--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That should be your town motto. It's all…" description: "\"That should be your town motto. It's all I ever hear. Like: New Hampshire, Live Free or Die. It should be: Despair, You Need To Leave Now.\" — Lee Child" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/lee-child-980_despair_that-should-be-your-town-motto-it-s-all_112607.jpg" --- # That should be your town motto. It's all I ever hear… ![“That should be your town motto. It's all I ever hear. Like: New Hampshire, Live Free or Die. It should be: Despair, You Need To Leave Now.” quote by Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/lee-child-980_despair_that-should-be-your-town-motto-it-s-all_112607.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/lee-child-980_despair_that-should-be-your-town-motto-it-s-all_112607.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/lee-child-980_despair_that-should-be-your-town-motto-it-s-all_112607.jpg) > “That should be your town motto. It's all I ever hear. Like: New Hampshire, Live Free or Die. It should be: Despair, You Need To Leave Now.” [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker suggests a town should adopt a stark, discouraging motto that reflects a bleak outlook, contrasting with the optimistic “Live Free or Die.” **In simple terms:** Proposes a grim town slogan. Key Takeaway Mottos shape community identity and morale. Themes culture identity humor pessimism Mood ironic dark humor Type satire social commentary When to use this quote - City branding debates - Community morale campaigns Key Concepts social signaling collective mindset Practical Applications - Consider the psychological impact of public slogans Questions to Reflect On - What values should a community’s motto embody? - How do slogans influence residents’ behavior? A Different Perspective A negative motto may deter visitors and erode civic pride. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Despair Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair-need-1297348/) [Hampshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hampshire/) [Live free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-free/) [Motto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motto/) [Motto Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motto-hear-1332135/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Town Motto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/town-motto-1332134/) [Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towns/) ## Related quotes > [“It's too easy to be stupid, and too easy to wake up in the morning with the feeling you said something that had more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-benson/it-s-too-easy-to-be-stupid-and-too-easy-to-wake-up-in-the-morning/) [Peter Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-benson/) > [There will come into every life moments of despair and the need for direction from a divine source-even an unspoken plea for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/there-will-come-into-every-life-moments-of-despair-and-the-need-for/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [If we really want to be the Live Free or Die State, we must ensure that New Hampshire is a place where every person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sununu/if-we-really-want-to-be-the-live-free-or-die-state-we-must-ensure/) [Chris Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sununu/) > [I think that, that it would be hard for New Hampshire to vote for somebody who was a fundamentalist minister, affable as he is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-think-that-that-it-would-be-hard-for-new-hampshire-to-vote-for/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [For the pageants, it was my mother who got me involved in Miss America. It really gave me the opportunity to sing all around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-badler/for-the-pageants-it-was-my-mother-who-got-me-involved-in-miss-america/) [Jane Badler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-badler/) > [Until I carried my wife off to New Hampshire, she defined wilderness as the Bronx.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/until-i-carried-my-wife-off-to-new-hampshire-she-defined-wilderness/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I think, like everybody else in New Hampshire, when I pull up to fill up my car and I pay $50, I get upset.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-gregg/i-think-like-everybody-else-in-new-hampshire-when-i-pull-up-to-fill/) [Judd Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-gregg/) > [From Texas to New Hampshire and everywhere in between, we know that support for policies such as expanded background checks continue to be popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-giffords/from-texas-to-new-hampshire-and-everywhere-in-between-we-know-that/) [Gabrielle Giffords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-giffords/) > [ The Babson Institute, which is now an actual university, was started by this guy \[my father\] who also had a problem with believing in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/the-babson-institute-which-is-now-an-actual-university-was-started-by/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [If I were just to read briefing books or I were just to engage in the political back and forth, would I have heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-were-just-to-read-briefing-books-or-i-were-just-to-engage-in-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [In 1988, as an unknown candidate, totally unknown, I won Iowa, came in second in New Hampshire, won South Dakota. I was ahead in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/in-1988-as-an-unknown-candidate-totally-unknown-i-won-iowa-came-in/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [The citizens of New Hampshire expect and deserve a government as clean as our mountain streams and as open as our blue skies. Today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lynch/the-citizens-of-new-hampshire-expect-and-deserve-a-government-as/) [John Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lynch/) > [I grew up in a small village on the border of Hampshire and Surrey. When people ask, I tend to say that I'm from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-orange-county/i-grew-up-in-a-small-village-on-the-border-of-hampshire-and-surrey/) [Rex Orange County](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-orange-county/) > [Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/men-hang-out-their-signs-indicative-of-their-respective-trades-shoe/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [First there was the New Hampshire primary, and we had nearly a year leading up to it. And now, look! Three primaries in one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/first-there-was-the-new-hampshire-primary-and-we-had-nearly-a-year/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) ## More by Lee Child > [“Reacher got to them on the plane. He put them out of action and stole their wallets.” “On the plane?” “He broke Lozano’s fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/reacher-got-to-them-on-the-plane-he-put-them-out-of-action-and-stole/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“A maintenance dose. It would keep her asleep all night. It would keep her warm, and gentle, and relaxed, and at peace, and cradled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/a-maintenance-dose-it-would-keep-her-asleep-all-night-it-would-keep/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“It had maroon paint and exposed brick and scarred wood, and a chalkboard menu about ninety percent full of things that don’t really belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/it-had-maroon-paint-and-exposed-brick-and-scarred-wood-and-a/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Spread love and understanding,” Reacher said. “Use force if necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/spread-love-and-understanding-reacher-said-use-force-if-necessary/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“or especially fragile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/or-especially-fragile/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Now they broke my toothbrush, I don't own anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/now-they-broke-my-toothbrush-i-don-t-own-anything/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“The Zip Code is about the size of Chicago. With five people. But hey, welcome to Wyoming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/the-zip-code-is-about-the-size-of-chicago-with-five-people-but-hey/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“You got to imagine your memory is like an old bucket, you know? Once it’s filled up with old stuff there ain’t no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/you-got-to-imagine-your-memory-is-like-an-old-bucket-you-know-once-it/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“foreign legal systems. So I made”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/foreign-legal-systems-so-i-made/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Writing is showbusiness for shy people. That's how I see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/writing-is-showbusiness-for-shy-people-that-s-how-i-see-it/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“OK, Finlay, let’s get it done,” I said. “I don’t have an address because I don’t live anywhere. Maybe one day I’ll live somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/ok-finlay-let-s-get-it-done-i-said-i-don-t-have-an-address-because-i/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“He changed his final wad up at the train station. Which was a sad place now. There were homeless people and disturbed people hanging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/he-changed-his-final-wad-up-at-the-train-station-which-was-a-sad/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“They had come for us in the night. Hey had come expecting a lot of blood. They had come with all their gear. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/they-had-come-for-us-in-the-night-hey-had-come-expecting-a-lot-of/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“He hauled the right-hand guy next to the left-hand guy, close together, shoulder to shoulder, and he picked up the heavy box like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/he-hauled-the-right-hand-guy-next-to-the-left-hand-guy-close-together/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“Where are the deputies?' 'On their way up to the first-aid post.' 'What happened to them?' 'I did.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/where-are-the-deputies-on-their-way-up-to-the-first-aid-post-what/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) [Explore all 306 Lee Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) ## More Despair quotes > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) [Louaiq8](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louaiq8/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That should be your town motto. 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