---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know why we're not interested in…"
description: "\"I don't know why we're not interested in seeing good people. I think we like seeing good people, but only if bad things happen to them. Which is weird,..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/james-mcavoy-4316_bad_i-don-t-know-why-we-re-not-interested-in_1038921.jpg"
---

#  I don't know why we're not interested in seeing good…

![“I don't know why we're not interested in seeing good people. I think we like seeing good people, but only if bad things happen to them. Which is weird, isn't it?” quote by James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/james-mcavoy-4316_bad_i-don-t-know-why-we-re-not-interested-in_1038921.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/james-mcavoy-4316_bad_i-don-t-know-why-we-re-not-interested-in_1038921.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/james-mcavoy-4316_bad_i-don-t-know-why-we-re-not-interested-in_1038921.jpg)

> “I don't know why we're not interested in seeing good people. I think we like seeing good people, but only if bad things happen to them. Which is weird, isn't it?”

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

## About This Quote

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

People are drawn to watching good people suffer, revealing a fascination with tragedy over virtue.

**In simple terms:** We prefer drama involving suffering.

Key Takeaway

Recognize this bias, seek uplifting stories.

Themes

human nature media consumption morality

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

- news media
- reality TV
- social media
- literature

Key Concepts

schadenfreude ethical paradox

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we gravitate toward tragic narratives?
- How can we celebrate positive outcomes?

A Different Perspective

Focusing on suffering can desensitize empathy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Bad thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Bad things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things-happen/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happen/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested/) [Interested Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-seeing-649187/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Not interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-interested/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-think/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Seeing Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing-good-712579/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Weird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weird/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm not interested in seeing a film just made by a woman - not unless she is looking for new images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-m-not-interested-in-seeing-a-film-just-made-by-a-woman-not-unless/)

[Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/)

> [In the final analysis, the questions of why bad things happen to good people transmutes itself into some very different questions, no longer asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/in-the-final-analysis-the-questions-of-why-bad-things-happen-to-good/)

[Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/)

> [“When I asked the Reb, Why do bad things happen to good people?, he gave none of the standard answers. He quietly said, “No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/when-i-asked-the-reb-why-do-bad-things-happen-to-good-people-he-gave/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [“Positivity can be a negative," I tell her, "if it's used to diminish events that should be cause for concern. Saying 'bad things happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-devin/positivity-can-be-a-negative-i-tell-her-if-it-s-used-to-diminish/)

[Jane Devin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-devin/)

> [Why bad things happen to good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/why-bad-things-happen-to-good-people/)

[Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/)

> [Sometimes bad things happen to good people. We don't know the meaning of all things, but we know God loves His children! And because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/sometimes-bad-things-happen-to-good-people-we-don-t-know-the-meaning/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [“Every time something really bad happens, people cry out for safety, and the government answers by taking rights away from good people. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/every-time-something-really-bad-happens-people-cry-out-for-safety-and/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [“You cannot trade the courage needed to live every moment for immunity from life's sorrows. We may say we know this but ours is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriah-mountain-dreamer/you-cannot-trade-the-courage-needed-to-live-every-moment-for-immunity/)

[Oriah Mountain Dreamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriah-mountain-dreamer/)

> [Bad things happen to good people all the time. It sucks. It's not fair but then much of life isn't fair. It's how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/bad-things-happen-to-good-people-all-the-time-it-sucks-it-s-not-fair/)

[Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/)

> [I am interested in seeing 'Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota' by Vasan Bala, so I would like to work with him, and I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sarbh/i-am-interested-in-seeing-mard-ko-dard-nahi-hota-by-vasan-bala-so-i/)

[Jim Sarbh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sarbh/)

> [I'm more interested in seeing what the material tells me than in imposing my will on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-chamberlain/i-m-more-interested-in-seeing-what-the-material-tells-me-than-in/)

[John Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-chamberlain/)

> [When I was younger and was working as a Dia guard I would go to see everything. I went to every opening. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-guyton/when-i-was-younger-and-was-working-as-a-dia-guard-i-would-go-to-see/)

[Wade Guyton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-guyton/)

> [I've always been more interested in what happens after the bad thing has happened - the fallout of the bad thing, when people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-ve-always-been-more-interested-in-what-happens-after-the-bad-thing/)

[Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/)

