--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm damned if I do, but I'm only darned…" description: "\"I'm damned if I do, but I'm only darned if I don't.\" — John Alejandro King" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/john-alejandro-king-10499_damned_i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-i_288071.jpg" --- # I'm damned if I do, but I'm only darned if I don't. ![“I'm damned if I do, but I'm only darned if I don't.” quote by John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/john-alejandro-king-10499_damned_i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-i_288071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/john-alejandro-king-10499_damned_i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-i_288071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/john-alejandro-king-10499_damned_i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-i_288071.jpg) > “I'm damned if I do, but I'm only darned if I don't.” [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges the paradox of moral dilemmas, where any choice feels wrong, yet action is necessary. **In simple terms:** Both options seem bad, but you must act. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and act despite discomfort. Themes ethics decision‑making paradox Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - personal relationships - policy decisions - ethical debates Key Concepts moral conflict risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What decision feels like a lose‑lose? - How can you move forward when all options seem flawed? A Different Perspective May lead to analysis paralysis or regret over chosen path. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a darned good listener.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-judd/i-m-a-darned-good-listener/) [Naomi Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-judd/) > [Any resemblance is coincidentally pure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/any-resemblance-is-coincidentally-pure/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [Take what's yours and be damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis/take-what-s-yours-and-be-damned/) [Genesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis/) > [Those who think of freedom in this country as one long, broad path leading ever onward and upward are dead damned wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/those-who-think-of-freedom-in-this-country-as-one-long-broad-path/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [What rage for fame attends both great and small! Better be damned than mentioned not at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wolcot/what-rage-for-fame-attends-both-great-and-small-better-be-damned-than/) [John Wolcot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wolcot/) > [“With thousands of roads before us that lead nowhere, going in circles. There really are only two roads we will either travel, one going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/with-thousands-of-roads-before-us-that-lead-nowhere-going-in-circles/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“Jonathan Edwards, the dear old soul, who, if his doctrine is true, is now in heaven rubbing his holy hands with glee, as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/jonathan-edwards-the-dear-old-soul-who-if-his-doctrine-is-true-is-now/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [You have told me, O God, to believe in hell. But you have forbidden me to think...of any man as damned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/you-have-told-me-o-god-to-believe-in-hell-but-you-have-forbidden-me/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [Dead star shine Light up the sky I'm all out of breath My walls are closing in Days go by Give me a sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proudlesbian/dead-star-shine-light-up-the-sky-i-m-all-out-of-breath-my-walls-are/) ProudLesbian > [The human race consists of the damned and the ought-to-be damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-human-race-consists-of-the-damned-and-the-ought-to-be-damned/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Life is a paradox, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-cartwright/life-is-a-paradox-you-re-damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don-t/) [Nancy Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-cartwright/) > [Let them impeach and be damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-johnson/let-them-impeach-and-be-damned/) [Andrew Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-johnson/) > [People are no damned good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/people-are-no-damned-good/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [“The future be damned. Because right here, right now, I almost lost you. I won’t waste another moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renea-mason/the-future-be-damned-because-right-here-right-now-i-almost-lost-you-i/) [Renea Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renea-mason/) > [Sir, my friend John Baynes used to say that the man who published a book without an index ought to be damned ten miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-douce/sir-my-friend-john-baynes-used-to-say-that-the-man-who-published-a/) Francis Douce ## More by John Alejandro King > [Any resemblance is coincidentally pure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/any-resemblance-is-coincidentally-pure/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [If it can be prepared for, it isn't the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/if-it-can-be-prepared-for-it-isn-t-the-worst/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [Gut Your Trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/gut-your-trust/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [There's a famous saying: If 99% was good enough, gravity wouldn't work for 14 minutes every day. I did the calculation, and it's actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/there-s-a-famous-saying-if-99-was-good-enough-gravity-wouldn-t-work/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [The camouflage you admire doesn't deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/the-camouflage-you-admire-doesn-t-deserve-it/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [I'm all for one-world government, assuming we can find a world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/i-m-all-for-one-world-government-assuming-we-can-find-a-world/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [A double standard is a scandal. A single standard is an atrocity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/a-double-standard-is-a-scandal-a-single-standard-is-an-atrocity/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [Wait, the Jesus lizard is the lizard that runs on top of the water, not the lizard that shoots blood out of its eyes?