--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went on spouting bullshit…" description: "\"I went on spouting bullshit Encouragements as Gus's parents, arm in arm, hugged each other and nodded at every word. Funerals, I had decided, are for t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/john-green-12_arms_i-went-on-spouting-bullshit-encouragemen_3216374.jpg" --- # I went on spouting bullshit Encouragements as Gus's… ![“I went on spouting bullshit Encouragements as Gus's parents, arm in arm, hugged each other and nodded at every word. Funerals, I had decided, are for the living.” quote by John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/john-green-12_arms_i-went-on-spouting-bullshit-encouragemen_3216374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/john-green-12_arms_i-went-on-spouting-bullshit-encouragemen_3216374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/john-green-12_arms_i-went-on-spouting-bullshit-encouragemen_3216374.jpg) > “I went on spouting bullshit Encouragements as Gus's parents, arm in arm, hugged each other and nodded at every word. Funerals, I had decided, are for the living.” [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator mocks superficial encouragement at funerals, suggesting they serve the living more than the dead. **In simple terms:** Funerals are for the living, not empty words. Key Takeaway Seek genuine connection over hollow platitudes. Themes death rituals authenticity social performance Mood somber thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - funeral planning - supporting bereaved friends - personal coping strategies Key Concepts existentialism grief communication Questions to Reflect On - Do you find comfort in traditional funeral speeches? - How can you offer authentic support to the grieving? A Different Perspective Some may find comfort in ritualized words; dismissing them can seem insensitive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Bullshit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullshit/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Encouragements Gus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragements-gus-6029690/) [Funeral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funeral/) [Funerals Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funerals-decided-3761259/) [Gus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gus/) [Gus Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gus-parents-6029691/) [Hugged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hugged/) [Hugged Nodded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hugged-nodded-6029689/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) ## Related quotes > [“Funerals, I decided, are for the living. - Hazel Grace Lancaster”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/funerals-i-decided-are-for-the-living-hazel-grace-lancaster/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Funerals, I had decided, are for the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/funerals-i-had-decided-are-for-the-living/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [So how’s it going?” “Okay. Glad to be home, I guess. Gus told me you were in the ICU?” “Yeah,” I said. “Sucks,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-how-s-it-going-okay-glad-to-be-home-i-guess-gus-told-me-you-were/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [You know how we make a Scotch and water in this home?" "No, sir," Gus said. "We pour Scotch into a glass and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-know-how-we-make-a-scotch-and-water-in-this-home-no-sir-gus-said/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [You’re joining us for dinner, I hope?” asked his mom. She was small and brunette and vaguely mousy. “I guess?” I said. “I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-re-joining-us-for-dinner-i-hope-asked-his-mom-she-was-small-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [He took a bite, swallowed. "God. If asparagus tasted like that all the time, I'd be vegetarian, too." Some people in a lacquered wooden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-took-a-bite-swallowed-god-if-asparagus-tasted-like-that-all-the/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“So afterward, while I was getting eviscerated by chemo, for some reason I decided to feel really hopeful. Not about survival but I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-afterward-while-i-was-getting-eviscerated-by-chemo-for-some-reason/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“People always get used to beauty, though.” “I haven’t gotten used to you just yet,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/people-always-get-used-to-beauty-though-i-haven-t-gotten-used-to-you-4/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Augustus Waters was sitting on the front step as we pulled into the driveway. He was holding a bouquet of bright orange tulips just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-waters-was-sitting-on-the-front-step-as-we-pulled-into-the/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Ma'am,' Augustus said, nodding toward her, 'your daughter's car has just been deservedly egged by a blind man. Please close the door and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/ma-am-augustus-said-nodding-toward-her-your-daughter-s-car-has-just-2/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Omnia Cellula e Cellula”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/omnia-cellula-e-cellula/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I want more numbers than I’m likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-want-more-numbers-than-i-m-likely-to-get-and-god-i-want-more/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [When surprised and excited and innocent Gus emerged from Grand Gesture Metaphorically Inclined Augustus, I literally could not resist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-surprised-and-excited-and-innocent-gus-emerged-from-grand/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Dad had a sign of his own. MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY, it read, and then underneath that (AND GUS).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/dad-had-a-sign-of-his-own-my-beautiful-family-it-read-and-then/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Anyway, that was the last good day I had with Gus until the Last Good Day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/anyway-that-was-the-last-good-day-i-had-with-gus-until-the-last-good/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More by John Green > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I just want to stay away from people and read books and think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-just-want-to-stay-away-from-people-and-read-books-and-think/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A Margo for each of us--and each more mirror than window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-margo-for-each-of-us-and-each-more-mirror-than-window/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/no-one-ever-says-good-bye-unless-they-want-to-see-you-again/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Traffic's not too bad on Sheridan, and I'm cornering the car like it's the Indy 500, and we're listening to my favorite NMH song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/traffic-s-not-too-bad-on-sheridan-and-i-m-cornering-the-car-like-it-s/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Praise God for good nurses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/praise-god-for-good-nurses/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Nothing has ever looked like that ever in all of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nothing-has-ever-looked-like-that-ever-in-all-of-human-history/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“said to him quietly, as if I couldn’t hear or something. Dad was about to respond but I interrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/said-to-him-quietly-as-if-i-couldn-t-hear-or-something-dad-was-about/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I believe humans have souls, and I believe in the conservation of souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-believe-humans-have-souls-and-i-believe-in-the-conservation-of-souls/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“He was hot. A nonhotboy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-was-hot-a-nonhotboy-stares-at-you-relentlessly-and-it-is-at-best/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (...) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/imagining-the-future-is-a-kind-of-nostalgia-you-spend-your-whole-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Explore all 3,614 John Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. 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