--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't help people that don't want to…" description: "\"You can't help people that don't want to be helped.\" — John Armstrong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/john-armstrong-11802_help_you-can-t-help-people-that-don-t-want-to_357044.jpg" --- # You can't help people that don't want to be helped. ![“You can't help people that don't want to be helped.” quote by John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/john-armstrong-11802_help_you-can-t-help-people-that-don-t-want-to_357044.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/john-armstrong-11802_help_you-can-t-help-people-that-don-t-want-to_357044.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/john-armstrong-11802_help_you-can-t-help-people-that-don-t-want-to_357044.jpg) > “You can't help people that don't want to be helped.” [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He states that help is ineffective if the recipient isn’t willing. **In simple terms:** Help only works if wanted. Key Takeaway Focus on willing participants. Themes help willingness boundaries Mood empathetic pragmatic Type advice psychological When to use this quote - counseling - self‑help programs - volunteer work Key Concepts psychology of change personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you encourage willingness? - When is it okay to stop trying? A Different Perspective May dismiss those in denial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Help people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [If people don't want to be helped, leave them alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernesto-sirolli/if-people-don-t-want-to-be-helped-leave-them-alone/) [Ernesto Sirolli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernesto-sirolli/) > [“The only people you should ever want to get "EVEN" with are those who have helped you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-honeyfeld/the-only-people-you-should-ever-want-to-get-even-with-are-those-who/) John Honeyfeld > [Some people don't want to be helped, they want to do what they're doing, it's all they know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/some-people-don-t-want-to-be-helped-they-want-to-do-what-they-re/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [I've Always Been Told , You Can Never Help Someone That Dose Not Want To Be Helped ... LET Them LEARN From There Mistakes ..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia/i-ve-always-been-told-you-can-never-help-someone-that-dose-not-want/) Olivia > [“Raffe begins walking away from the village. "Either come with me or stay. I can only help those who want to be helped.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/raffe-begins-walking-away-from-the-village-either-come-with-me-or/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“I don't mind being around those who need help and want to be helped, but I don't like to be around those who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beta-metani-marashi-3/i-don-t-mind-being-around-those-who-need-help-and-want-to-be-helped/) Beta Metani'Marashi > [If all the people do the same, I don't want to do it. I want to be on the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-vela/if-all-the-people-do-the-same-i-don-t-want-to-do-it-i-want-to-be-on/) [Carlos Vela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-vela/) > [People who have children, by and large, want children. People who don't want children are people who, by and large, don't want to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-deaton/people-who-have-children-by-and-large-want-children-people-who-don-t/) [Angus Deaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-deaton/) > [Clearly, you don't want people to see it. Now I don't want people to see it either, but you so badly don't want people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-green/clearly-you-don-t-want-people-to-see-it-now-i-don-t-want-people-to/) [Rachel Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-green/) > [There's a lot of people out there who don't love football, and I don't want anything to do with those guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/there-s-a-lot-of-people-out-there-who-don-t-love-football-and-i-don-t/) [Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/) > [“People don’t think to ask for anything. They don’t want to be told no.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophfronia-scott/people-don-t-think-to-ask-for-anything-they-don-t-want-to-be-told-no/) Sophfronia Scott > [People don't want advice...only corroboration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/people-don-t-want-advice-only-corroboration/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [People don't want to hear the truth; they never do. They wanna live in some kind of fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/people-don-t-want-to-hear-the-truth-they-never-do-they-wanna-live-in/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [The timing was terrible, and having one disaster after another didn't help. I think the pictures on television of the way in which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-tauzin/the-timing-was-terrible-and-having-one-disaster-after-another-didn-t/) [Billy Tauzin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-tauzin/) > [I want to help people struggling with whatever it is they're going through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santan-dave/i-want-to-help-people-struggling-with-whatever-it-is-they-re-going/) [Santan Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santan-dave/) ## More by John Armstrong > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Virtue and sense are one; and, trust me, still A faithless heart betrays the head unsound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/virtue-and-sense-are-one-and-trust-me-still-a-faithless-heart-betrays/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [He knows enough, the mariner, who knows Where lurk the shelves, and where the whirlpools boil, What signs portend the storm: to subtler minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/he-knows-enough-the-mariner-who-knows-where-lurk-the-shelves-and/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Tis not too late to-morrow to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/tis-not-too-late-to-morrow-to-be-brave/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [What Nature bids is good, is wise, and faultless we obey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/what-nature-bids-is-good-is-wise-and-faultless-we-obey/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [“But mostly what we think of as the 'meaning' of life concerns the style of the private autobiography we each write and which records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/but-mostly-what-we-think-of-as-the-meaning-of-life-concerns-the-style/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [The