---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My nearest and dearest have always been…"
description: "\"My nearest and dearest have always been very careful. I've never had to send Christmas present back yet.\" — John Nettles"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/john-nettles-19485_careful_my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been_152488.jpg"
---

#  My nearest and dearest have always been very careful. I've…

![“My nearest and dearest have always been very careful. I've never had to send Christmas present back yet.” quote by John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/john-nettles-19485_careful_my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been_152488.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/john-nettles-19485_careful_my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been_152488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/john-nettles-19485_careful_my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been_152488.jpg)

> “My nearest and dearest have always been very careful. I've never had to send Christmas present back yet.”

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A comment on meticulousness in gift-giving, implying reliability and respect for tradition.

**In simple terms:** Being careful with gifts shows respect.

Key Takeaway

Maintain thoughtfulness in giving.

Themes

tradition carefulness relationships

Mood

proud reflective

Type

advisory personal

When to use this quote

- holiday gifting
- family interactions
- business gifts

Key Concepts

respect social etiquette reliability

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you ever feel pressured to be perfect?
- How does carefulness affect your relationships?

A Different Perspective

Over‑care can become burdensome.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christmas present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-present/) [Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift/)

## Related quotes

> [I lOve yOu if yOu rEcaLl my mEntiOniNg it... If evEr tHerE cOmEs a tiMe yOu nEed sOmEone lEt mE eVer bE tHe nEarEst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene/i-love-you-if-you-recall-my-mentioning-it-if-ever-there-comes-a-time/)

[ArlEne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene/)

> [It was not perhaps the warmest friendship in the world, they would not send each other Christmas gift greetings, but they would not murder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/it-was-not-perhaps-the-warmest-friendship-in-the-world-they-would-not/)

[Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/)

> [“You are nearest and dearest and all the world to me. Our souls are knit into one, for all life and all time. -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/you-are-nearest-and-dearest-and-all-the-world-to-me-our-souls-are/)

[Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/)

> [Call a nursing home and get the names of five people who don't often receive mail. Send each one a Christmas card and sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/call-a-nursing-home-and-get-the-names-of-five-people-who-don-t-often/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonderfully-wise-men-who-brought/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [A woman who is careful with her words is a gift to all who know her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/a-woman-who-is-careful-with-her-words-is-a-gift-to-all-who-know-her/)

[Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/)

> [“I think after Christmas would be better for publication: I am hardly a Christmas present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-think-after-christmas-would-be-better-for-publication-i-am-hardly-a/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [ \[T\]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/t-hese-last-few-days-where-i-ve-moped-around-damn-near-depressed-for/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [Wanna know whats upsetting? My sister crying for her farther.She wants him for christmas.I think it would be a wonderful christmas present.But you cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazzy/wanna-know-whats-upsetting-my-sister-crying-for-her-farther-she-wants/)

[Jazzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazzy/)

> [“As his life steadily unraveled, he pawned his gold watch and chain for $20 on December 23, 1857, to purchase Christmas presents for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/as-his-life-steadily-unraveled-he-pawned-his-gold-watch-and-chain-for/)

[Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/)

> [We really couldn't listen to the radio. Never got a Christmas present from my mama a day in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glorilla/we-really-couldn-t-listen-to-the-radio-never-got-a-christmas-present/)

[GloRilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glorilla/)

> [“Hot damn! Hunter was finally paying off with the hot guy friends. I knew this day would come, it was inevitable, but I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genna-rulon/hot-damn-hunter-was-finally-paying-off-with-the-hot-guy-friends-i/)

[Genna Rulon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genna-rulon/)

> [All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/all-the-christmas-presents-in-the-world-are-worth-nothing-without-the/)

[David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/)

> [“People do not seem to realise that the planet is FULL of AMAZING people, many of whom would pass out at the opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gala-darling/people-do-not-seem-to-realise-that-the-planet-is-full-of-amazing/)

Gala Darling

> [“I want your babies, and your anger, and your cold blue eyes … “ I choke on my words and I am the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/i-want-your-babies-and-your-anger-and-your-cold-blue-eyes-i-choke-on/)

[Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/)

