--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you’re bad to people, they’re bad…" description: "\"“When you’re bad to people, they’re bad back to you.”\" — M.E. Thomas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/m-e-thomas-25269_quote_when-you-re-bad-to-people-they-re-bad-ba_2180040.jpg" --- # When you’re bad to people, they’re bad back to you. ![“When you’re bad to people, they’re bad back to you.” quote by M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/m-e-thomas-25269_quote_when-you-re-bad-to-people-they-re-bad-ba_2180040.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/m-e-thomas-25269_quote_when-you-re-bad-to-people-they-re-bad-ba_2180040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/m-e-thomas-25269_quote_when-you-re-bad-to-people-they-re-bad-ba_2180040.jpg) > ““When you’re bad to people, they’re bad back to you.”” [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treat others poorly and they will reciprocate with similar behavior. **In simple terms:** Bad actions invite bad reactions. Key Takeaway Act kindly to receive kindness. Themes reciprocity ethics relationships Mood reflective cautious Type advice observational When to use this quote - personal interactions - workplace - online communities - family dynamics - conflict resolution Key Concepts social exchange moral behavior Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when someone is unkind? - Can kindness change a hostile situation? A Different Perspective People may respond positively despite mistreatment, so not all bad behavior is punished. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [People are complicated. People have secrets. It doesnt make them good people or bad people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zayas/people-are-complicated-people-have-secrets-it-doesnt-make-them-good/) [David Zayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zayas/) > [“There are more good people than bad people, and overall there’s more that’s good in the world than there is that’s bad. We just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/there-are-more-good-people-than-bad-people-and-overall-there-s-more/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [“You hang around bad people, bad things happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-h-thomson/you-hang-around-bad-people-bad-things-happen/) [L.H. Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-h-thomson/) > [“There well always be bad people the most bad people don’t read” – Ayah (The New Girl in the City)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayah/there-well-always-be-bad-people-the-most-bad-people-don-t-read-ayah/) [Ayah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayah/) > [I don't think people who are bad people think they're bad people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-scott/i-don-t-think-people-who-are-bad-people-think-they-re-bad-people/) [Adam Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-scott/) > [Why bad people - who are bad to other people - keep getting hired after they have proven their selves time and again is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/why-bad-people-who-are-bad-to-other-people-keep-getting-hired-after/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [If you reject good people you will find bad people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/if-you-reject-good-people-you-will-find-bad-people/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [People see police officers and think they're such bad people. We have some who can be some bad people. But we have some great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-ha-clinton-dix/people-see-police-officers-and-think-they-re-such-bad-people-we-have/) [Ha Ha Clinton-Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-ha-clinton-dix/) > [Johnny: Life is to short for the best people, for the bad people its just longer living lives which is unnecessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/johnny-life-is-to-short-for-the-best-people-for-the-bad-people-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I believe in Hell...but it's here on earth." He shakes his head. "Good people and bad people. As if it were this easy. Everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-believe-in-hell-but-it-s-here-on-earth-he-shakes-his-head-good/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [As a human race, we have good people and bad people, and everyone has agendas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-morley/as-a-human-race-we-have-good-people-and-bad-people-and-everyone-has/) Bobby Morley > [We have to take the guns away from these people that have them and they are bad people that shouldn't have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-have-to-take-the-guns-away-from-these-people-that-have-them-and/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Good people can do bad things, make bad decisions. It doesn't make them bad people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/good-people-can-do-bad-things-make-bad-decisions-it-doesn-t-make-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Good people struggle against what's imperfect about them. The people that we call 'bad' people embrace that kind of stuff, embrace the darker side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/good-people-struggle-against-what-s-imperfect-about-them-the-people/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [We live in a world where there are dangerous people, there are bad people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/we-live-in-a-world-where-there-are-dangerous-people-there-are-bad/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) ## More by M.E. Thomas > [“People like to hear words like pleasure and decadent. They think of Roman orgies or chocolate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/people-like-to-hear-words-like-pleasure-and-decadent-they-think-of/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“It isn't enough that the bad guy is prevented from doing his bad deeds; he must suffer as much as possible. It is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/it-isn-t-enough-that-the-bad-guy-is-prevented-from-doing-his-bad/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“While my self-image was that of a pagan god, hers was of an avenging angel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/while-my-self-image-was-that-of-a-pagan-god-hers-was-of-an-avenging/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“Ruining people. I love the way the phrase rolls around on my tongue and inside my mouth. Ruining people is delicious. We're all hungry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/ruining-people-i-love-the-way-the-phrase-rolls-around-on-my-tongue/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“I do not expect things to go right in the world. I don’t even believe in right. I believe that everything just is. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/i-do-not-expect-things-to-go-right-in-the-world-i-don-t-even-believe/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“Outwardly I was all confidence and openness; inwardly I was spiteful and lonely and unaware of how to relate to the world. