--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why now that he's sober and thoughtful…" description: "\"“Why now that he's sober and thoughtful, and living as a good man, does he get in the worst trouble of his life?”\" — Louise Erdrich" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/louise-erdrich-1271_good-man_why-now-that-he-s-sober-and-thoughtful-a_2855732.png" --- # Why now that he's sober and thoughtful, and living as a… ![“Why now that he's sober and thoughtful, and living as a good man, does he get in the worst trouble of his life?” quote by Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/louise-erdrich-1271_good-man_why-now-that-he-s-sober-and-thoughtful-a_2855732.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/louise-erdrich-1271_good-man_why-now-that-he-s-sober-and-thoughtful-a_2855732.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/louise-erdrich-1271_good-man_why-now-that-he-s-sober-and-thoughtful-a_2855732.png) > ““Why now that he's sober and thoughtful, and living as a good man, does he get in the worst trouble of his life?”” [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) ## 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 reformed, a good man can still face severe hardships. **In simple terms:** Good men still encounter trouble. Key Takeaway Expect challenges despite personal growth. Themes redemption adversity justice Mood reflective empathetic Type literary psychological When to use this quote - legal battles - family crises - social stigma - personal recovery Key Concepts narrative irony character development Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles do you face after improving yourself? - How does society treat reformed individuals? A Different Perspective Hardship may persist despite change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Karma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/karma/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sober/) [Sober Thoughtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sober-thoughtful-3825479/) [Thoughtful Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughtful-living-3825480/) [Trouble Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-life-272486/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) > [Life is getting through the moment. The philosopher William James says to cultivate the cheerful attitude. Now nobody had more trouble than he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-gordon/life-is-getting-through-the-moment-the-philosopher-william-james-says/) [Ruth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-gordon/) > [Trouble is part of your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-shore/trouble-is-part-of-your-life/) [Dinah Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-shore/) > [Trouble is part of your life - if you don't share it, you don't give the person who loves you a chance to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-shore/trouble-is-part-of-your-life-if-you-don-t-share-it-you-don-t-give-the-2/) [Dinah Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-shore/) > [“She was tired these days because she was having job trouble too; her trouble meant she did not know how she could be useful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/she-was-tired-these-days-because-she-was-having-job-trouble-too-her/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [“When I look back on all the worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miller/when-i-look-back-on-all-the-worries-i-remember-the-story-of-the-old-2/) [David Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miller/) > [The trouble with life was that you didn’t get a chance to practice before doing it for real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-trouble-with-life-was-that-you-didn-t-get-a-chance-to-practice/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The trouble with education is,' said Jimmy cheerfully, 'that we always read everything when we're too young to know what it means. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-ayer-barnes/the-trouble-with-education-is-said-jimmy-cheerfully-that-we-always/) [Margaret Ayer Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-ayer-barnes/) > [No matter what trouble life gives me, I just need to look at you and everything seems alright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul/no-matter-what-trouble-life-gives-me-i-just-need-to-look-at-you-and/) [Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul/) > [Trouble is part of your life if you don't share it, you don't give the person who loves you a chance to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trouble-is-part-of-your-life-if-you-don-t-share-it-you-don-t-give-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I look back on all the worries I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-look-back-on-all-the-worries-i-remember-the-story-of-the-old/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The trouble with life isn't that there is no answer, it's that there are so many answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-trouble-with-life-isn-t-that-there-is-no-answer-it-s-that-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The trouble with life is that, unlike movies, it doesn't have background music. We never know how we're supposed to feel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-gardner/the-trouble-with-life-is-that-unlike-movies-it-doesn-t-have/) [Lewis Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-gardner/) > [“The trouble with life (the novelist will feel) is its amorphousness, its ridiculous fluidity. Look at it: thinly plotted, largely themeless, sentimental and ineluctably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/the-trouble-with-life-the-novelist-will-feel-is-its-amorphousness-its/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [Life is difficult for everyone; everyone has bad days. Everyone has trouble in their life, because it doesn't matter how rich you are: Sickness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/life-is-difficult-for-everyone-everyone-has-bad-days-everyone-has/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) ## More by Louise Erdrich > [Can you stop your mother from singing to you? Who would do such a thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/can-you-stop-your-mother-from-singing-to-you-who-would-do-such-a-thing/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [“Emotions unreel in her like spools of cotton.