--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: David looked at me, then, the regret…" description: "\"“David looked at me, then, the regret plain on his face. No matter what I said, we both knew the hard truth. We do our best. We try. And usually, it ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/leigh-bardugo-252_alina_david-looked-at-me-then-the-regret-plain_403469.jpg" --- # David looked at me, then, the regret plain on his face. No… ![“David looked at me, then, the regret plain on his face. No matter what I said, we both knew the hard truth. We do our best. We try. And usually, it makes no difference at all” quote by Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/leigh-bardugo-252_alina_david-looked-at-me-then-the-regret-plain_403469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/leigh-bardugo-252_alina_david-looked-at-me-then-the-regret-plain_403469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/leigh-bardugo-252_alina_david-looked-at-me-then-the-regret-plain_403469.jpg) > ““David looked at me, then, the regret plain on his face. No matter what I said, we both knew the hard truth. We do our best. We try. And usually, it makes no difference at all”” [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even when we try our hardest, some outcomes are beyond our control, highlighting human limitation and shared understanding of effort. **In simple terms:** Effort doesn’t always change results. Key Takeaway Accept limits, support each other. Themes effort friendship realism resilience acceptance Mood reflective hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - team missions - personal growth - conflict resolution - leadership training Key Concepts existentialism human agency shared struggle Questions to Reflect On - When is effort futile? - How do we cope with unavoidable outcomes? A Different Perspective It may discourage striving in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alina/) [Hard Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-truth/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“I don't care if you think I'm a Saint or a fool or the Darkling's whore. If you want to remain at the Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-don-t-care-if-you-think-i-m-a-saint-or-a-fool-or-the-darkling-s/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“At Keramzin, I had a doll I made out of an old sock that I used to talk to whenever he was away hunting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/at-keramzin-i-had-a-doll-i-made-out-of-an-old-sock-that-i-used-to/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Mal shouted. I heard scuffling behind me and knew Tolya had taken hold of him. “Alina!” His voice was raw white wood, torn from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/mal-shouted-i-heard-scuffling-behind-me-and-knew-tolya-had-taken-hold/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“You come back to train with Botkin. I hit big girl same as little girl." "That's very egalitarian of you." I said, and hurried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-come-back-to-train-with-botkin-i-hit-big-girl-same-as-little-girl/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“No matter what I said, we both knew the hard truth. We do our best. We try. And usually, it makes no difference at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/no-matter-what-i-said-we-both-knew-the-hard-truth-we-do-our-best-we/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [But she never looked back with regret. There were so many ways for things to get better. -Jing-mei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/but-she-never-looked-back-with-regret-there-were-so-many-ways-for/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [“He paused by Theo's door, knocked with his free hand. "Get lost, creep." David looked down at Maddy. "I assume he means you." He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/he-paused-by-theo-s-door-knocked-with-his-free-hand-get-lost-creep/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Don't argue. Never deign to deny. Meet insults with laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-insults-with-laughter/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Why won’t you leave me alone?” I whispered one night as he hovered behind me while I tried to work at my desk. Long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/why-won-t-you-leave-me-alone-i-whispered-one-night-as-he-hovered/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've seen what you truly are," said the Darkling, "and I've never turned away. I never will. Can he say the same?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-seen-what-you-truly-are-said-the-darkling-and-i-ve-never-turned/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've been waiting for you a long time, Alina" He said. "You and I are going to change the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-been-waiting-for-you-a-long-time-alina-he-said-you-and-i-are/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I wasn't afraid of you, Alina. I was afraid of losing you. That girl you were becoming didn't need me anymore, but she's who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-wasn-t-afraid-of-you-alina-i-was-afraid-of-losing-you-that-girl-you/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I am ruination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-am-ruination/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Get moving. We need to find that stag so I don’t have to chop your head off.” “I never said you had to chop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/get-moving-we-need-to-find-that-stag-so-i-don-t-have-to-chop-your/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I rolled my eyes. "For defending my honor, you dullard." He yanked me beneath a shadowed awning. I had a moment's panic when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-rolled-my-eyes-for-defending-my-honor-you-dullard-he-yanked-me/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## More by Leigh Bardugo > [“Aleksander." His eyes fluttered shut. "Don't let me be alone," he murmured. And then he was gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/aleksander-his-eyes-fluttered-shut-don-t-let-me-be-alone-he-murmured/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I don't care if you danced naked on the roof of the Little Palace with him. I love you, Alina, even the part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-don-t-care-if-you-danced-naked-on-the-roof-of-the-little-palace/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-frowned-i-thought-you-and-nina-chose-four-outbreak-sites-on-the/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I rolled my eyes. "For defending my honor, you dullard." He yanked me beneath a shadowed awning. I had a moment's panic when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-rolled-my-eyes-for-defending-my-honor-you-dullard-he-yanked-me/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've been waiting for you a long time, Alina" He said. "You and I are going to change the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-been-waiting-for-you-a-long-time-alina-he-said-you-and-i-are/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“They're