---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever you have something nice someone…"
description: "\"Whenever you have something nice someone will try to ruin it.\" — James Cook"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/james-cook-1930_nice_whenever-you-have-something-nice-someone_1841487.jpg"
---

#  Whenever you have something nice someone will try to ruin…

![“Whenever you have something nice someone will try to ruin it.” quote by James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/james-cook-1930_nice_whenever-you-have-something-nice-someone_1841487.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/james-cook-1930_nice_whenever-you-have-something-nice-someone_1841487.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/james-cook-1930_nice_whenever-you-have-something-nice-someone_1841487.jpg)

> “Whenever you have something nice someone will try to ruin it.”

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

## About This Quote

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

Nice things often attract sabotage, highlighting the tendency of some to undermine positivity.

**In simple terms:** Good things can be ruined by others.

Key Takeaway

Guard your achievements.

Themes

trust skepticism vulnerability

Mood

cautious thoughtful

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

- career
- relationships
- creative projects

Key Concepts

human nature social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- Who truly wants to help you succeed?
- How do you differentiate constructive feedback from sabotage?

A Different Perspective

Not all criticism is malicious.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Nice Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-try-1016676/) [Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruin/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Try Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-ruin-1595234/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/)

## Related quotes

> [It just goes to show, if you try to ruin someone's life, it only gets better. You just don't get to be a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/it-just-goes-to-show-if-you-try-to-ruin-someone-s-life-it-only-gets/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [Never Try To Ruin Someone.. That's Bad Karma.. Let Them Ruin Themselves The Victory Is That Much Sweeter. You Reap What You Sow!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bynes/never-try-to-ruin-someone-that-s-bad-karma-let-them-ruin-themselves/)

[Amanda Bynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bynes/)

> [“It just goes to show, if you try to ruin someone's life, it only gets better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/it-just-goes-to-show-if-you-try-to-ruin-someone-s-life-it-only-gets-2/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [I hate when unhappy people try ruin things for happy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-when-unhappy-people-try-ruin-things-for-happy-people/)

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

> [“College is so awesome! It's really too bad they try to ruin it with classes!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-dodd/college-is-so-awesome-it-s-really-too-bad-they-try-to-ruin-it-with/)

[Jillian Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-dodd/)

> [“I'd tell﻿ you nice try, but... it wasn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynder/i-d-tell-you-nice-try-but-it-wasn-t/)

[Cynder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynder/)

> [“The Greeter" He's not the Reaper, but he does stop by To say, to everything that's ever lived, "Nice try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-n-watson-new-yorker-7-22-13/the-greeter-he-s-not-the-reaper-but-he-does-stop-by-to-say-to/)

[Robert N. Watson New Yorker 7 22 13](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-n-watson-new-yorker-7-22-13/)

> [“Nice try on the guilt trip but I'm not buying a ticket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christa-allan/nice-try-on-the-guilt-trip-but-i-m-not-buying-a-ticket/)

[Christa Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christa-allan/)

> [“Nice try?” Butters said. “Mister, where I come from, there is no try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/nice-try-butters-said-mister-where-i-come-from-there-is-no-try/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [Nice try but.BUSTED](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erdem-gezer/nice-try-but-busted/)

[Erdem Gezer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erdem-gezer/)

> [Nice try, cricket. But you're still cricket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/nice-try-cricket-but-you-re-still-cricket/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [I've tried to be a better person... I've tried, and tried and tried! You know how hard I've tried! Tell me how I've tried..."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/i-ve-tried-to-be-a-better-person-i-ve-tried-and-tried-and-tried-you/)

[Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/)

> [LOL., nice try,, :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megz/lol-nice-try-d/)

[Megz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megz/)

> [You actually thought you could bring me down? Nice try, you and your games will never beat me. I'm OVER YOU and happy about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haylee-makenna/you-actually-thought-you-could-bring-me-down-nice-try-you-and-your/)

[Haylee Makenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haylee-makenna/)

> [Im fuckin done with you. I try to be nice, and I try to look for the best in people but it seems like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-fuckin-done-with-you-i-try-to-be-nice-and-i-try-to-look-for-the/)

