--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a difference between being good…" description: "\"“There's a difference between being good and doing bad things. Sometimes, a person does something because he doesn't have a choice. He might not like w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/lorraine-heath-2089_bad-thing_there-s-a-difference-between-being-good_3213344.jpg" --- # There's a difference between being good and doing bad… ![“There's a difference between being good and doing bad things. Sometimes, a person does something because he doesn't have a choice. He might not like what he did... but it doesn't make him bad.” quote by Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/lorraine-heath-2089_bad-thing_there-s-a-difference-between-being-good_3213344.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/lorraine-heath-2089_bad-thing_there-s-a-difference-between-being-good_3213344.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/lorraine-heath-2089_bad-thing_there-s-a-difference-between-being-good_3213344.jpg) > ““There's a difference between being good and doing bad things. Sometimes, a person does something because he doesn't have a choice. He might not like what he did... but it doesn't make him bad.”” [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote distinguishes between inherent moral character and isolated bad actions, noting that lack of choice can lead to wrongdoing without defining a person as bad. **In simple terms:** Bad actions don’t always define a person. Key Takeaway Judge character, not single deeds. Themes morality personal responsibility choice Mood thoughtful reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - legal judgments - ethical dilemmas - self‑assessment Key Concepts ethical nuance agency circumstance Questions to Reflect On - Do you separate actions from identity? - How do circumstances affect moral judgment? A Different Perspective People may still be judged harshly despite constrained choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) ## Related quotes > [Good people were also capable of doing very bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chandler/good-people-were-also-capable-of-doing-very-bad-things/) [Elizabeth Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chandler/) > [Life is just like a boomerang doing bad things to others and karma is turning back double to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-just-like-a-boomerang-doing-bad-things-to-others-and-karma-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Doing whats right is never easy ... You think you're right, but you lose track of what you were trying to do all along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-hardy/doing-whats-right-is-never-easy-you-think-you-re-right-but-you-lose/) [Janice Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-hardy/) > [I've seen the bottom and I know the difference between good golf and bad golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duval/i-ve-seen-the-bottom-and-i-know-the-difference-between-good-golf-and/) [David Duval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duval/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [If a woman be herself pure and noble-hearted, she will come into every circle as a person does into a heated room, who carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-power-cobbe/if-a-woman-be-herself-pure-and-noble-hearted-she-will-come-into-every/) [Frances Power Cobbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-power-cobbe/) > [That's just the way: a person does a low-down thing, and then he don't want to take no consequences of it. Thinks as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/that-s-just-the-way-a-person-does-a-low-down-thing-and-then-he-don-t/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It is never persuasive to argue that you are not the kind of person who does what you are actually doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/it-is-never-persuasive-to-argue-that-you-are-not-the-kind-of-person/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [What a person does is what he IS, not what he says.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/what-a-person-does-is-what-he-is-not-what-he-says/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [Not comfortable doing song and dance stuff as no normal person does in his/her real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barun-sobti/not-comfortable-doing-song-and-dance-stuff-as-no-normal-person-does/) [Barun Sobti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barun-sobti/) > [“An innovator is a person who does not follow rules. He simply makes them instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haresh-sippy/an-innovator-is-a-person-who-does-not-follow-rules-he-simply-makes/) [Haresh Sippy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haresh-sippy/) > [I love photos because they never change even when the person in them does!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beckie-arianne/i-love-photos-because-they-never-change-even-when-the-person-in-them/) [Beckie-Arianne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beckie-arianne/) > [I love taking photos, because the best thing about taking photos is that it never changes, even when the person does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/i-love-taking-photos-because-the-best-thing-about-taking-photos-is/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [A person does not leave a good marriage for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-day/a-person-does-not-leave-a-good-marriage-for-someone-else/) [Doris Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-day/) ## More by Lorraine Heath > [“You know the legend, lady, but you don’t know the man. And damn if I’m not tempted to introduce you to the man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/you-know-the-legend-lady-but-you-don-t-know-the-man-and-damn-if-i-m/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would do anything, believe anything in order to acquire it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/have-you-ever-wanted-something-so-badly-that-you-would-do-anything/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“She laid her palm against his bristled