most beautiful form of compromise is forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/the-most-beautiful-form-of-compromise-is-forgiveness/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [We know great Nature's pow'r, Mother of things, whose vast unbounded sway From the deep centre all around extends Wide to the flaming barriers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/we-know-great-nature-s-pow-r-mother-of-things-whose-vast-unbounded/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Much had he read, Much more had he seen; he studied from the life, And in th' original perus'd mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/much-had-he-read-much-more-had-he-seen-he-studied-from-the-life-and/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Our greatest good, and what we least can spare, Is hope: the last of all our evils, fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/our-greatest-good-and-what-we-least-can-spare-is-hope-the-last-of-all/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Virtue, the strength and beauty of the soul, Is the best gift of Heaven: a happiness That even above the smiles and frowns of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/virtue-the-strength-and-beauty-of-the-soul-is-the-best-gift-of-heaven/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [The blood, the fountain whence the spirits flow The generous stream that waters every part, And motion, vigor, and warm life conveys To every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/the-blood-the-fountain-whence-the-spirits-flow-the-generous-stream/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [One’s relationship with money is lifelong, it colors one’s sense of identity, it shapes one’s attitude to other people, it connects and splits generations;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/one-s-relationship-with-money-is-lifelong-it-colors-one-s-sense-of/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [“Sincerity is only as good as what we are sincere about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/sincerity-is-only-as-good-as-what-we-are-sincere-about/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Autumn ripens in the summer's ray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/autumn-ripens-in-the-summer-s-ray/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) [Explore all 58 John Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) ## More Help quotes > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/as-much-as-you-want-to-improve-or-help-the-team-as-a-centre-back-your/) [Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/) > [I want to help people struggling with whatever it is they're going through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santan-dave/i-want-to-help-people-struggling-with-whatever-it-is-they-re-going/) [Santan Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santan-dave/) > [There is a talent in dyslexia - it can help you see things creatively. So I wouldn't change a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/there-is-a-talent-in-dyslexia-it-can-help-you-see-things-creatively/) [James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [You give because you love and cannot help giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/you-give-because-you-love-and-cannot-help-giving/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [For young people in the U.K. who find themselves without anywhere to live - perhaps they have left the family home after a relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/for-young-people-in-the-u-k-who-find-themselves-without-anywhere-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Disasters affect every state, and North Carolinians have given our own tax dollars to help neighbors and those in other states in times of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/disasters-affect-every-state-and-north-carolinians-have-given-our-own/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [Try to help people rather than focusing on what's in it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brogan/try-to-help-people-rather-than-focusing-on-what-s-in-it-for-me/) [Chris Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brogan/) > [God, help me to focus on Truth instead of the trial. Help me to give thanks instead of giving into fear. Help me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-daugherty/god-help-me-to-focus-on-truth-instead-of-the-trial-help-me-to-give/) Whitney Daugherty > [To nurture the sort of relationships that will truly help propel you towards accomplishing great things, you need to forget transactional networking and focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/to-nurture-the-sort-of-relationships-that-will-truly-help-propel-you/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [When certain stars take you under their wing, it does help as they gauge your potential and are willing to work with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-bhatt/when-certain-stars-take-you-under-their-wing-it-does-help-as-they/) [Vikram Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-bhatt/) > [Obviously you help your team win by producing runs. But you also help your team win by preventing runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-crawford/obviously-you-help-your-team-win-by-producing-runs-but-you-also-help/) [Brandon Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-crawford/) [Browse all 8,763 Help quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't help people that don't want to be helped.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Armstrong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/you-can-t-help-people-that-don-t-want-to-be-helped/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Help" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/you-can-t-help-people-that-don-t-want-to-be-helped/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/john-armstrong-11802_help_you-can-t-help-people-that-don-t-want-to_357044.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/john-armstrong-11802_help_you-can-t-help-people-that-don-t-want-to_357044.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/john-armstrong-11802_help_you-can-t-help-people-that-don-t-want-to_357044.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't help people that don't want to be helped.” — John Armstrong", "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 Armstrong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't help people that don't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/you-can-t-help-people-that-don-t-want-to-be-helped/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/you-can-t-help-people-that-don-t-want-to-be-helped/#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 } } ] } ```