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/wait-the-jesus-lizard-is-the-lizard-that-runs-on-top-of-the-water-not/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be dusty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/let-everyone-sweep-in-front-of-his-own-door-and-the-whole-world-will/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [In the highly unlikely event he survived the drastic changes in the ratio of his volume to his surface area, by approximately the 8th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/in-the-highly-unlikely-event-he-survived-the-drastic-changes-in-the/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [America has never lost a war. We just misplaced a couple temporarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/america-has-never-lost-a-war-we-just-misplaced-a-couple-temporarily/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [Never be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. If people get angry, you can always pretend you were just standing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/never-be-afraid-to-stand-up-for-what-you-believe-in-if-people-get/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [Mind-body dualism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/mind-body-dualism/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [You can tell a lot about a person by what they think you can tell a lot about a person by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/you-can-tell-a-lot-about-a-person-by-what-they-think-you-can-tell-a/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [The puppeteer pulls the puppet's strings. The puppet pulls the audience's strings. The audience pulls the puppeteer's strings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/the-puppeteer-pulls-the-puppet-s-strings-the-puppet-pulls-the/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) [Explore all 65 John Alejandro King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) ## More Damned quotes > [Sir, my friend John Baynes used to say that the man who published a book without an index ought to be damned ten miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-douce/sir-my-friend-john-baynes-used-to-say-that-the-man-who-published-a/) Francis Douce > [“The future be damned. Because right here, right now, I almost lost you. I won’t waste another moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renea-mason/the-future-be-damned-because-right-here-right-now-i-almost-lost-you-i/) [Renea Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renea-mason/) > [People are no damned good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/people-are-no-damned-good/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [Let them impeach and be damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-johnson/let-them-impeach-and-be-damned/) [Andrew Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-johnson/) > [Life is a paradox, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-cartwright/life-is-a-paradox-you-re-damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don-t/) [Nancy Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-cartwright/) > [The human race consists of the damned and the ought-to-be damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-human-race-consists-of-the-damned-and-the-ought-to-be-damned/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Dead star shine Light up the sky I'm all out of breath My walls are closing in Days go by Give me a sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proudlesbian/dead-star-shine-light-up-the-sky-i-m-all-out-of-breath-my-walls-are/) ProudLesbian > [You have told me, O God, to believe in hell. But you have forbidden me to think...of any man as damned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/you-have-told-me-o-god-to-believe-in-hell-but-you-have-forbidden-me/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [“Jonathan Edwards, the dear old soul, who, if his doctrine is true, is now in heaven rubbing his holy hands with glee, as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/jonathan-edwards-the-dear-old-soul-who-if-his-doctrine-is-true-is-now/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“With thousands of roads before us that lead nowhere, going in circles. There really are only two roads we will either travel, one going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/with-thousands-of-roads-before-us-that-lead-nowhere-going-in-circles/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [What rage for fame attends both great and small! Better be damned than mentioned not at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wolcot/what-rage-for-fame-attends-both-great-and-small-better-be-damned-than/) [John Wolcot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wolcot/) > [Those who think of freedom in this country as one long, broad path leading ever onward and upward are dead damned wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/those-who-think-of-freedom-in-this-country-as-one-long-broad-path/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Take what's yours and be damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis/take-what-s-yours-and-be-damned/) [Genesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis/) > [“Basically, if you're a woman, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-steven/basically-if-you-re-a-woman-you-re-damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you/) [Laura Steven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-steven/) > [“I’ll be damned if I’m the only killer in the courtroom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-ll-be-damned-if-i-m-the-only-killer-in-the-courtroom/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) Browse all 219 Damned quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm damned if I do, but I'm only darned if I don't.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Alejandro King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-if-i-don-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Damned" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-if-i-don-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/john-alejandro-king-10499_damned_i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-i_288071.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/john-alejandro-king-10499_damned_i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-i_288071.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/john-alejandro-king-10499_damned_i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-i_288071.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm damned if I do, but I'm only darned if I don't.” — John Alejandro King", "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": "John Alejandro King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm damned if I do, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-if-i-don-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/i-m-damned-if-i-do-but-i-m-only-darned-if-i-don-t/#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 } } ] } ```