--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're going to be bad, be bad with a…" description: "\"“If you're going to be bad, be bad with a purpose or else you're not worth forgiving.”\" — L.J. Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/l-j-smith-962_damon_if-you-re-going-to-be-bad-be-bad-with-a_1855005.png" --- # If you're going to be bad, be bad with a purpose or else… ![“If you're going to be bad, be bad with a purpose or else you're not worth forgiving.” quote by L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/l-j-smith-962_damon_if-you-re-going-to-be-bad-be-bad-with-a_1855005.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/l-j-smith-962_damon_if-you-re-going-to-be-bad-be-bad-with-a_1855005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/l-j-smith-962_damon_if-you-re-going-to-be-bad-be-bad-with-a_1855005.png) > ““If you're going to be bad, be bad with a purpose or else you're not worth forgiving.”” [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing to be intentionally bad gives purpose; otherwise, harmful actions lack redemption. **In simple terms:** Be purposeful in wrongdoing or seek forgiveness. Key Takeaway Act with intent, not mindlessly. Themes morality intentionality redemption Mood provocative ethical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing villainous characters - personal accountability - ethical debates Key Concepts ethical philosophy character choice purposeful action Questions to Reflect On - Can bad deeds ever be justified? - What defines worthiness of forgiveness? A Different Perspective Bad actions may cause harm despite intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [Damon: "If you're going to be bad, be bad with a purpose or else you're not worth forgiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-williamson/damon-if-you-re-going-to-be-bad-be-bad-with-a-purpose-or-else-you-re/) [Kevin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-williamson/) > [“Our life is one, big proverbial coin toss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/our-life-is-one-big-proverbial-coin-toss/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [If youre gonna be bad, be bad with purpose. Otherwise youre just not worth forgiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder-damon-vampire-diaries/if-youre-gonna-be-bad-be-bad-with-purpose-otherwise-youre-just-not/) Ian Somerhalder - Damon (Vampire Diaries > [“But then she remembered something else, just a flash: looking up at Damon’s face in the woods and feeling such—such excitement, such affinity with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/but-then-she-remembered-something-else-just-a-flash-looking-up-at/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“Damon spoke without moving. “I’m not like you.” “You’re not as different from us as you want to think,” Matt said. “Look,” he added,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/damon-spoke-without-moving-i-m-not-like-you-you-re-not-as-different/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“Damon: I wanted to apologize. Elena: Good. Damon: Let me finish. I said I wanted to. And then I realized, I’m not sorry. Elena:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/damon-i-wanted-to-apologize-elena-good-damon-let-me-finish-i-said-i/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“Damon, leather and silk and fine chiseled features. Mercurial and devastating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/damon-leather-and-silk-and-fine-chiseled-features-mercurial-and/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“It's not wrong to hustle hustlers. It's like killing murderers, a public service. -Damon Salvatore”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/it-s-not-wrong-to-hustle-hustlers-it-s-like-killing-murderers-a/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [A woman can make you happy instantly; a woman can make you sad instantly; a woman can make you infuriated instantly; and a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/a-woman-can-make-you-happy-instantly-a-woman-can-make-you-sad/) [Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/) > [They say 'forgive and forget'. If someone is worth forgiving, you'll never forget them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-forgive-and-forget-if-someone-is-worth-forgiving-you-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel vulnerable when I have no choice. It segues into every facet of life, whether it's love, work, family, or conservation. Here it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/i-feel-vulnerable-when-i-have-no-choice-it-segues-into-every-facet-of/) [Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/) > [I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there's purpose and worth to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-know-in-my-heart-that-man-is-good-that-what-is-right-will-always/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is purpose and worth to each and every life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-purpose-and-worth-to-each-and-every-life/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“You're his beacon of light. You give him a sense of direction in his life. A purpose. But is it worth it? Just being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-tan/you-re-his-beacon-of-light-you-give-him-a-sense-of-direction-in-his/) Claudia Tan > [Nobody makes movies bad on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/nobody-makes-movies-bad-on-purpose/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) ## More by L.J. Smith > [“You're Giving me a...stick" MaryL to a very dangerious vampire”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/you-re-giving-me-a-stick-maryl-to-a-very-dangerious-vampire/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“I'd rather cut my throat," she said. An intriguing thought. But I can do it so much more enjoyably.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/i-d-rather-cut-my-throat-she-said-an-intriguing-thought-but-i-can-do/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“I love you Stefan, never let that go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/i-love-you-stefan-never-let-that-go/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“That's how I want to go. Taking my own way out and totally pissing everybody off at the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/that-s-how-i-want-to-go-taking-my-own-way-out-and-totally-pissing/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“Mary-Lynnette had an inexplicable impulse to knock Ash flat and fall down on top of him. She'd never felt that for any boy before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/mary-lynnette-had-an-inexplicable-impulse-to-knock-ash-flat-and-fall/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“It's all right," Jeanne was yelling. "Yeah, you heard me, it's all right! Delos isn't dangerous. Not to us, anyway. Come on, you, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/it-s-all-right-jeanne-was-yelling-yeah-you-heard-me-it-s-all-right/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“Katherine," he said. He was still smiling. "Yes." She leaned closer. "Katherine..." "Yes, Damon?" "Go to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/katherine-he-said-he-was-still-smiling-yes-she-leaned-closer/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“Still, there was no point in hurting Damon. She loved Damon, too. “I’ll try,” she promised. “We’ll take you home,” he said. “But not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/still-there-was-no-point-in-hurting-damon-she-loved-damon-too-i-ll/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“Wasnt it Startre who said hell was eternity spent in a room with your friends?