--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't pretend that I did one really…" description: "\"I can't pretend that I did one really awful thing - I took a bite out of the apple but now I'm never going to sin again.\" — John Edgar Wideman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/john-edgar-wideman-7347_apple_i-can-t-pretend-that-i-did-one-really-aw_3095909.jpg" --- # I can't pretend that I did one really awful thing - I took… ![“I can't pretend that I did one really awful thing - I took a bite out of the apple but now I'm never going to sin again.” quote by John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/john-edgar-wideman-7347_apple_i-can-t-pretend-that-i-did-one-really-aw_3095909.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/john-edgar-wideman-7347_apple_i-can-t-pretend-that-i-did-one-really-aw_3095909.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/john-edgar-wideman-7347_apple_i-can-t-pretend-that-i-did-one-really-aw_3095909.jpg) > “I can't pretend that I did one really awful thing - I took a bite out of the apple but now I'm never going to sin again.” [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging a past mistake and committing to change reflects moral responsibility and personal resolve. **In simple terms:** Admit wrongdoing and vow not to repeat it. Key Takeaway Commit to change. Themes morality redemption personal responsibility Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - confession - rehabilitation - personal vows Key Concepts ethics self‑reflection growth Questions to Reflect On - What steps will you take to avoid repeat mistakes? - How do you reconcile past actions with future goals? A Different Perspective Change may be challenged by temptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apple/) [Apples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) [Awful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awful/) [Awful Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awful-thing-821372/) [Bite Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bite-apple-1030598/) [Bites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bites/) [Going Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-sin-2390048/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Took Bite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-bite/) ## Related quotes > [You really have one bite at the apple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/you-really-have-one-bite-at-the-apple/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Dear me," said Will, and he took another bite of his apple. "Is it because I'm better-looking than you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/dear-me-said-will-and-he-took-another-bite-of-his-apple-is-it-because/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Great Unanswered Question in Life: Who took a bite out of the apple on iPhones, Macbooks, and iPads?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/great-unanswered-question-in-life-who-took-a-bite-out-of-the-apple-on/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“Travis took a bite of the apple and chewed, looking happy as I’d ever seen him. The peace in his eyes had returned, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/travis-took-a-bite-of-the-apple-and-chewed-looking-happy-as-i-d-ever/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [If you are going to sin, sin against God, not the bureaucracy. God will forgive you but the bureaucracy won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyman-rickover/if-you-are-going-to-sin-sin-against-god-not-the-bureaucracy-god-will/) [Hyman Rickover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyman-rickover/) > [Zen is not interested in high-flown statements; it wants its pupil to bite his apple and not discuss it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bancroft/zen-is-not-interested-in-high-flown-statements-it-wants-its-pupil-to/) [Anne Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bancroft/) > [Im chillin at the top, I got ample time. Bite me...Apple sign, ha.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/im-chillin-at-the-top-i-got-ample-time-bite-me-apple-sign-ha/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [Imagine all the FUN shit we wouldn't have if stupid bitch Eve didn't take a bite from that apple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/imagine-all-the-fun-shit-we-wouldn-t-have-if-stupid-bitch-eve-didn-t/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“Cassandra lifted the apple to her lips. The sunny scent was strong as she bit into it. An apple, from a tree in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/cassandra-lifted-the-apple-to-her-lips-the-sunny-scent-was-strong-as/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [Can I have bite?. Why? It is because YOU are the apple of my eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-ban/can-i-have-bite-why-it-is-because-you-are-the-apple-of-my-eye/) [Ivy Ban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-ban/) > [“You're such a good cook. You're going to make someone very fat and happy one day," he said, his mouth half full with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/you-re-such-a-good-cook-you-re-going-to-make-someone-very-fat-and/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [Bluetooth earpieces are so geeky," Dan Cahill said. "But they free up your hands for surfing the web, stealing priceless jewels, and eating pastry,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-smith/bluetooth-earpieces-are-so-geeky-dan-cahill-said-but-they-free-up/) [Roland Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-smith/) > [Drugs or overeating or alcohol or sex, it was all just another way to find peace. To escape what we know. Our education. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/drugs-or-overeating-or-alcohol-or-sex-it-was-all-just-another-way-to/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [But really death seems the least awful thing that can happen to someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-horsley/but-really-death-seems-the-least-awful-thing-that-can-happen-to/) [Sebastian Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-horsley/) > [The awful thing is that if i can forget they're people, it will be no different at all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-awful-thing-is-that-if-i-can-forget-they-re-people-it-will-be-no/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More by John Edgar Wideman > [My mother loved my father. From my view, she let him get away with too much. It broke my heart to see him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/my-mother-loved-my-father-from-my-view-she-let-him-get-away-with-too/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [Too much is made for us; too much is given to us - even those of us who are underprivileged. The poverty is given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/too-much-is-made-for-us-too-much-is-given-to-us-even-those-of-us-who/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [A great artist transforms our world, removes scales from our eyes, plugs from our ears, gloves from our fingertips, teaches us to perceive reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/a-great-artist-transforms-our-world-removes-scales-from-our-eyes/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [That's what writing is: it's imagining that you can make a world. That's what basketball is, too: it's imagining the game as a world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/that-s-what-writing-is-it-s-imagining-that-you-can-make-a-world-that/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [I'm very hard-nosed and cold-blooded and I can walk past a drowning man. If I have someplace else to go, well, tough s\*\*t. