--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you say nasty things about people…" description: "\"“When you say nasty things about people, you should never say the true ones, because you can't really trully and honestly take those back...”\" — john g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/john-green-12_humor_when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-y_3060119.jpg" --- # When you say nasty things about people, you should never… ![“When you say nasty things about people, you should never say the true ones, because you can't really trully and honestly take those back...” quote by john green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/john-green-12_humor_when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-y_3060119.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/john-green-12_humor_when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-y_3060119.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/john-green-12_humor_when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-y_3060119.jpg) > ““When you say nasty things about people, you should never say the true ones, because you can't really trully and honestly take those back...”” [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. Avoid saying harsh truths because they cannot be retracted; honesty can be painful yet necessary. **In simple terms:** Truth can hurt. Key Takeaway Speak truth responsibly. Themes honesty communication consequences Mood thoughtful cautious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - friendships - public statements - media reporting Key Concepts ethical dilemma personal integrity Questions to Reflect On - When is it right to with a truth? - How do you repair damage after harsh words? A Different Perspective May cause unnecessary hurt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [When you say nasty things about people, you should never say the true ones, because you can't really fully and honestly take those back..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-you-should-never-say-the-true/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“When yu say nasty things about people, you shouldnever say the true ones, because you can't really fully and honest take those back...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-yu-say-nasty-things-about-people-you-shouldnever-say-the-true/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [It amazes me how someone can hide behind a computer screen and say such nasty things to people. Words can kill, remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-amazes-me-how-someone-can-hide-behind-a-computer-screen-and-say/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am interviewed a lot about 'Friends' and people always want me to say nasty things or 'what was this person like.' And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-pickles/i-am-interviewed-a-lot-about-friends-and-people-always-want-me-to-say/) [Christina Pickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-pickles/) > [So the HP guy comes up to me (at the Melbourne conference) and he says, 'If you say nasty things like that to vendors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-de-raadt/so-the-hp-guy-comes-up-to-me-at-the-melbourne-conference-and-he-says/) [Theo de Raadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-de-raadt/) > [...but I guess it's better for people to shut up rather than rather than say something nasty. -ONE NIGHT @ THE CALL CENTER Chapter 1 page 22](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chetan-bhagat/but-i-guess-it-s-better-for-people-to-shut-up-rather-than-rather-than/) [Chetan Bhagat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chetan-bhagat/) > [I don't mind if people are saying nasty things about me behind my back - I just don't want to know about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-campbell-bower/i-don-t-mind-if-people-are-saying-nasty-things-about-me-behind-my/) [Jamie Campbell Bower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-campbell-bower/) > [You hear these horrible stories about the FBI just doing all these nasty things to people. And you know what? In my case, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-m-elahi/you-hear-these-horrible-stories-about-the-fbi-just-doing-all-these/) [Hasan M. Elahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-m-elahi/) > [I don't read things that people say about me online. They write nasty things just to mess with you. I don't need that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-degarmo/i-don-t-read-things-that-people-say-about-me-online-they-write-nasty/) [Diana DeGarmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-degarmo/) > [Evil is a miscellaneous collection of nasty things that nasty people do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/evil-is-a-miscellaneous-collection-of-nasty-things-that-nasty-people/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It's really hard when people write nasty things about you all the time. As much as good things are said about you, it's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/it-s-really-hard-when-people-write-nasty-things-about-you-all-the/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > [The only thing that will be remembered about my enemies after they're dead is the nasty things I've said about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-only-thing-that-will-be-remembered-about-my-enemies-after-they-re/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [If people want to say nasty things that's a good thing in a way because it means people will underestimate me come fight night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-groves/if-people-want-to-say-nasty-things-that-s-a-good-thing-in-a-way/) [George Groves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-groves/) > [It is hard when fans say nasty things on Twitter but we are starting to build a thicker skin and are getting used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perrie-edwards/it-is-hard-when-fans-say-nasty-things-on-twitter-but-we-are-starting/) [Perrie Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perrie-edwards/) > [If you're trying to be me,Do a better job. I wouldn't try to steal I guy from someone. I would call anyone cute or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/if-you-re-trying-to-be-me-do-a-better-job-i-wouldn-t-try-to-steal-i/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) ## 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 Humor quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [In my opinion, sexiness comes down to three things: chemistry, sense of humor, and treatment of waitstaff at restaurants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/in-my-opinion-sexiness-comes-down-to-three-things-chemistry-sense-of/) [Rhoda Janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) > [“...I haven't guessed where your shirt is from yet Bane, but I don't think it'll matter once it's underwater!' Tristan looked at Bane questioningly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-munt/i-haven-t-guessed-where-your-shirt-is-from-yet-bane-but-i-don-t-think/) S.K. Munt > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [“Not wise, perhaps, to be rude to the Pope's favorite son, but my viper tongue still required a fool now and then on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/not-wise-perhaps-to-be-rude-to-the-pope-s-favorite-son-but-my-viper/) [Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/) [Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) TimBur > [“ “Do Southerners laugh at different things than Northerners do? Yes, I say--Northerners.” Roy Blount, Jr., Roy Blount’s Book of Southern Humor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/do-southerners-laugh-at-different-things-than-northerners-do-yes-i/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [I love being my silly ole self! Lifes a lot better when you have a good sense of humor and you smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-being-my-silly-ole-self-lifes-a-lot-better-when-you-have-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) [Browse all 33,155 Humor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When you say nasty things about people, you should never say the true ones, because you can't really trully and honestly take those back...”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "john green" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-you-should-never-say-the-true-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Humor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-you-should-never-say-the-true-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/john-green-12_humor_when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-y_3060119.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/john-green-12_humor_when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-y_3060119.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/333/john-green-12_humor_when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-y_3060119.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you say nasty things about people, you should never say the true ones, because you can't really trully…” — john green", "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 green", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When you say nasty things about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-you-should-never-say-the-true-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-you-say-nasty-things-about-people-you-should-never-say-the-true-2/#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 } } ] } ```