/i-never-rebelled-against-my-parents-i-worked-hard-i-was-responsible/) [Lindsay Lohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-lohan/) > [“Trials aren't meant to harm us but to make us more Christlike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-boeshaar/trials-aren-t-meant-to-harm-us-but-to-make-us-more-christlike/) [Andrea Boeshaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-boeshaar/) > [Phaedra shook her head. “If your people mean no offense, they should not speak their thoughts out loud in front of their children, Tesadora.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/phaedra-shook-her-head-if-your-people-mean-no-offense-they-should-not/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“My dad had limitations. That's what my good-hearted mom always told us. He had limitations, but he meant no harm. It was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/my-dad-had-limitations-that-s-what-my-good-hearted-mom-always-told-us/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [I have learned to love that which is meant to harm me, so that I can stand in the way of those who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-have-learned-to-love-that-which-is-meant-to-harm-me-so-that-i-can/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [Ah me! we wound where we never intended to strike; we create anger where we never meant harm; and these thoughts are the thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/ah-me-we-wound-where-we-never-intended-to-strike-we-create-anger/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Heather Badcock meant no harm. She never did mean harm, but there is no doubt that people like Heather Badcock (and like my old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/heather-badcock-meant-no-harm-she-never-did-mean-harm-but-there-is-no/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Do not fear. Can I take the place of God? 20 Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-states-conference-of-catholic-bishops-usccb/do-not-fear-can-i-take-the-place-of-god-20-even-though-you-meant-harm/) [United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/united-states-conference-of-catholic-bishops-usccb/) > [When people hurt us, the best thing to do isn’t to ask why they did it but to remind ourselves that it wasn’t our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/when-people-hurt-us-the-best-thing-to-do-isn-t-to-ask-why-they-did-it/) [Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/) > [Jackie?" "It wasn't your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammara-webber/jackie-it-wasn-t-your-fault/) [Tammara Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammara-webber/) > [Sorry, I was a bit slow. See you then, Doctor. It wasn't your fault. Remember that, okay? It wasn't your fault. You know what?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-tyler/sorry-i-was-a-bit-slow-see-you-then-doctor-it-wasn-t-your-fault/) [Rose Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-tyler/) > [“It wasn’t his fault! He was a kid! He couldn’t have known what would happen!” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/it-wasn-t-his-fault-he-was-a-kid-he-couldn-t-have-known-what-would/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [“I hit a car, but it wasn’t my fault. The bicyclist who rear ended me is to blame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-hit-a-car-but-it-wasn-t-my-fault-the-bicyclist-who-rear-ended-me-is/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“He said I was a dirty boy,’ whispered Lockie. ‘I was a dirty boy and that was why he did stuff to me, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-trope/he-said-i-was-a-dirty-boy-whispered-lockie-i-was-a-dirty-boy-and-that/) [Nicole Trope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-trope/) > [“It wasn't her fault if she seemed less than human, it was the fault of them that did this to her, and them that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/it-wasn-t-her-fault-if-she-seemed-less-than-human-it-was-the-fault-of/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) ## More by J.R. Ward > [“If you’ve bullshitted me, angel, I’m going to kill you.” The other male rolled his eyes. “I’m already dead, idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-you-ve-bullshitted-me-angel-i-m-going-to-kill-you-the-other-male/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [You're getting into some kind of shape, cop." Aw, come on, now." Butch grinned. "Don't let that shower we took go to your head."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-getting-into-some-kind-of-shape-cop-aw-come-on-now-butch/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Knock her dead, my man." "Oh no." Xcor shook his head."That shan't be necessary. This one I like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/knock-her-dead-my-man-oh-no-xcor-shook-his-head-that-shan-t-be/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“I’m not strong enough for this,” he whispered in her ear—like he didn’t want anyone to hear that coming out of his mouth. Ever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/i-m-not-strong-enough-for-this-he-whispered-in-her-ear-like-he-didn-t/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Fucking hell. "Did you guys plan that out?" "Yeah, and if you don't fight us"--Hollywood bit down on his grape Tootsie-Pop--"we'll do it again--only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/fucking-hell-did-you-guys-plan-that-out-yeah-and-if-you-don-t-fight/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Why ever are you here?“ she whispered, putting her hands to his face. “Because I love you.” In so many ways, that explained nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/why-ever-are-you-here-she-whispered-putting-her-hands-to-his-face/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Time to the face the music,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/time-to-the-face-the-music/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“As his ears rang and his heart broke for her, he stayed strong against the gale force she let loose. After all, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/as-his-ears-rang-and-his-heart-broke-for-her-he-stayed-strong-against/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/layla-brought-her-arms-around-herself-no-doubt-because-she-was/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Rehvenge, I’m talking to you more than I speak with my mahmen.” “I thought your mother was dead.” “She is.” “You have a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/rehvenge-i-m-talking-to-you-more-than-i-speak-with-my-mahmen-i/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [In his fantasy, he kissed his best friend again, pulled back, and… “I love you,” he said into the spray of the shower. “I……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/in-his-fantasy-he-kissed-his-best-friend-again-pulled-back-and-i-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [And love … love was worth dying for. Worth living for, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/and-love-love-was-worth-dying-for-worth-living-for-too/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“He had a weakness, though. All of us do, and those of us who think they do not are not being honest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/he-had-a-weakness-though-all-of-us-do-and-those-of-us-who-think-they/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Because I was, and I remain, utterly and completely and totally…in love with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/because-i-was-and-i-remain-utterly-and-completely-and-totally-in-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) [Explore all 1,120 J.R. Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More Carelessness quotes > [There is a down side to everything if you don't understand what the consequences of what you are saying in your music you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/there-is-a-down-side-to-everything-if-you-don-t-understand-what-the/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [With how many things are we on the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-how-many-things-are-we-on-the-brink-of-becoming-acquainted-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Carelessness in dressing is moral suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/carelessness-in-dressing-is-moral-suicide/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“A single act of carelessness leads to the eternal loss of beauty”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forbidden-city-sign-writer/a-single-act-of-carelessness-leads-to-the-eternal-loss-of-beauty/) Forbidden City Sign Writer > [Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from...the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/our-destruction-should-it-come-at-all-will-be-from-the-inattention-of/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Childhood has been idealised as a lost garden paradise to which we can never return. We are excluded from this world of carelessness, innocence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lux/childhood-has-been-idealised-as-a-lost-garden-paradise-to-which-we/) [Loretta Lux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lux/) > [Only the dead are truly smart, truly cool. Nothing touches them. While I live, however, I side with bumbling suffering crooked life, with anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakim-bey/only-the-dead-are-truly-smart-truly-cool-nothing-touches-them-while-i/) [Hakim Bey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakim-bey/) > [I continue to believe that she has not jeopardized America's national security. Now, what I've also said is that, and she's acknowledged, that there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-continue-to-believe-that-she-has-not-jeopardized-america-s-national/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-lose-one-parent-may-be-regarded-as-a-misfortune-to-lose-both-looks/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Overconfidence leads to carelessness, which leads just as surely to disaster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mackenzie/overconfidence-leads-to-carelessness-which-leads-just-as-surely-to/) [Sally MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mackenzie/) > [There is one excuse for every mistake a man can make, but only one. When a fellow makes the same mistake twice he's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-horace-lorimer/there-is-one-excuse-for-every-mistake-a-man-can-make-but-only-one/) [George Horace Lorimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-horace-lorimer/) > [Three enemies that will weaken your ministry over time: Self-indulgence, bitterness, and carelessness. Strong people discipline their desires, restrain their reactions, and keep their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/three-enemies-that-will-weaken-your-ministry-over-time-self/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I couldn’t forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-couldn-t-forgive-him-or-like-him-but-i-saw-that-what-he-had-done-2/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Composing computer programs to solve scientific problems is like writing poetry. You must choose every word with care and link it with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/composing-computer-programs-to-solve-scientific-problems-is-like/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [I haven't been sorting through each and every aspect of this. Here's what I know: Hillary Clinton was an outstanding Secretary of State. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-haven-t-been-sorting-through-each-and-every-aspect-of-this-here-s/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Browse all 144 Carelessness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carelessness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When I picked up the bird and felt its light weight in my hands, I realized that carelessness was a form of cruelty. See, I'd always told myself that because I meant no harm, anything that happened wasn't my fault. At that moment, though, I knew I was wrong. If I hadn't given the female my gun, the bird wouldn't have been shot. I was responsible even though I didn't pull the trigger.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.R. Ward" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/when-i-picked-up-the-bird-and-felt-its-light-weight-in-my-hands-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Carelessness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/when-i-picked-up-the-bird-and-felt-its-light-weight-in-my-hands-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/j-r-ward-148_carelessness_when-i-picked-up-the-bird-and-felt-its-l_2075537.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/j-r-ward-148_carelessness_when-i-picked-up-the-bird-and-felt-its-l_2075537.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b81/j-r-ward-148_carelessness_when-i-picked-up-the-bird-and-felt-its-l_2075537.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I picked up the bird and felt its light weight in my hands, I realized that carelessness was a form of…” — J.R. Ward", "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.R. Ward", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When I picked up the bird...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/when-i-picked-up-the-bird-and-felt-its-light-weight-in-my-hands-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/when-i-picked-up-the-bird-and-felt-its-light-weight-in-my-hands-i/#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 } } ] } ```