--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don’t know many rules to live by,” he’d…" description: "\"“I don’t know many rules to live by,” he’d said. “But here’s one. It’s simple. Don’t put anything unnecessary into yourself. No poisons or chemicals, n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/laini-taylor-258_rules_i-don-t-know-many-rules-to-live-by-he-d_2737713.png" --- # I don’t know many rules to live by,” he’d said. “But… ![“I don’t know many rules to live by,” he’d said. “But here’s one. It’s simple. Don’t put anything unnecessary into yourself. No poisons or chemicals, no fumes or smoke or alcohol, no sharp objects, no inessential needles—drug or tattoo—and… no inessential penises, either.” quote by Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/laini-taylor-258_rules_i-don-t-know-many-rules-to-live-by-he-d_2737713.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/laini-taylor-258_rules_i-don-t-know-many-rules-to-live-by-he-d_2737713.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/laini-taylor-258_rules_i-don-t-know-many-rules-to-live-by-he-d_2737713.png) > ““I don’t know many rules to live by,” he’d said. “But here’s one. It’s simple. Don’t put anything unnecessary into yourself. No poisons or chemicals, no fumes or smoke or alcohol, no sharp objects, no inessential needles—drug or tattoo—and… no inessential penises, either.”” [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates minimalism in body and mind, avoiding harmful or superfluous substances and objects. **In simple terms:** Avoid unnecessary harmful things. Key Takeaway Simplify and protect yourself. Themes minimalism health self‑care Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal health choices - body modification decisions - substance avoidance - mental clarity Key Concepts toxicology bodily autonomy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What unnecessary things could you remove from your life? - How do you balance simplicity with personal expression? A Different Perspective May limit personal freedom or cultural practices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inessential Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inessential-needles-3003964/) [Inessential Penises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inessential-penises-3003962/) [Know Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-rules/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) [Sharp Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharp-objects/) [Unnecessary Poisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnecessary-poisons-3003963/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know many rules to live by,' he'd said. 'But here's one. It's simple. Don't put anything unnecessary into yourself. 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It was never determinded whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/he-s-dead-internal-bleeding-when-they-opened-him-up-they-found-a/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [It's funny: I've joked that 'Sharp Objects,' 'To the Bone,' and 'Dietland' are my self-harm trilogy, and each one is a different side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marti-noxon/it-s-funny-i-ve-joked-that-sharp-objects-to-the-bone-and-dietland-are/) [Marti Noxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marti-noxon/) > [“Tortolita, let me tell you a story,” Estevan said. “This is a South American, wild Indian story about heaven and hell.” Mrs. Parsons made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/tortolita-let-me-tell-you-a-story-estevan-said-this-is-a-south/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > ['Sharp Objects' is honestly one of my most exciting reading experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krysten-ritter/sharp-objects-is-honestly-one-of-my-most-exciting-reading-experiences/) [Krysten Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krysten-ritter/) > [If you want a language that tries to lock up all the sharp objects and fire-making implements, use Pascal or Ada: the Nerf languages,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-fahlman/if-you-want-a-language-that-tries-to-lock-up-all-the-sharp-objects/) [Scott Fahlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-fahlman/) > [If you made a movie of 'Sharp Objects,' chances are that it would be a smaller film, but as a TV show, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marti-noxon/if-you-made-a-movie-of-sharp-objects-chances-are-that-it-would-be-a/) [Marti Noxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marti-noxon/) > [“After the monkeys came down from the trees and learned to hurl sharp objects, they had had to move into caves for protection--not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/after-the-monkeys-came-down-from-the-trees-and-learned-to-hurl-sharp/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [For escape, I love popcorn thrillers that you can read in a weekend, like 'Sharp Objects' and 'The Woman in Cabin 10.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krysten-ritter/for-escape-i-love-popcorn-thrillers-that-you-can-read-in-a-weekend/) [Krysten Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krysten-ritter/) > [“A blanket could be used to battle the cold, but not battle an army with swords, bayonets, and other sharp objects (unless the opposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-to-battle-the-cold-but-not-battle-an-army/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“May he find a phalanx of horny demon bubbas in Hell, with a fondness for sharp objects.” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/may-he-find-a-phalanx-of-horny-demon-bubbas-in-hell-with-a-fondness/) [J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/) ## More by Laini Taylor > [“Word spread quickly: The visitor wished to address the scholars. 