--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody wants to admit to this, but bad…" description: "\"“Nobody wants to admit to this, but bad things will keep on happening. Maybe that’s because it’s all a chain, and a long time ago someone did the first..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/jodi-picoult-45_bad-thing_nobody-wants-to-admit-to-this-but-bad-th_1151414.jpg" --- # Nobody wants to admit to this, but bad things will keep on… ![“Nobody wants to admit to this, but bad things will keep on happening. Maybe that’s because it’s all a chain, and a long time ago someone did the first bad thing, and that led someone else to do another bad thing, and so on. You know, like that game where you whisper a sentence into someone’s ear…” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/jodi-picoult-45_bad-thing_nobody-wants-to-admit-to-this-but-bad-th_1151414.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/jodi-picoult-45_bad-thing_nobody-wants-to-admit-to-this-but-bad-th_1151414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/jodi-picoult-45_bad-thing_nobody-wants-to-admit-to-this-but-bad-th_1151414.jpg) > ““Nobody wants to admit to this, but bad things will keep on happening. Maybe that’s because it’s all a chain, and a long time ago someone did the first bad thing, and that led someone else to do another bad thing, and so on. You know, like that game where you whisper a sentence into someone’s ear, and that person whispers it to someone else, and it all comes out wrong in the end. But then again, maybe bad things happen because it’s the only way we can keep remembering what good is supposed to look like.”” [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. Bad actions can cascade, creating a chain of consequences that highlight the value of goodness. **In simple terms:** Bad deeds spread, reminding us what good looks like. Key Takeaway Break negative cycles to foster positivity. Themes cause and effect morality human nature Mood thoughtful cautionary Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family disputes - community conflicts - online rumors Key Concepts chain reaction ethical dilemmas social influence Questions to Reflect On - How do repeated harms shape our moral compass? - Can breaking a chain of bad actions change societal values? A Different Perspective Good can be defined only after experiencing bad. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) ## Related quotes > [“Maybe bad things happen because it's the only way we can keep remembering what good is supposed to look lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-bad-things-happen-because-it-s-the-only-way-we-can-keep/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [But then again, maybe bad things happen because it’s the only way we can keep remembering what good is supposed to look like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-then-again-maybe-bad-things-happen-because-it-s-the-only-way-we/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Nobody wants to admit to this, but bad things will keep on happening. Maybe that’s because it’s all a chain, and a long time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-picoult/nobody-wants-to-admit-to-this-but-bad-things-will-keep-on-happening/) [Jodie Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-picoult/) > [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [If you describe more than 3 shows you watch as 'Guilty Pleasures' maybe it's time to stop feeling guilty and just admit you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-describe-more-than-3-shows-you-watch-as-guilty-pleasures-maybe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I definitely had a big head, and I'll be the first to admit that I made some bad decisions. But back when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-orton/i-definitely-had-a-big-head-and-i-ll-be-the-first-to-admit-that-i/) [Randy Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-orton/) > [At least I have some friends who admit they are bad friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-least-i-have-some-friends-who-admit-they-are-bad-friends/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You admit it was a bad idea as soon as you realize it. You laugh at yourself. You take their ribbing. And most important,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/you-admit-it-was-a-bad-idea-as-soon-as-you-realize-it-you-laugh-at/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“I come to dungeon for good time—which maybe is problem, I admit—but I get bad time instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/i-come-to-dungeon-for-good-time-which-maybe-is-problem-i-admit-but-i/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [Once you admit how bad it feels to live in a broken society, you can start to resist it, and imagine a better one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/once-you-admit-how-bad-it-feels-to-live-in-a-broken-society-you-can/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [In the one defense, briefly, we accept responsibility but deny that it was bad: in the other, we admit that it was bad but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/in-the-one-defense-briefly-we-accept-responsibility-but-deny-that-it/) [J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/) > [I admit to have made some bad decision in the initial stage of my career and paid the price. I can't afford to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-rama-rao-jr/i-admit-to-have-made-some-bad-decision-in-the-initial-stage-of-my/) [N. T. Rama Rao, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-rama-rao-jr/) > [People love to admit they have bad handwriting or that they can't do math. And they will readily admit to being awkward: 'I'm such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/people-love-to-admit-they-have-bad-handwriting-or-that-they-can-t-do/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“Live your life remembering good experiences, the bad ones were just lessons”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michello-borgo/live-your-life-remembering-good-experiences-the-bad-ones-were-just/) Michello Borgo > [Randomly remembering good times and smiling like and idiot¦](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca/randomly-remembering-good-times-and-smiling-like-and-idiot/) [Becca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca/) ## 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 Bad thing quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [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/) > [I think the people I talk about are generally so stupid that they don't even know I'm saying bad things about them. I've run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-think-the-people-i-talk-about-are-generally-so-stupid-that-they-don/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [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/) > [I'm not going to pretend that bad things don't happen. I just hope my daughter has enough understanding that when they do, just give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-that-bad-things-don-t-happen-i-just-hope-my/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I've heard some pretty bad things in my life. I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Be Thankful for all things in life. Even for the bad things. SOMETIMES the worst situations in life turn out to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-all-things-in-life-even-for-the-bad-things-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. You have to be sure about yourself and about your work and your career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/in-my-business-you-should-be-very-strong-in-mind-you-have-to-be-sure/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) > [“I don’t know why I latched onto the idea of being friends, but it sits right with my gut. I want Hartley in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-watt/i-don-t-know-why-i-latched-onto-the-idea-of-being-friends-but-it-sits/) [Erin Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-watt/) > [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [“Dear Delphine, When you are older I want you to find Chinua Achebe. I want you to read Things Fall Apart. Don't be hardheaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-williams-garcia/dear-delphine-when-you-are-older-i-want-you-to-find-chinua-achebe-i/) [Rita Williams-Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-williams-garcia/) > [Lobbying is not a bad thing. I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't have lobbyists or we shouldn't have lobbying to petition our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/lobbying-is-not-a-bad-thing-i-m-not-trying-to-say-that-we-shouldn-t/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [In life, we don't know why things happen. I believe God is not responsible for the bad things that happen to you. Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/in-life-we-don-t-know-why-things-happen-i-believe-god-is-not/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) Browse all 2,889 Bad thing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Nobody wants to admit to this, but bad things will keep on happening. Maybe that’s because it’s all a chain, and a long time ago someone did the first bad thing, and that led someone else to do another bad thing, and so on. You know, like that game where you whisper a sentence into someone’s ear, and that person whispers it to someone else, and it all comes out wrong in the end. 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