--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Doesn’t it count for anything if Josef…" description: "\"“Doesn’t it count for anything if Josef wishes he hadn’t done it?” Leo looks at me. “What counts,” he says, “is that he did.” •”\" — Jodi Picoult" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jodi-picoult-45_doesn-count_doesn-t-it-count-for-anything-if-josef-w_464058.jpg" --- # Doesn’t it count for anything if Josef wishes he hadn’t… ![“Doesn’t it count for anything if Josef wishes he hadn’t done it?” Leo looks at me. “What counts,” he says, “is that he did.” •” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jodi-picoult-45_doesn-count_doesn-t-it-count-for-anything-if-josef-w_464058.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jodi-picoult-45_doesn-count_doesn-t-it-count-for-anything-if-josef-w_464058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jodi-picoult-45_doesn-count_doesn-t-it-count-for-anything-if-josef-w_464058.jpg) > ““Doesn’t it count for anything if Josef wishes he hadn’t done it?” Leo looks at me. “What counts,” he says, “is that he did.”  •”” [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. The passage suggests that the moral weight of an action lies in its occurrence, not in subsequent regret or wishful thinking. **In simple terms:** Actions matter more than regrets. Key Takeaway Focus on what you do, not what you wish you hadn’t. Themes responsibility morality consequence regret Mood thoughtful serious reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - Legal decisions - personal relationships - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts Ethical philosophy intentionality accountability Questions to Reflect On - What role does intention play in moral judgment? - Can regret ever justify an action? A Different Perspective It overlooks the nuance of intent and context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“When circumstance comes together, one says, "I did it." 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That is the only answer there ever is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-alderman/one-of-them-says-why-did-they-do-it-and-the-other-answers-because/) [Naomi Alderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-alderman/) > [Do you hear that he says I did it,,,,, you see his legs where they are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/do-you-hear-that-he-says-i-did-it-you-see-his-legs-where-they-are/) Mak\_786 > [“Holy shit,’ he says. ‘Did I just do that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/holy-shit-he-says-did-i-just-do-that/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [“It is my theory that what others don’t see you’ve eaten doesn’t count.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinx-schwartz/it-is-my-theory-that-what-others-don-t-see-you-ve-eaten-doesn-t-count/) Jinx Schwartz > [When I say I wont tell anybody, my bestfriend doesn't count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-say-i-wont-tell-anybody-my-bestfriend-doesn-t-count/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm about whatever man.. F-ck what they be talking about, they opinon doesn't count, we the only thing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-m-about-whatever-man-f-ck-what-they-be-talking-about-they-opinon/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“Age doesn't count, but sense”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-coffie/age-doesn-t-count-but-sense/) Eli Coffie > [What counts can't always be counted; what can be counted doesn't always count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/what-counts-can-t-always-be-counted-what-can-be-counted-doesn-t/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm a good person. In most ways. 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Well, besides D-Lo Brown, but he doesn't count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-angle/i-became-the-first-ever-euro-continental-champion-in-wwf-history-well/) [Kurt Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-angle/) > [Domestic violence doesn't count when it's in a broken home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/domestic-violence-doesn-t-count-when-it-s-in-a-broken-home/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Doesn Count quotes > [Domestic violence doesn't count when it's in a broken home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/domestic-violence-doesn-t-count-when-it-s-in-a-broken-home/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I became the first ever Euro-continental champion in WWF history. Well, besides D-Lo Brown, but he doesn't count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-angle/i-became-the-first-ever-euro-continental-champion-in-wwf-history-well/) [Kurt Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-angle/) > [“It doesn't take a PhD in Statistics to know that your one vote doesn't count!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-schmoyer/it-doesn-t-take-a-phd-in-statistics-to-know-that-your-one-vote-doesn/) Rick Schmoyer > [If you’re not accountable in life that means ultimately that your life doesn’t count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/if-you-re-not-accountable-in-life-that-means-ultimately-that-your/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [I'm a good person. In most ways. But I'm beginning to think that being a good person in most ways doesn't count for anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-m-a-good-person-in-most-ways-but-i-m-beginning-to-think-that-being/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [What counts can't always be counted; what can be counted doesn't always count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/what-counts-can-t-always-be-counted-what-can-be-counted-doesn-t/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Age doesn't count, but sense”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-coffie/age-doesn-t-count-but-sense/) Eli Coffie > [I'm about whatever man.. F-ck what they be talking about, they opinon doesn't count, we the only thing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-m-about-whatever-man-f-ck-what-they-be-talking-about-they-opinon/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [When I say I wont tell anybody, my bestfriend doesn't count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-say-i-wont-tell-anybody-my-bestfriend-doesn-t-count/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is my theory that what others don’t see you’ve eaten doesn’t count.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinx-schwartz/it-is-my-theory-that-what-others-don-t-see-you-ve-eaten-doesn-t-count/) Jinx Schwartz > [“Your vote doesn’t count. All that counts is who counts the votes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/your-vote-doesn-t-count-all-that-counts-is-who-counts-the-votes/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“You know your vote doesn't count, but you go through the motions, because it's been drummed into your head that you might be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-karp/you-know-your-vote-doesn-t-count-but-you-go-through-the-motions/) Marshall Karp > [A hard-on doesn't count as personal growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/a-hard-on-doesn-t-count-as-personal-growth/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Don’t ever let anybody tell you that your efforts don’t matter or that your voice doesn’t count. Don’t ever believe that you can’t make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/don-t-ever-let-anybody-tell-you-that-your-efforts-don-t-matter-or/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Count on me to shine where it doesn't count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katya-zamolodchikova/count-on-me-to-shine-where-it-doesn-t-count/) [Katya Zamolodchikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katya-zamolodchikova/) Browse all 45 Doesn Count quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Doesn’t it count for anything if Josef wishes he hadn’t done it?” Leo looks at me. “What counts,” he says, “is that he did.”  •”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jodi Picoult" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/doesn-t-it-count-for-anything-if-josef-wishes-he-hadn-t-done-it-leo/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doesn Count" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/doesn-t-it-count-for-anything-if-josef-wishes-he-hadn-t-done-it-leo/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jodi-picoult-45_doesn-count_doesn-t-it-count-for-anything-if-josef-w_464058.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jodi-picoult-45_doesn-count_doesn-t-it-count-for-anything-if-josef-w_464058.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jodi-picoult-45_doesn-count_doesn-t-it-count-for-anything-if-josef-w_464058.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Doesn’t it count for anything if Josef wishes he hadn’t done it?” Leo looks at me. “What counts,” he says…” — 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": "“Doesn’t it count for anything if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/doesn-t-it-count-for-anything-if-josef-wishes-he-hadn-t-done-it-leo/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/doesn-t-it-count-for-anything-if-josef-wishes-he-hadn-t-done-it-leo/#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 } } ] } ```