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/wasnt-it-startre-who-said-hell-was-eternity-spent-in-a-room-with-your/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“A bright haze seemed to lie over everything, and she had a feeling of unreality, but the scene itself looked almost unbelievably wholesome, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/a-bright-haze-seemed-to-lie-over-everything-and-she-had-a-feeling-of/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“No, I'll dream another dream," he said. "I've made up so many things, now I'll just go into one. I'll be part of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/no-i-ll-dream-another-dream-he-said-i-ve-made-up-so-many-things-now-i/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“She started walking again. "Are you saying you didn't even want to be with her? Not even just a little?" He stopped. "How could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/she-started-walking-again-are-you-saying-you-didn-t-even-want-to-be/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“Wings of PURIFICATION”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/wings-of-purification/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“This Kitten Has Claws”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/this-kitten-has-claws/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“Now get out of my way, or finish life as a pile of cinders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/now-get-out-of-my-way-or-finish-life-as-a-pile-of-cinders/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) [Explore all 310 L.J. Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) ## More Damon quotes > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [“Mr. St.— I mean, Mr. Da— I mean Damon,” she said, quickly standing. She banged her knee against her desk drawer and stars clouded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-shirk/mr-st-i-mean-mr-da-i-mean-damon-she-said-quickly-standing-she-banged/) [Jennifer Shirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-shirk/) > [“Still, there was no point in hurting Damon. She loved Damon, too. “I’ll try,” she promised. “We’ll take you home,” he said. “But not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/still-there-was-no-point-in-hurting-damon-she-loved-damon-too-i-ll/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“You always were selfish. Your one fault. Not willing to share anything, are you?" Suddenly, Damon's lips curved up in a singularly beautiful smile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/you-always-were-selfish-your-one-fault-not-willing-to-share-anything/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [A dream acting role would be Matt Damon in the Bourne series. I would love to do something like that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-lautner/a-dream-acting-role-would-be-matt-damon-in-the-bourne-series-i-would/) [Taylor Lautner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-lautner/) > [“He’s here! That’s Damon over there!” Because of his height, Noah had a clear shot of the man she was pointing to. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhyannon-byrd/he-s-here-that-s-damon-over-there-because-of-his-height-noah-had-a/) [Rhyannon Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhyannon-byrd/) > [“Jocelyn. You’ll keep your eyes on me, Princess. I want you to remember this. From now on whenever you look into my eyes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-keaton/jocelyn-you-ll-keep-your-eyes-on-me-princess-i-want-you-to-remember/) [Julia Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-keaton/) > [Damon: "If you're going to be bad, be bad with a purpose or else you're not worth forgiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-williamson/damon-if-you-re-going-to-be-bad-be-bad-with-a-purpose-or-else-you-re/) [Kevin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-williamson/) > [“Damon opened his mouth to snarl, “And now you’re going to judge how much I love Elena?”  when suddenly he stopped, frozen.   He saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/damon-opened-his-mouth-to-snarl-and-now-you-re-going-to-judge-how/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [Lana says J.P. makes Matt Damon from the Bourne movies look like Oliver from Hannah Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/lana-says-j-p-makes-matt-damon-from-the-bourne-movies-look-like/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [Was this all part of your plan as my lawyer? I don't recall explosive escapes being part of the legal training." "Well, I'm sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/was-this-all-part-of-your-plan-as-my-lawyer-i-don-t-recall-explosive/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [And Damon Hill is following Damon Hill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-walker/and-damon-hill-is-following-damon-hill/) [Murray Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-walker/) > [We want the best actor, and that's why Matt Damon worked so well in this role, because he's a great actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-farrelly/we-want-the-best-actor-and-that-s-why-matt-damon-worked-so-well-in/) [Bobby Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-farrelly/) > [“Then she went to Damon. He was still lying where he had fallen. The ghosts had passed over him, taking no notice of him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/then-she-went-to-damon-he-was-still-lying-where-he-had-fallen-the/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [“Damon spoke without moving. “I’m not like you.” “You’re not as different from us as you want to think,” Matt said. “Look,” he added,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/damon-spoke-without-moving-i-m-not-like-you-you-re-not-as-different/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) Browse all 136 Damon quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you're going to be bad, be bad with a purpose or else you're not worth forgiving.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "L.J. 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