--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While I did not fancy myself a…" description: "\"While I did not fancy myself a particularly good person, I never thought my first real sexual action would be prostitutional.\" — John Green" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/john-green-12_action_while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particula_581071.jpg" --- # While I did not fancy myself a particularly good person, I… ![“While I did not fancy myself a particularly good person, I never thought my first real sexual action would be prostitutional.” quote by John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/john-green-12_action_while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particula_581071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/john-green-12_action_while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particula_581071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/john-green-12_action_while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particula_581071.jpg) > “While I did not fancy myself a particularly good person, I never thought my first real sexual action would be prostitutional.” [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. He admits personal moral ambiguity yet acknowledges an unexpected path into sex work. **In simple terms:** Even good people can end up in questionable choices. Key Takeaway Recognize complexity in personal decisions. Themes morality identity sex work self-awareness conflict Mood reflective somber Type literary ethical. When to use this quote - college life - financial hardship - relationship dynamics - personal crisis Key Concepts Literary fiction ethical dilemma Questions to Reflect On - What societal pressures lead to such decisions? - How can we support people without judgment? A Different Perspective Stigma may obscure systemic factors influencing such choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action Prostitutional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-prostitutional-1643426/) [Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Good person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-person/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Sexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-sexual-1643428/) [Sexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual/) [Sexual Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual-action-1409578/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [“I have to confess that while I did not fancy myself a particularly good person, I never thought my first real sexual action would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-have-to-confess-that-while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particularly/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“(a) It shouldn't've even been a question whether I wanted to kiss him, and (b) Kissing someone so that you can get a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-it-shouldn-t-ve-even-been-a-question-whether-i-wanted-to-kiss-him/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I liked the way my character, Shane, was first introduced. You get introduced to her through this sexual action, and I thought that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-moennig/i-liked-the-way-my-character-shane-was-first-introduced-you-get/) [Katherine Moennig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-moennig/) > [I think when it comes to women who write or who fancy ourselves 'hip downtown literati', there is a certain contempt for being overly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klausner/i-think-when-it-comes-to-women-who-write-or-who-fancy-ourselves-hip/) [Julie Klausner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klausner/) > [I'm a good person but a shitty writer. You're a shitty person but a good writer. We'd make a good team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-m-a-good-person-but-a-shitty-writer-you-re-a-shitty-person-but-a/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I am never going to get better at being a good person. I am always going to be the blood and shit of things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-am-never-going-to-get-better-at-being-a-good-person-i-am-always/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [It becomes dangerous for somebody who doesn't want their boss to know their sexual preference to use online networks to push for laws supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/it-becomes-dangerous-for-somebody-who-doesn-t-want-their-boss-to-know/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [“A joke’s funny, right? That wasn’t. It’s perfectly okay for a woman to have a sexual appetite, to take the lead now and then.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shani-struthers/a-joke-s-funny-right-that-wasn-t-it-s-perfectly-okay-for-a-woman-to/) [Shani Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shani-struthers/) > [I don't see why we should alienate anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, nationality, religion, ethnicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-balor/i-don-t-see-why-we-should-alienate-anyone-regardless-of-sexual/) [Finn Balor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-balor/) > [I can't really define it in sexual terms alone although our sexuality is so energizing why not enjoy it too?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-can-t-really-define-it-in-sexual-terms-alone-although-our-sexuality/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [We are on a sexual binge in this country. ... One consequence of this binge is that while people now get into bed more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/we-are-on-a-sexual-binge-in-this-country-one-consequence-of-this/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [Certainly that's what I like in a lot of the music that I listen to, kind of a sexual energy. Guitars and rock get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ridgeley/certainly-that-s-what-i-like-in-a-lot-of-the-music-that-i-listen-to/) [Andrew Ridgeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ridgeley/) > ["Natural" is a very dangerous word to use about sexuality ... Our society's notions of normality are completely fake and meta-trendy, since they rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-bright/natural-is-a-very-dangerous-word-to-use-about-sexuality-our-society-s/) [Susie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-bright/) > [Sexual activity, and the thoughts and fantasies of sex, use up a great portion of our vital force. When that force is conserved through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/sexual-activity-and-the-thoughts-and-fantasies-of-sex-use-up-a-great/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [You're on Facebook, and you're supposed to know your sexual orientation at 13... Nobody really knows what's going on at that time, and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron-mitchell/you-re-on-facebook-and-you-re-supposed-to-know-your-sexual/) [John Cameron Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron-mitchell/) ## 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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "While I did not fancy myself a particularly good person, I never thought my first real sexual action would be prostitutional.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Green" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particularly-good-person-i-never/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particularly-good-person-i-never/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/john-green-12_action_while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particula_581071.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/john-green-12_action_while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particula_581071.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/john-green-12_action_while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particula_581071.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“While I did not fancy myself a particularly good person, I never thought my first real sexual action would…” — 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": "While I did not fancy myself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particularly-good-person-i-never/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/while-i-did-not-fancy-myself-a-particularly-good-person-i-never/#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 } } ] } ```