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/emotions-unreel-in-her-like-spools-of-cotton/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [“Other freshmen were already moving into their dormitory rooms when we arrived, with their parents helping haul. I saw boxes of paperbacks, stereo equipment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/other-freshmen-were-already-moving-into-their-dormitory-rooms-when-we/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [My father is my biggest literary influence. Recently, I've been looking through his letters. He was in the National Guard when I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/my-father-is-my-biggest-literary-influence-recently-i-ve-been-looking/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [What is this life but the sound of an appalling love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/what-is-this-life-but-the-sound-of-an-appalling-love/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [Looking at the shape of the world, I see how we're in a time where women are the subject of hatred, fear, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/looking-at-the-shape-of-the-world-i-see-how-we-re-in-a-time-where/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [She had always been a reader… but now she was obsessed. Since her discovery of the book hoard downstairs from her job, she’d been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/she-had-always-been-a-reader-but-now-she-was-obsessed-since-her/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [Time was rushing around me like water around a big wet rock. The only difference is, I was not so durable as stones. Very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/time-was-rushing-around-me-like-water-around-a-big-wet-rock-the-only/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [The greatest wisdom doesn't know itself. The richest plan is not to have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/the-greatest-wisdom-doesn-t-know-itself-the-richest-plan-is-not-to/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [“Delphine began to read with a mad attention when she wanted to talk to Clarisse. She saw that in her life there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/delphine-began-to-read-with-a-mad-attention-when-she-wanted-to-talk/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [But if there was embellishment, it only had to do with the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/but-if-there-was-embellishment-it-only-had-to-do-with-the-facts/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [Things which do not grow and change are dead things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/things-which-do-not-grow-and-change-are-dead-things/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [I have to write. I have to be an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/i-have-to-write-i-have-to-be-an-artist/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [“The Creator made us for each other. Me here. Zelia there. Space was put between us by human error. But our hearts listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/the-creator-made-us-for-each-other-me-here-zelia-there-space-was-put/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [So many things in the world have happened before. But it's like they never did. Every new thing that happens to a person, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/so-many-things-in-the-world-have-happened-before-but-it-s-like-they/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) [Explore all 262 Louise Erdrich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) ## More Good man quotes > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Good manners are not bred in moments, but in years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mcnair-wright/good-manners-are-not-bred-in-moments-but-in-years/) [Julia McNair Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-mcnair-wright/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [The life of a good man was a continual warfare with his passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-life-of-a-good-man-was-a-continual-warfare-with-his-passions/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“I put no stock in religion. By the word religion I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-put-no-stock-in-religion-by-the-word-religion-i-have-seen-the/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [To follow good manners willingly is like paving the road and to tell somebody to follow them is like the road which is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/to-follow-good-manners-willingly-is-like-paving-the-road-and-to-tell/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“It is said that the hallmark of a gentleman is that he is only ever rude intentionally. Arthur Bryant was no gentleman. His rudeness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fowler/it-is-said-that-the-hallmark-of-a-gentleman-is-that-he-is-only-ever/) [Christopher Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fowler/) > [I'm a good man with a good heart had a tough time, got a rough start But I finally learned to let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-a-good-man-with-a-good-heart-had-a-tough-time-got-a-rough-start/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [ I've often thought about that and the only suitable member to join me on that climb \[to Everest\] was George Lowe: he was strong,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-ve-often-thought-about-that-and-the-only-suitable-member-to-join-me/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Of course, when you play football yourself you can think you want to become a manager but it does not make you a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaap-stam/of-course-when-you-play-football-yourself-you-can-think-you-want-to/) [Jaap Stam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaap-stam/) > [“Falsehood of a good man is better than truth of a bad one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/falsehood-of-a-good-man-is-better-than-truth-of-a-bad-one/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [“Atticus adjusted his glasses as he peered down at the blanket. “Hey, is that the book Nellie told us about?” Jake’s eyes flicked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-watson/atticus-adjusted-his-glasses-as-he-peered-down-at-the-blanket-hey-is/) [Jude Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-watson/) > [A good man therefore is a standing lesson to us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-good-man-therefore-is-a-standing-lesson-to-us-all/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [“Grits Glossary blues \\’blüz\\ n: nothing but a good man singing about hardship, sorrow, and the things he’s done wrong--but sake’s alive, they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/grits-glossary-blues-bl-z-n-nothing-but-a-good-man-singing-about/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) [Browse all 2,081 Good man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why now that he's sober and thoughtful, and living as a good man, does he get in the worst trouble of his life?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louise Erdrich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/why-now-that-he-s-sober-and-thoughtful-and-living-as-a-good-man-does/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good man" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/why-now-that-he-s-sober-and-thoughtful-and-living-as-a-good-man-does/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/louise-erdrich-1271_good-man_why-now-that-he-s-sober-and-thoughtful-a_2855732.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/louise-erdrich-1271_good-man_why-now-that-he-s-sober-and-thoughtful-a_2855732.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/louise-erdrich-1271_good-man_why-now-that-he-s-sober-and-thoughtful-a_2855732.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why now that he's sober and thoughtful, and living as a good man, does he get in the worst trouble of his…” — Louise Erdrich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Louise Erdrich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Why now that he's sober and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/why-now-that-he-s-sober-and-thoughtful-and-living-as-a-good-man-does/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/why-now-that-he-s-sober-and-thoughtful-and-living-as-a-good-man-does/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```