## More by John Nettles

> [Actors have become much more savvy about the nature of television celebrity these days. We were not. The kind of celebrity culture that exists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/actors-have-become-much-more-savvy-about-the-nature-of-television/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [I have just written a book on the occupation of the Channel Islands, which is being published in Germany. Pursuing the Second World War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/i-have-just-written-a-book-on-the-occupation-of-the-channel-islands/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [I remember Tom Baker once said to me many years ago: never go back, particularly with TV shows. This is because the track record…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/i-remember-tom-baker-once-said-to-me-many-years-ago-never-go-back/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [Midsomer' is a throwback to the old detective tradition, in which everything happens in the head of one man. Everything depends on his intuition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/midsomer-is-a-throwback-to-the-old-detective-tradition-in-which/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [The whole of Cornwall has become antiseptic. When I was growing up in St. Austell, the county was wonderfully rough and workish. These days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/the-whole-of-cornwall-has-become-antiseptic-when-i-was-growing-up-in/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [Domestic violence is often ignored as it usually happens behind closed doors and it can seem easier not to get involved. Yet, domestic violence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/domestic-violence-is-often-ignored-as-it-usually-happens-behind/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [I don't think anyone takes the deaths in Midsomer as seriously as in say Wire In The Blood or Silent Witness. We're part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/i-don-t-think-anyone-takes-the-deaths-in-midsomer-as-seriously-as-in/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [Football is my guilty pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/football-is-my-guilty-pleasure/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [I get a lot of letters from French lady admirers - and gentlemen. 'Midsomer' is a huge hit in France, and it's all down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/i-get-a-lot-of-letters-from-french-lady-admirers-and-gentlemen/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [You need someone to ground you because if you start believing that your public persona is your only and real persona, then you're looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/you-need-someone-to-ground-you-because-if-you-start-believing-that/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [I'll have been doing 'Midsomer Murders' for 14 years by the time 'Barnaby' leaves. I've formed familial ties with the people involved in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/i-ll-have-been-doing-midsomer-murders-for-14-years-by-the-time/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [I'm always impressed with the way the writers find new and creative ways of killing people. But my favourite has to be the hat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/i-m-always-impressed-with-the-way-the-writers-find-new-and-creative/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [I've done so much drama on television that it's very hard to sit down and watch other actors work. I find my interest is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/i-ve-done-so-much-drama-on-television-that-it-s-very-hard-to-sit-down/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [We were on a fairway shooting a scene in 'The Dogleg Murders' when I was asked by the cameraman if it was safe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/we-were-on-a-fairway-shooting-a-scene-in-the-dogleg-murders-when-i/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

> [Never underestimate the effect you can have on certain sections of the audience, though. You should see some of the letters I get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/never-underestimate-the-effect-you-can-have-on-certain-sections-of/)

[John Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

[Explore all 32 John Nettles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/)

## More Careful quotes

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [“Only careful political manoeuvring will be able to manage the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davan-yahya-khalil/only-careful-political-manoeuvring-will-be-able-to-manage-the/)

Davan Yahya Khalil

> [Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the worst Spanish student in the history of the language.” I laughed. “No problemo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/be-careful-i-wouldn-t-want-anything-to-happen-to-the-worst-spanish/)

[Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/)

> [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/)

[Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/)

> [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/)

[Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/)

> [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [Be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone-2/be-careful-the-friends-you-choose-for-you-will-become-like-them/)

W Clement Stone

> [A woman who is careful with her words is a gift to all who know her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/a-woman-who-is-careful-with-her-words-is-a-gift-to-all-who-know-her/)

[Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/)

> [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [I have to be careful to get out before I become the grotesque caricature of a hatchet-faced woman with big knockers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-have-to-be-careful-to-get-out-before-i-become-the-grotesque/)

[Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/)

> [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/)

[Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/)

> [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/)

[L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/)

Browse all 2,861 Careful quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My nearest and dearest have always been very careful. I've never had to send Christmas present back yet.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Nettles"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been-very-careful-i-ve-never-had/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Careful"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been-very-careful-i-ve-never-had/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/john-nettles-19485_careful_my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been_152488.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/john-nettles-19485_careful_my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been_152488.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/john-nettles-19485_careful_my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been_152488.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My nearest and dearest have always been very careful. I've never had to send Christmas present back yet.” — John Nettles",
                "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 Nettles",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nettles/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My nearest and dearest have always...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been-very-careful-i-ve-never-had/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nettles/my-nearest-and-dearest-have-always-been-very-careful-i-ve-never-had/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