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

## More by James Cook

> [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Gasahol is socialism's fuel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/gasahol-is-socialism-s-fuel/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Why is it so hard to see that when America had high savings, low taxes and minimal government, the economy grew like a week,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/why-is-it-so-hard-to-see-that-when-america-had-high-savings-low-taxes/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [The longer people receive economic assistance, the worse their social condition and behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-longer-people-receive-economic-assistance-the-worse-their-social/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Knaves will come and knaves will go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/knaves-will-come-and-knaves-will-go/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Whatever you subsidize you get more of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/whatever-you-subsidize-you-get-more-of/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Once you're in heaven it makes no difference when you got there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/once-you-re-in-heaven-it-makes-no-difference-when-you-got-there/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Liberals have one solution for every economic issue; eat the seed corn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/liberals-have-one-solution-for-every-economic-issue-eat-the-seed-corn/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Hardly anything works out as well as we hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/hardly-anything-works-out-as-well-as-we-hope/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Those who live off of the donations of capitalism are often its greatest critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/those-who-live-off-of-the-donations-of-capitalism-are-often-its/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Let one state in the U.S. be free of government and overnight you would have an economic powerhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/let-one-state-in-the-u-s-be-free-of-government-and-overnight-you/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [The more noteworthy a person's achievements, the more government agents are attracted to investigating that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-more-noteworthy-a-person-s-achievements-the-more-government/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Throughout history government has seldom hesitated from robbing its citizens in a crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/throughout-history-government-has-seldom-hesitated-from-robbing-its/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Employers know the nature of people best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/employers-know-the-nature-of-people-best/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

[Explore all 197 James Cook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

## More Nice quotes

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

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

> [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/)

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

> [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/)

[Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/)

> [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/)

[Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/)

> [“Me and nice things didn't go well together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/me-and-nice-things-didn-t-go-well-together/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [Sometimes in midfield, it's nice because you do get a little bit more of the ball, and maybe out wide you rely on people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/sometimes-in-midfield-it-s-nice-because-you-do-get-a-little-bit-more/)

[Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/)

> [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/)

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

> [I want to concentrate on winning things with Barcelona and Argentina. Then if people want to say nice things about me when I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-want-to-concentrate-on-winning-things-with-barcelona-and-argentina/)

[Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/)

> [Nice is a city of ghosts and specters, but I hope not to become one of them right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/nice-is-a-city-of-ghosts-and-specters-but-i-hope-not-to-become-one-of/)

[Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/)

> [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/)

[John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/)

> [Although it sounds very trite, I wish people were nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobcat-goldthwait/although-it-sounds-very-trite-i-wish-people-were-nice/)

[Bobcat Goldthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobcat-goldthwait/)

> [It's a great feeling to know that I've played the best golf throughout the season of any of the guys for the second time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/it-s-a-great-feeling-to-know-that-i-ve-played-the-best-golf/)

[Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/)

> [2,000 years ago one man got nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be if everyone was nice to each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/2-000-years-ago-one-man-got-nailed-to-a-tree-for-saying-how-great-it/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [I wouldn't want to play a normal princess who always walks around in nice dresses. I never had a connection to it when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/i-wouldn-t-want-to-play-a-normal-princess-who-always-walks-around-in/)

[Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/)

> [Business school graduates from the best schools earn large salaries and frequently rise to positions of great power. It would be nice if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/business-school-graduates-from-the-best-schools-earn-large-salaries/)

[Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/)

[Browse all 8,628 Nice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Whenever you have something nice someone will try to ruin it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Cook"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/whenever-you-have-something-nice-someone-will-try-to-ruin-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Nice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/whenever-you-have-something-nice-someone-will-try-to-ruin-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/james-cook-1930_nice_whenever-you-have-something-nice-someone_1841487.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/james-cook-1930_nice_whenever-you-have-something-nice-someone_1841487.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/james-cook-1930_nice_whenever-you-have-something-nice-someone_1841487.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Whenever you have something nice someone will try to ruin it.” — James Cook",
                "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": "James Cook",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Whenever you have something nice someone...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/whenever-you-have-something-nice-someone-will-try-to-ruin-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/whenever-you-have-something-nice-someone-will-try-to-ruin-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
