--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And I think, not for the first time, that…" description: "\"And I think, not for the first time, that what is immoral is not always wrong.\" — Jodi Picoult" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/jodi-picoult-45_first-time_and-i-think-not-for-the-first-time-that_1107251.jpg" --- # And I think, not for the first time, that what is immoral… ![“And I think, not for the first time, that what is immoral is not always wrong.” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/jodi-picoult-45_first-time_and-i-think-not-for-the-first-time-that_1107251.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/jodi-picoult-45_first-time_and-i-think-not-for-the-first-time-that_1107251.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/jodi-picoult-45_first-time_and-i-think-not-for-the-first-time-that_1107251.jpg) > “And I think, not for the first time, that what is immoral is not always wrong.” [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immorality and wrongdoing are not synonymous; some actions may be immoral without being illegal, and vice versa. **In simple terms:** Immoral acts aren't always illegal, and illegal acts aren't always immoral. Key Takeaway Question moral assumptions behind laws. Themes ethics law morality philosophy Mood thought‑provoking reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - courtroom drama - policy debate - personal dilemmas - media coverage Key Concepts Moral relativism legal ethics social norms Questions to Reflect On - How do we reconcile moral intuition with legal standards? - What examples show this conflict? A Different Perspective Legal systems may not capture all moral nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The American dream does not happen by asking Americans to accept what's immoral and wrong in the name of tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/the-american-dream-does-not-happen-by-asking-americans-to-accept-what/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [I believe that man was created to enjoy himself, indeed, that he can claim it as his legitimate right. In fact, as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kafu-nagai/i-believe-that-man-was-created-to-enjoy-himself-indeed-that-he-can/) Kafu Nagai > [If you look at how great artists of the past, like Beethoven, for example dealt with art and morality, you see that there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/if-you-look-at-how-great-artists-of-the-past-like-beethoven-for/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [It cannot be said too often that actions are good or bad in the light of consequences, and that a clear perception of consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-cannot-be-said-too-often-that-actions-are-good-or-bad-in-the-light/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The majority of parents are poor psychologists and give their children the most questionable moral trainings. It is perhaps in this domain that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-majority-of-parents-are-poor-psychologists-and-give-their/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“Morality means sacrificing your personal interest for the interest of the group and being immoral means keeping the interest of the self above the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/awdhesh-singh/morality-means-sacrificing-your-personal-interest-for-the-interest-of/) [Awdhesh Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/awdhesh-singh/) > [“I can't accept that a work of fiction should be either immoral or moral. It should merely show the world as it is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/i-can-t-accept-that-a-work-of-fiction-should-be-either-immoral-or/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [...the right of holding slaves is clearly established in the Holy Scriptures, both by precept and example... Had the holding of slaves been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-furman/the-right-of-holding-slaves-is-clearly-established-in-the-holy/) Richard Furman > [For democrats, it's as crucial to defend secular culture as to preserve secular law. And in fact the two projects are inseparable: When religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/for-democrats-it-s-as-crucial-to-defend-secular-culture-as-to/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [Fashion is neither moral or immoral, but it is for rebuilding the morale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/fashion-is-neither-moral-or-immoral-but-it-is-for-rebuilding-the/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [Nothing one does in bed is immoral if it helps to perpetuate love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/nothing-one-does-in-bed-is-immoral-if-it-helps-to-perpetuate-love/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [ “4. Man is neither Good-natured nor Bad-natured according to Su Shih (So-shoku).\[FN#164\] The difficulty may be avoided by a theory given by Su Shih… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/4-man-is-neither-good-natured-nor-bad-natured-according-to-su-shih-so/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-ugly-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-corrupt-without-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Jodi Picoult > [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Let me guess," Eric says, "You never meant for it to happen." "Hell, yes, I did. I've wanted her since you two started dating."