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/i-m-very-hard-nosed-and-cold-blooded-and-i-can-walk-past-a-drowning/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [I get off on anticipating and waiting much more than I get off on the actual event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/i-get-off-on-anticipating-and-waiting-much-more-than-i-get-off-on-the/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [You have to be a minor superhero just to get to be a dignified man, and that's kind of exacerbated for men of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/you-have-to-be-a-minor-superhero-just-to-get-to-be-a-dignified-man/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [Stories are told over time, and so they naturally accrue meanings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/stories-are-told-over-time-and-so-they-naturally-accrue-meanings/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [That's been my routine for years and years... Up early before everybody else, before I get connected, before I get bugged, before I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/that-s-been-my-routine-for-years-and-years-up-early-before-everybody/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [My father was intelligent and closed-mouthed. He knew a lot more than what he was ever going to tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/my-father-was-intelligent-and-closed-mouthed-he-knew-a-lot-more-than/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [What I wanted to do in talking about basketball in 'Hoop Roots' was retrieve the game as something to participate in, not to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/what-i-wanted-to-do-in-talking-about-basketball-in-hoop-roots-was/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [Books are an attempt to control something that's uncontrollable. That's one of the beauties of African American life. There was this thing called slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/books-are-an-attempt-to-control-something-that-s-uncontrollable-that/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [That's one of the beauties, I think, of African American life. There was this thing called slavery and adjustments were made. It literally destroyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/that-s-one-of-the-beauties-i-think-of-african-american-life-there-was/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [Things seem to fall apart inevitably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/things-seem-to-fall-apart-inevitably/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [My aunt Geraldine was the unofficial historian and storyteller. She had all the information about family members and the gossip that came out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/my-aunt-geraldine-was-the-unofficial-historian-and-storyteller-she/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) [Explore all 92 John Edgar Wideman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) ## More Apple quotes > [“Neither's the one you get, less you want me to see if your apple's ripe, yet. - Yoren”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/neither-s-the-one-you-get-less-you-want-me-to-see-if-your-apple-s/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Most people believe the apple merely represented Knowledge. But we know better. It was the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-beverly-whittemore/most-people-believe-the-apple-merely-represented-knowledge-but-we/) [Miranda Beverly-Whittemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-beverly-whittemore/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“An apple with a rotten core can only last so long,” he”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rice/an-apple-with-a-rotten-core-can-only-last-so-long-he/) [Morgan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rice/) > [I'm not only a fan of Apple products, I have stock in the company. I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [When Apple introduced its game-changing iPhone in 2007, Nokia was caught sleeping on the job. Although it had actually developed an iPhone-style device -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/when-apple-introduced-its-game-changing-iphone-in-2007-nokia-was/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [I like to make pies. That's kind of my new obsession - peach, blueberry, apple, strawberry. I make a really good pumpkin pie with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-saylor/i-like-to-make-pies-that-s-kind-of-my-new-obsession-peach-blueberry/) [Morgan Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-saylor/) > [I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-love-to-eat-an-apple-after-a-meal-just-to-cleanse-my-teeth-they/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [Back in my school days, when I would scuttle off with a cheese roll, an apple, a box of Sun-Maid raisins and a Penguin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-khoo/back-in-my-school-days-when-i-would-scuttle-off-with-a-cheese-roll-an/) [Rachel Khoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-khoo/) > [As far as Apple goes, it was a different company every few years from the time I joined in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/as-far-as-apple-goes-it-was-a-different-company-every-few-years-from/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [“You are the apple of Love’s eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-paul-kirkpatrick/you-are-the-apple-of-love-s-eye/) [David Paul Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-paul-kirkpatrick/) > [Like a satellite in orbit, Apple is perpetually falling. It just happens to miss Earth every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-dediu/like-a-satellite-in-orbit-apple-is-perpetually-falling-it-just/) [Horace Dediu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-dediu/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [To the extent that anyone anywhere does anything interesting, the question is: 'Why isn't Apple doing that; why is Apple behind in that?' We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-federighi/to-the-extent-that-anyone-anywhere-does-anything-interesting-the/) [Craig Federighi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-federighi/) > [I read the Steve Jobs book, and that kind of changed everything. I've been, like, an Apple geek my whole life and have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-read-the-steve-jobs-book-and-that-kind-of-changed-everything-i-ve/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) [Browse all 889 Apple quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apple/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can't pretend that I did one really awful thing - I took a bite out of the apple but now I'm never going to sin again.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Edgar Wideman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/i-can-t-pretend-that-i-did-one-really-awful-thing-i-took-a-bite-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apple" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/i-can-t-pretend-that-i-did-one-really-awful-thing-i-took-a-bite-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/john-edgar-wideman-7347_apple_i-can-t-pretend-that-i-did-one-really-aw_3095909.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/john-edgar-wideman-7347_apple_i-can-t-pretend-that-i-did-one-really-aw_3095909.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/john-edgar-wideman-7347_apple_i-can-t-pretend-that-i-did-one-really-aw_3095909.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can't pretend that I did one really awful thing - I took a bite out of the apple but now I'm never going…” — John Edgar Wideman", "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 Edgar Wideman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can't pretend that I did...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/i-can-t-pretend-that-i-did-one-really-awful-thing-i-took-a-bite-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/i-can-t-pretend-that-i-did-one-really-awful-thing-i-took-a-bite-out/#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 } } ] } ```