'What can he want?' they wondered, streaming into the Royal Theater. Attendance was voluntary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/word-spread-quickly-the-visitor-wished-to-address-the-scholars-what/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“The past and the future were just blinders we wore so that infinity wouldn’t drive us mad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/the-past-and-the-future-were-just-blinders-we-wore-so-that-infinity/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“I love books. Not just for what they contain. 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This isn't some goddamn Narnia book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/you-are-not-just-going-to-vanish-like-this-karou-this-isn-t-some/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/have-you-ever-asked-yourself-do-monsters-make-war-or-does-war-make/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“She told Mik, "You have perfect violin-playing muscles." "And you, with your mighty puppeteer arms. We put the chimaera to shame." She stopped fanning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/she-told-mik-you-have-perfect-violin-playing-muscles-and-you-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [As far back as she could remember, a phantom life had mocked her with its impenetrable “something else,” but now it was the opposite.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/as-far-back-as-she-could-remember-a-phantom-life-had-mocked-her-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“By the time the plan's wheels touched down on a desolate stretch of desert runway, the sun had cleared a ridge of mountains and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/by-the-time-the-plan-s-wheels-touched-down-on-a-desolate-stretch-of/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“It was hard to imagine feeling that magical tingling sensation in the pit of her belly anytime soon. Best not to worry about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/it-was-hard-to-imagine-feeling-that-magical-tingling-sensation-in-the/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Staring at her face, she began to fancy her outer layer had begun to melt away while she wasn't paying attention, and something --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/staring-at-her-face-she-began-to-fancy-her-outer-layer-had-begun-to/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“He listened like a cactus drinks the rain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/he-listened-like-a-cactus-drinks-the-rain/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Around Mik, my powers desert me. I lose basic motor function, like my brain focuses all neural activity on my lips and shifts into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/around-mik-my-powers-desert-me-i-lose-basic-motor-function-like-my/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Everything lined up. It has been easy, as if it were meant-" "Meant!" she said, amazed. She spun to face him, which, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/everything-lined-up-it-has-been-easy-as-if-it-were-meant-meant-she/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) [Explore all 715 Laini Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## More Rules quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [If you're white and you're wrong, then you're wrong; if you're black and you're wrong, you're wrong. People are people. Black, blue, pink, green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/if-you-re-white-and-you-re-wrong-then-you-re-wrong-if-you-re-black/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [“Every game has rules. Life’s a game that has its respective rules; obey the rules, win the game!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/every-game-has-rules-life-s-a-game-that-has-its-respective-rules-obey/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Fear has the role we give it. We are able to empower or poison ourselves to whatever degree we want. This is the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/fear-has-the-role-we-give-it-we-are-able-to-empower-or-poison/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Sometimes rules are there to save your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/sometimes-rules-are-there-to-save-your-life/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [“A man's life is about keeping rules, breaking them, and making new ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/a-man-s-life-is-about-keeping-rules-breaking-them-and-making-new-ones/) [Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/) > [There is no breach of European rules committed by companies from Romania or on Romanian territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-ponta/there-is-no-breach-of-european-rules-committed-by-companies-from/) [Victor Ponta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-ponta/) > [To bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans, the FCC needs to make it easier for companies to build and expand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/to-bring-the-benefits-of-the-digital-age-to-all-americans-the-fcc/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [“And when I’d settled down, I considered the possibility that I wasn’t yet ready to ask for the love of anyone because I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-decker/and-when-i-d-settled-down-i-considered-the-possibility-that-i-wasn-t/) [Steven Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-decker/) > [One of our rules for the show, I guess the filter we try to pass everything through, is it's a safe place for women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/one-of-our-rules-for-the-show-i-guess-the-filter-we-try-to-pass/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [The rules and principles of case law have never been treated as final truths but as working hypotheses, continually retested in those great laboratories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-n-cardozo/the-rules-and-principles-of-case-law-have-never-been-treated-as-final/) [Benjamin N. 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