cheek. “You’re safe,” she whispered. “What the hell did you think you were doing?” he growled, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/she-laid-her-palm-against-his-bristled-cheek-you-re-safe-she/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“Her features were exquisite perfection, carved by nature with obvious care and never altered by the harshness of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/her-features-were-exquisite-perfection-carved-by-nature-with-obvious/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“He skidded to a dead halt and stared hard at Austin. The boy’s chin carried so many nicks from his first shave that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/he-skidded-to-a-dead-halt-and-stared-hard-at-austin-the-boy-s-chin/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [Choose well those with whom you travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/choose-well-those-with-whom-you-travel/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“You managed to do the same with my heart, didn’t you, Frannie? You stole it, and I didn’t even feel it happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/you-managed-to-do-the-same-with-my-heart-didn-t-you-frannie-you-stole/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“The one thing I learned in my youth as a grave robber was that everyone looks the same when they're dead. We're all equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/the-one-thing-i-learned-in-my-youth-as-a-grave-robber-was-that/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“She wondered if any of them had truly understood the cost of what they were asking of each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/she-wondered-if-any-of-them-had-truly-understood-the-cost-of-what/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“He could not take what he could never keep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/he-could-not-take-what-he-could-never-keep/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“Within the shadows of honor, courage often walks in silence. -Engraved on the monument Clay built”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/within-the-shadows-of-honor-courage-often-walks-in-silence-engraved/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“Please," Meg whispered. "I don't want any trouble here." He released his hold on her. As though she might say something further, she parted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/please-meg-whispered-i-don-t-want-any-trouble-here-he-released-his/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“...at the end she’d be nothing more than a memory, if that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/at-the-end-she-d-be-nothing-more-than-a-memory-if-that/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“You think the only battles fought are done so with rifles, and the only wounds that kill draw blood. You think courage is loud,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/you-think-the-only-battles-fought-are-done-so-with-rifles-and-the/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“Somewhere to take shelter from the elements but not the storms of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/somewhere-to-take-shelter-from-the-elements-but-not-the-storms-of-life/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) [Explore all 186 Lorraine Heath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) ## More Bad thing quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [I think the people I talk about are generally so stupid that they don't even know I'm saying bad things about them. I've run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-think-the-people-i-talk-about-are-generally-so-stupid-that-they-don/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [I'm not going to pretend that bad things don't happen. I just hope my daughter has enough understanding that when they do, just give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-that-bad-things-don-t-happen-i-just-hope-my/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I've heard some pretty bad things in my life. I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Be Thankful for all things in life. Even for the bad things. SOMETIMES the worst situations in life turn out to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-all-things-in-life-even-for-the-bad-things-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. You have to be sure about yourself and about your work and your career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/in-my-business-you-should-be-very-strong-in-mind-you-have-to-be-sure/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) > [“I don’t know why I latched onto the idea of being friends, but it sits right with my gut. I want Hartley in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-watt/i-don-t-know-why-i-latched-onto-the-idea-of-being-friends-but-it-sits/) [Erin Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-watt/) > [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [“Dear Delphine, When you are older I want you to find Chinua Achebe. I want you to read Things Fall Apart. Don't be hardheaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-williams-garcia/dear-delphine-when-you-are-older-i-want-you-to-find-chinua-achebe-i/) [Rita Williams-Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-williams-garcia/) > [Lobbying is not a bad thing. I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't have lobbyists or we shouldn't have lobbying to petition our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/lobbying-is-not-a-bad-thing-i-m-not-trying-to-say-that-we-shouldn-t/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [In life, we don't know why things happen. I believe God is not responsible for the bad things that happen to you. Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/in-life-we-don-t-know-why-things-happen-i-believe-god-is-not/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) Browse all 2,889 Bad thing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There's a difference between being good and doing bad things. Sometimes, a person does something because he doesn't have a choice. 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