--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is more lonely than fucking ‘good…" description: "\"“Nothing is more lonely than fucking ‘good works.”\" — Joyce Carol Oates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/joyce-carol-oates-344_good_nothing-is-more-lonely-than-fucking-good_1124503.png" --- # Nothing is more lonely than fucking ‘good works. ![“Nothing is more lonely than fucking ‘good works.” quote by Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/joyce-carol-oates-344_good_nothing-is-more-lonely-than-fucking-good_1124503.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/joyce-carol-oates-344_good_nothing-is-more-lonely-than-fucking-good_1124503.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/joyce-carol-oates-344_good_nothing-is-more-lonely-than-fucking-good_1124503.png) > ““Nothing is more lonely than fucking ‘good works.”” [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even seemingly noble deeds can feel isolating and unfulfilling. **In simple terms:** Good deeds can feel lonely. Key Takeaway Find authentic connection. Themes loneliness morality purpose Mood somber thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - charitable work - personal relationships - career - community service Key Concepts existentialism social alienation ethics Questions to Reflect On - Why do you feel lonely? - How can you make good work meaningful? A Different Perspective Not all good works are rewarding; motives matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-works/) [Lonely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lonely/) ## Related quotes > [“You’re the fucking good guys,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/you-re-the-fucking-good-guys/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [“This feels so fucking good, it should be illegal. Time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darien-cox/this-feels-so-fucking-good-it-should-be-illegal-time/) [Darien Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darien-cox/) > [No reason is the most fucking good reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/no-reason-is-the-most-fucking-good-reason/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“I'm fucking good at this boyfriend shit. Who would have thought?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyrae-dawn/i-m-fucking-good-at-this-boyfriend-shit-who-would-have-thought/) [Nyrae Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyrae-dawn/) > [“I look so fucking good buried in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/i-look-so-fucking-good-buried-in-you/) [Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/) > [“Ah, Christ. Do you know how fucking good you feel on me? So damn tight and soft, holding me in. I love the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fanetti/ah-christ-do-you-know-how-fucking-good-you-feel-on-me-so-damn-tight/) [Susan Fanetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fanetti/) > [I'm a fucking good person!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snooki/i-m-a-fucking-good-person/) [Snooki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snooki/) > [That's a pretty fucking good milkshake. I don't know if it's worth five dollars but it's pretty fucking good. -Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pulp-fiction/that-s-a-pretty-fucking-good-milkshake-i-don-t-know-if-it-s-worth/) Pulp Fiction > [“You are so fucking good for me and so fucking bad for me at the same time." "It's not good if you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-jakes/you-are-so-fucking-good-for-me-and-so-fucking-bad-for-me-at-the-same/) [S.E. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-jakes/) > [Sex is like pizza: When its good its good, and when its bad its still pretty fucking good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/funny/sex-is-like-pizza-when-its-good-its-good-and-when-its-bad-its-still/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/funny/) > [“Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works; evil works do not make a wicked man, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a-good-man-does-good-works-evil/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [When you see the result of good works could not believe it;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/when-you-see-the-result-of-good-works-could-not-believe-it/) Mak\_786 > [“Faith and good works are both necessary. But one is the root and the other the fruit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/faith-and-good-works-are-both-necessary-but-one-is-the-root-and-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a-good-man-does-good-works/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [This world needs more than good works. It needs good news. Good works come out of the good news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/this-world-needs-more-than-good-works-it-needs-good-news-good-works/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) ## More by Joyce Carol Oates > [“A woman who has lost her husband is invalid, thus an invalid. In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/a-woman-who-has-lost-her-husband-is-invalid-thus-an-invalid-in/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Running! If there's any activity happier, more exhilarating, more nourishing to the imagination, I can't think of what it might be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/running-if-there-s-any-activity-happier-more-exhilarating-more/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [You need so much energy and encouragement to write that if someone says something negative, some of that energy goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/you-need-so-much-energy-and-encouragement-to-write-that-if-someone/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I learned long ago that being Lewis Carroll was infinitely more exciting than being Alice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-learned-long-ago-that-being-lewis-carroll-was-infinitely-more/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Paradox: how do we know what we have failed to see because we have no language to express it, thus we cannot know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/paradox-how-do-we-know-what-we-have-failed-to-see-because-we-have-no/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [At all crucial moments in our lives we want to speak without knowing what to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/at-all-crucial-moments-in-our-lives-we-want-to-speak-without-knowing/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [A writer’s life is in his work, and that is the place to find him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/a-writer-s-life-is-in-his-work-and-that-is-the-place-to-find-him/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [The challenge is to resist circumstances. Any idiot can be happy in a happy place, but moral courage is required to be happy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-challenge-is-to-resist-circumstances-any-idiot-can-be-happy-in-a/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [The first sentence cant be written until the final sentence is written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-first-sentence-cant-be-written-until-the-final-sentence-is-written/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“Did you know, Marianne: how by breaking the code that day, you broke it forever? For us all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/did-you-know-marianne-how-by-breaking-the-code-that-day-you-broke-it/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > ['The Accursed' is very much a novel about social injustice as the consequence of the terrible, tragic division of classes - the exploitation not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-accursed-is-very-much-a-novel-about-social-injustice-as-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Keep a light, hopeful heart. But expect the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/keep-a-light-hopeful-heart-but-expect-the-worst/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [And this is the forbidden truth, the unspeakable taboo - that evil is not always repellent but frequently attractive; that it has the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/and-this-is-the-forbidden-truth-the-unspeakable-taboo-that-evil-is/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I don't think that writer's block exists really. I think that when you're trying to do something prematurely, it just won't come. Certain subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-don-t-think-that-writer-s-block-exists-really-i-think-that-when-you/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [... such speculation is like staring into the hot white sun. you know the sun is there but you can't see a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/such-speculation-is-like-staring-into-the-hot-white-sun-you-know-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) [Explore all 658 Joyce Carol Oates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) ## More Good quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [Today I didn't even have to even use my A.K ! I got to say it was a good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/today-i-didn-t-even-have-to-even-use-my-a-k-i-got-to-say-it-was-a/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [If you want to edit your photos and make yourself look different, go for it. That is up to you, but in my opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/if-you-want-to-edit-your-photos-and-make-yourself-look-different-go/) [Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/) > [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. He told me I could approach him whenever I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-met-rajini-sir-after-jigarthanda-and-he-said-he-liked-my-film-he/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Eric Clapton's scales - when he comes off a high note and it's time for a refrain or a little bit of a rest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/eric-clapton-s-scales-when-he-comes-off-a-high-note-and-it-s-time-for/) [Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) Browse all 40,882 Good quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Nothing is more lonely than fucking ‘good works.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joyce Carol Oates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/nothing-is-more-lonely-than-fucking-good-works/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/nothing-is-more-lonely-than-fucking-good-works/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/joyce-carol-oates-344_good_nothing-is-more-lonely-than-fucking-good_1124503.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/joyce-carol-oates-344_good_nothing-is-more-lonely-than-fucking-good_1124503.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/joyce-carol-oates-344_good_nothing-is-more-lonely-than-fucking-good_1124503.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing is more lonely than fucking ‘good works.” — Joyce Carol Oates", "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": "Joyce Carol Oates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Nothing is more lonely than fucking...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/nothing-is-more-lonely-than-fucking-good-works/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/nothing-is-more-lonely-than-fucking-good-works/#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 } } ] } ```