> [I think that people are interested seeing me on the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-think-that-people-are-interested-seeing-me-on-the-screen/)

[Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/)

> [I'm interested in seeing just the girl on the street because she is unlike any other. I'm inspired by whatever it is she might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/i-m-interested-in-seeing-just-the-girl-on-the-street-because-she-is/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

## More by James McAvoy

> [I like cooking, but I don't think I could be a chef. Everyone from the ground up does terrible hours, whether you've just walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-like-cooking-but-i-don-t-think-i-could-be-a-chef-everyone-from-the/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [Shooting films in Britain is always difficult, because we've never got enough money to make them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/shooting-films-in-britain-is-always-difficult-because-we-ve-never-got/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [I'd like to keep work work and life life. It means you've got your life to come back to, somewhere to come home to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-d-like-to-keep-work-work-and-life-life-it-means-you-ve-got-your/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [I like playing sport, and I like doing physical stuff. I like hiking and I like climbing and I like playing sport. I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-like-playing-sport-and-i-like-doing-physical-stuff-i-like-hiking/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [I wanted to join the navy to get some perspective on the world and explore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-wanted-to-join-the-navy-to-get-some-perspective-on-the-world-and/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [I did undergo hypnotherapy, and it didn't work! The guy couldn't put me under. I was very disappointed. I was very keen to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-did-undergo-hypnotherapy-and-it-didn-t-work-the-guy-couldn-t-put-me/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [If a scene is three pages long, quite often people break it up and do a page, say 'cut' then move on to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/if-a-scene-is-three-pages-long-quite-often-people-break-it-up-and-do/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [In a love scene that's really advantageous because you don't have that horrible moment of: "We don't really know what we're supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/in-a-love-scene-that-s-really-advantageous-because-you-don-t-have/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [That's the main thing that attracts me - characters who have big journeys. I like playing those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/that-s-the-main-thing-that-attracts-me-characters-who-have-big/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [I think fear is one of the natural states of most actors, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-think-fear-is-one-of-the-natural-states-of-most-actors-to-be-honest/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [I've been in a few fights and I know what it's like to get punched in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-ve-been-in-a-few-fights-and-i-know-what-it-s-like-to-get-punched-in/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [I learned something from a string of failed relationships. You don't see a pattern quickly. You see it over time. I learned to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-learned-something-from-a-string-of-failed-relationships-you-don-t/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [I don't mind playing somebody who's not likable, or makes the audience feel slightly conflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-don-t-mind-playing-somebody-who-s-not-likable-or-makes-the-audience/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [I've spent a long time giving people the benefit of the doubt, and I'm tired of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-ve-spent-a-long-time-giving-people-the-benefit-of-the-doubt-and-i-m/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

> [My favorite name of a fandom is Benedict Cumberbatch's - 'the Cumberbatches' is just the best name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/my-favorite-name-of-a-fandom-is-benedict-cumberbatch-s-the/)

[James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

[Explore all 112 James McAvoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/)

## More Bad quotes

> [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/)

[Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/)

> [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/)

[Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/)

> [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/)

[Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/)

> [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/)

[Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/)

> [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/)

[Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/)

[Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/)

> [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/)

[Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/)

> [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/)

[Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/)

> [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/)

[Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/)

> [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/)

[Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/)

> [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/)

[David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/)

> [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/)

[Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/)

> [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/)

[Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/)

[Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't know why we're not interested in seeing good people. I think we like seeing good people, but only if bad things happen to them. Which is weird, isn't it?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James McAvoy"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-don-t-know-why-we-re-not-interested-in-seeing-good-people-i-think/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bad"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-don-t-know-why-we-re-not-interested-in-seeing-good-people-i-think/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/james-mcavoy-4316_bad_i-don-t-know-why-we-re-not-interested-in_1038921.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/james-mcavoy-4316_bad_i-don-t-know-why-we-re-not-interested-in_1038921.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/james-mcavoy-4316_bad_i-don-t-know-why-we-re-not-interested-in_1038921.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't know why we're not interested in seeing good people. I think we like seeing good people, but only if…” — James McAvoy",
                "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 McAvoy",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't know why we're not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-don-t-know-why-we-re-not-interested-in-seeing-good-people-i-think/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-don-t-know-why-we-re-not-interested-in-seeing-good-people-i-think/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