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/outwardly-i-was-all-confidence-and-openness-inwardly-i-was-spiteful/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“One nurse thought I was "brave." I think she was talking about my steely-eyed, grin-and-bear-it kind of attitude. There were no tears, no complaints…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/one-nurse-thought-i-was-brave-i-think-she-was-talking-about-my-steely/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“We lawyers are all prestige whores”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/we-lawyers-are-all-prestige-whores/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“I'm not unhappy, for the most part, although I do think there is a certain emptiness and meaningless that I feel, sort of like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/i-m-not-unhappy-for-the-most-part-although-i-do-think-there-is-a/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“It was too late, though: I was already too smart for the therapist. Or maybe I was never amenable to therapy. Either way, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/it-was-too-late-though-i-was-already-too-smart-for-the-therapist-or/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“(Sociopaths are highly immune to depression, and this ability to tell ourselves wonderful stories about how attractive, smart, and wily we are, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/sociopaths-are-highly-immune-to-depression-and-this-ability-to-tell/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“Many sociopaths use the shortcut of “anything goes,” or “I am only in it for me.” These sociopaths have decided that the rational way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/many-sociopaths-use-the-shortcut-of-anything-goes-or-i-am-only-in-it/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“I often wish I could just passively watch people without being expected to participate myself, like television.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/i-often-wish-i-could-just-passively-watch-people-without-being/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“When you grow up as a girl, it is like there are faint chalk lines traced approximately three inches around your entire body at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/when-you-grow-up-as-a-girl-it-is-like-there-are-faint-chalk-lines/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [“Asked to choose between having power and giving up power to a “trusted” entity, people often prefer to give it up rather than have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/asked-to-choose-between-having-power-and-giving-up-power-to-a-trusted/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) [Explore all 23 M.E. Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) ## More Bad people quotes > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. 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You're destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves you, and it doesn't mean they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-walk-away-from-you-let-them-go-you-re-destiny-is-never/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you have the ability and the opportunity to help someone, but you don't do anything just because you're scared or it's inconvenient or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/if-you-have-the-ability-and-the-opportunity-to-help-someone-but-you/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [Really bad people around the world, because of the genius of American innovation, use our products and infrastructure for their emails, for their communications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-comey/really-bad-people-around-the-world-because-of-the-genius-of-american/) [James Comey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-comey/) > [“If you sought to leave the world, don’t go alone. Since there are too many bad people you can take them too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-you-sought-to-leave-the-world-don-t-go-alone-since-there-are-too/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [“To feel someone’s life drain from their body by your hands . . . bad, bad people who need to be plucked from this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-cole/to-feel-someone-s-life-drain-from-their-body-by-your-hands-bad-bad/) [Tillie Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-cole/) > [“I just can't get with this idea that literature is a 12-step program. If someone wants to read a book to see good people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/i-just-can-t-get-with-this-idea-that-literature-is-a-12-step-program/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [“Deterrents properly placed can help. But that is not enough. We are one society, and as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/deterrents-properly-placed-can-help-but-that-is-not-enough-we-are-one/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [“Plato argued that good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will always find a way around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/plato-argued-that-good-people-do-not-need-laws-to-tell-them-to-act/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [Too bad all the people who know how to run this country are busy running taxicabs or cutting hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/too-bad-all-the-people-who-know-how-to-run-this-country-are-busy/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [“was my first indication that the policies of Mamaw’s “party of the working man”—the Democrats—weren’t all they were cracked up to be. Political scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/was-my-first-indication-that-the-policies-of-mamaw-s-party-of-the/) [J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/) > [The truth is that Africa is like everywhere else. There are poor areas, there are rich areas, there is a middle class. Some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/the-truth-is-that-africa-is-like-everywhere-else-there-are-poor-areas/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I'm a very placid human being. I don't want to kill anyone. I guess I have played a lot of bad people in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mays/i-m-a-very-placid-human-being-i-don-t-want-to-kill-anyone-i-guess-i/) [Daniel Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mays/) > [We do not come to God as bad people trying to become good people; we come as rebels to lay down our arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/we-do-not-come-to-god-as-bad-people-trying-to-become-good-people-we/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Browse all 703 Bad people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When you’re bad to people, they’re bad back to you.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.E. 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