all crazy, Oncat. Invisible armies, monster princes. Let's go set fire to something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/they-re-all-crazy-oncat-invisible-armies-monster-princes-let-s-go-set/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Saints!" I swore. "I forgot how often I want to stab you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/saints-i-swore-i-forgot-how-often-i-want-to-stab-you/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej knew the moment Kaz entered the Slat. His presence reverberated through the cramped rooms and crooked hallways as every thug, thief, dealer, con…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-knew-the-moment-kaz-entered-the-slat-his-presence-reverberated/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've risked my life for you. I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I'd do it again and again and again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-risked-my-life-for-you-i-ve-walked-half-the-length-of-ravka-for/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“You never know," said Nikolai. "I've been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet." "Please tell me you plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-never-know-said-nikolai-i-ve-been-busy-i-might-have-some/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Sure we do," said Theo, swatting at a branch. "We get to the spring, Alia gets cured. We argue over the best choice for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/sure-we-do-said-theo-swatting-at-a-branch-we-get-to-the-spring-alia/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“But I pushed down my confused tears and did as she asked, still hoping that whatever I’d broken might be repaired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/but-i-pushed-down-my-confused-tears-and-did-as-she-asked-still-hoping/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“There, she wrote fantastical tales that charmed children, and under another name, she penned rather more lurid works that kept her in nougat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/there-she-wrote-fantastical-tales-that-charmed-children-and-under/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Short on friends, your highness?" "And long on enemies," replied Nikolai.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/short-on-friends-your-highness-and-long-on-enemies-replied-nikolai/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. “Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/jesper-knocked-his-head-against-the-hull-and-cast-his-eyes-heavenward/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) [Explore all 782 Leigh Bardugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## More Alina quotes > [“I rolled my eyes. "For defending my honor, you dullard." He yanked me beneath a shadowed awning. I had a moment's panic when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-rolled-my-eyes-for-defending-my-honor-you-dullard-he-yanked-me/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've been waiting for you a long time, Alina" He said. "You and I are going to change the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-been-waiting-for-you-a-long-time-alina-he-said-you-and-i-are/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I am ruination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-am-ruination/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Get moving. We need to find that stag so I don’t have to chop your head off.” “I never said you had to chop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/get-moving-we-need-to-find-that-stag-so-i-don-t-have-to-chop-your/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I wasn't afraid of you, Alina. I was afraid of losing you. That girl you were becoming didn't need me anymore, but she's who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-wasn-t-afraid-of-you-alina-i-was-afraid-of-losing-you-that-girl-you/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“All right. And...can someone see about having the roof fixed?" Matching grins broke out on Tolya's and Tamar's faces. "Can't we leave it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/all-right-and-can-someone-see-about-having-the-roof-fixed-matching/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“You let Mal come back for me. After you gave me your vow." "He broke away," said Tamar. I lifted a brow. The day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-let-mal-come-back-for-me-after-you-gave-me-your-vow-he-broke-away/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Toss him over," Zoya said. "Break his heart cruelly. I will gladly give our poor prince comfort, and I would make a magnificent queen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/toss-him-over-zoya-said-break-his-heart-cruelly-i-will-gladly-give/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I may not have been completely honest about that." "You? Less than truthful? I'm shocked, Nikolai. Shocked and horrified.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-may-not-have-been-completely-honest-about-that-you-less-than/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“You come back to train with Botkin. I hit big girl same as little girl." "That's very egalitarian of you." I said, and hurried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-come-back-to-train-with-botkin-i-hit-big-girl-same-as-little-girl/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Mal shouted. I heard scuffling behind me and knew Tolya had taken hold of him. “Alina!” His voice was raw white wood, torn from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/mal-shouted-i-heard-scuffling-behind-me-and-knew-tolya-had-taken-hold/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“And the Darkling?" "I tried to kill him." "As one does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/and-the-darkling-i-tried-to-kill-him-as-one-does/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“So you told him I had a goiter?" I whispered incredulously. "I had to say something. And it makes you quite a tragic figure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/so-you-told-him-i-had-a-goiter-i-whispered-incredulously-i-had-to-say/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I roll my eyes. "Well, if I plan on doing anything exciting I promise to give fair warning so just...take a nap or something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-roll-my-eyes-well-if-i-plan-on-doing-anything-exciting-i-promise-to/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Mal took a single tentative step toward me. Then he closed the space between us in two long strides. One hand slid around my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/mal-took-a-single-tentative-step-toward-me-then-he-closed-the-space/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) [Browse all 41 Alina quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alina/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“David looked at me, then, the regret plain on his face. No matter what I said, we both knew the hard truth. We do our best. We try. 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