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/let-me-guess-eric-says-you-never-meant-for-it-to-happen-hell-yes-i/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“It’s the difference between dancing along the eggshell crust of acquaintance and diving into the messy center of a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-the-difference-between-dancing-along-the-eggshell-crust-of/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/some-women-are-meant-to-change-the-world-while-others-are-meant-to/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Music is the language of memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/music-is-the-language-of-memory/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [But there is a different between mending someone who's broken and finding someone who makes you complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-there-is-a-different-between-mending-someone-who-s-broken-and/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“sometimes words are not big enough to contain all the feelings you are trying to pour into them. My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/sometimes-words-are-not-big-enough-to-contain-all-the-feelings-you/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The age wasn't as important as the milestones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-age-wasn-t-as-important-as-the-milestones/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The night is falling down around us. Meteors rain like fireworks, quick rips in the seam of the dark... Every second, another streak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-night-is-falling-down-around-us-meteors-rain-like-fireworks-quick/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“When she had packed all the artifacts that made up their personal history into liquor store boxes, the house became strictly a feminine place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-she-had-packed-all-the-artifacts-that-made-up-their-personal/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Here's what I hadn't realized : the mother you haven't seen for almost 36 years isn't your mother. She is a stranger. Sharing DNA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/here-s-what-i-hadn-t-realized-the-mother-you-haven-t-seen-for-almost/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [My brother believed in all sorts of mythical creatures: pixies, dragons, werewolves, honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/my-brother-believed-in-all-sorts-of-mythical-creatures-pixies-dragons/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) [Explore all 2,062 Jodi Picoult quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More First time quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I’m so stressed that a weird Olympic-style commentary starts up in my head. And here we have Zelah Green, the fourteen-year-old champion of rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-curtis/i-m-so-stressed-that-a-weird-olympic-style-commentary-starts-up-in-my/) Vanessa Curtis > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“I’m waiting for you,” he murmured, smiling a slow, familiar grin that seemed to hint at a secret between them. And for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/i-m-waiting-for-you-he-murmured-smiling-a-slow-familiar-grin-that/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I won’t break your heart. For the first time in my life, I’ve found something worth fighting for, someone more important than me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelle-bliss/i-won-t-break-your-heart-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-ve-found/) [Chelle Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelle-bliss/) > [Life is like a parachute jump: you have to get it right the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-is-like-a-parachute-jump-you-have-to-get-it-right-the-first-time/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [When my kids were in the school play for the first time, I decided I had to make the costumes from scratch and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alexander/when-my-kids-were-in-the-school-play-for-the-first-time-i-decided-i/) [Sarah Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alexander/) > [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/) Mennah al refaey > [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. The rain of Doritos, the bed thing,this...Maybe it's just that you create too big, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/or-maybe-your-magic-isn-t-that-destructive-after-all-the-rain-of/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [There is no pain like the first time you get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/there-is-no-pain-like-the-first-time-you-get-your-heart-broken/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [I don't know why, but everybody thinks that I'm short. When they see me for the first time, women are always surprised to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/i-don-t-know-why-but-everybody-thinks-that-i-m-short-when-they-see-me/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [“I met Suffering on a quiet road, just as the sun was setting behind me. Its presence was heavy, like an old coat I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/i-met-suffering-on-a-quiet-road-just-as-the-sun-was-setting-behind-me/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [“You never talk to the pitcher when…” He shook his head. “You just never talk to the pitcher when--” “I just wanted to congratulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/you-never-talk-to-the-pitcher-when-he-shook-his-head-you-just-never/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) Browse all 9,309 First time quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And I think, not for the first time, that what is immoral is not always wrong.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jodi Picoult" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/and-i-think-not-for-the-first-time-that-what-is-immoral-is-not-always/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/and-i-think-not-for-the-first-time-that-what-is-immoral-is-not-always/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/jodi-picoult-45_first-time_and-i-think-not-for-the-first-time-that_1107251.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/jodi-picoult-45_first-time_and-i-think-not-for-the-first-time-that_1107251.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/jodi-picoult-45_first-time_and-i-think-not-for-the-first-time-that_1107251.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And I think, not for the first time, that what is immoral is not always wrong.” — Jodi Picoult", "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": "Jodi Picoult", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And I think, not for the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/and-i-think-not-for-the-first-time-that-what-is-immoral-is-not-always/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/and-i-think-not-for-the-first-time-that-what-is-immoral-is-not-always/#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 } } ] } ```