--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I'm good I'm very, very good, but…" description: "\"When I'm good I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better.\" — Mae West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/mae-west-1200_bad_when-i-m-good-i-m-very-very-good-but-whe_1494177.jpg" --- # When I'm good I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad, I'm… ![“When I'm good I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better.” quote by Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/mae-west-1200_bad_when-i-m-good-i-m-very-very-good-but-whe_1494177.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/mae-west-1200_bad_when-i-m-good-i-m-very-very-good-but-whe_1494177.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/mae-west-1200_bad_when-i-m-good-i-m-very-very-good-but-whe_1494177.jpg) > “When I'm good I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better.” [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excellence can be a double‑edged sword; sometimes being bad can be more exciting than being merely good. **In simple terms:** Being bad can feel better than being good. Key Takeaway Embrace boldness over complacency. Themes confidence contradiction performance Mood playful defiant Type humorous cultural When to use this quote - career advancement - creative performance - personal branding Key Concepts self‑image social perception Questions to Reflect On - When does “being bad” become harmful? - How can you channel boldness constructively? A Different Perspective Risk of glorifying negative behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad I'm better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/when-i-m-good-i-m-very-good-but-when-i-m-bad-i-m-better/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [When I'm good,I'm very good...When I'm bad,I'm even better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mehta/when-i-m-good-i-m-very-good-when-i-m-bad-i-m-even-better/) Jay Mehta > [The meaning of good and bad, of better and worse, is simply helping or hurting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-meaning-of-good-and-bad-of-better-and-worse-is-simply-helping-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [When I am good I am really good when I am bad I am better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-am-good-i-am-really-good-when-i-am-bad-i-am-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I'm good... I'm really good, and when I'm bad, I am even better!!!!!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanice-love/when-i-m-good-i-m-really-good-and-when-i-m-bad-i-am-even-better/) Shanice Love > [I find good people good And I find bad people good If I am good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/i-find-good-people-good-and-i-find-bad-people-good-if-i-am-good-enough/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [We must take the good with the bad; For the good when it's good, is so very good That the bad when it's bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/we-must-take-the-good-with-the-bad-for-the-good-when-it-s-good-is-so/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [“I'm bad, and that's good. I will never be good, and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be than me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-wreck-it-ralph/i-m-bad-and-that-s-good-i-will-never-be-good-and-that-s-not-bad-there/) Ralph Wreck-it-Ralph > [There's something bad in everything good and something good in everything bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/there-s-something-bad-in-everything-good-and-something-good-in/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [Always be good with the good, But never be bad with the bad because you cant wash mud with mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-be-good-with-the-good-but-never-be-bad-with-the-bad-because-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If it's good, it's good everywhere and if it's bad, it's bad everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rituparna-sengupta/if-it-s-good-it-s-good-everywhere-and-if-it-s-bad-it-s-bad-everywhere/) [Rituparna Sengupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rituparna-sengupta/) > [Good will do good; Bad will do bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayely-saldana/good-will-do-good-bad-will-do-bad/) [Nayely Saldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayely-saldana/) > [And when she was good she was very very good. But when she was bad she was horrid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/and-when-she-was-good-she-was-very-very-good-but-when-she-was-bad-she/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“there are two routes to improvement: You can either do more good or do less bad. You can do something better or you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-mann/there-are-two-routes-to-improvement-you-can-either-do-more-good-or-do/) [Dominic Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-mann/) > [If I play bad, then I feel bad about myself and I have to do it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/if-i-play-bad-then-i-feel-bad-about-myself-and-i-have-to-do-it-better/) [Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/) ## More by Mae West > [Reason was nowhere, time was an immovable object nailed high on the wall, except where the world kept shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/reason-was-nowhere-time-was-an-immovable-object-nailed-high-on-the/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I've been in 'Who's Who' and I know what's what, but it'll be the first time I ever made the dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-ve-been-in-who-s-who-and-i-know-what-s-what-but-it-ll-be-the-first/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Look your best - who said love is blind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/look-your-best-who-said-love-is-blind/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Don't let a man put anything over on you except an umbrella.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/don-t-let-a-man-put-anything-over-on-you-except-an-umbrella/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [In my long and colorful career, one thing stands out: I have been misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/in-my-long-and-colorful-career-one-thing-stands-out-i-have-been/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [The finest woman that ever walked the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/the-finest-woman-that-ever-walked-the-streets/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [The best way to hold a man is in your arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/the-best-way-to-hold-a-man-is-in-your-arms/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Live close, visit often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/live-close-visit-often/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [A real farmer. He spent his childhood in the wheat, and his marriage in the hay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/a-real-farmer-he-spent-his-childhood-in-the-wheat-and-his-marriage-in/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Marriage? I ain't got time for a husband or child. All my life I've looked after myself as if I was my own child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/marriage-i-ain-t-got-time-for-a-husband-or-child-all-my-life-i-ve/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“If I can't a man with a million dollars, I'll a million men with one dollar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/if-i-can-t-a-man-with-a-million-dollars-i-ll-a-million-men-with-one/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Sometimes I don't drink so the next day I can remember having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/sometimes-i-don-t-drink-so-the-next-day-i-can-remember-having-fun/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Positive thoughts generate positive feelings and attract positive life experiences. You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/positive-thoughts-generate-positive-feelings-and-attract-positive/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I believe in the single standard -- for men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-believe-in-the-single-standard-for-men-and-women/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“Goodness had nothing to do with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/goodness-had-nothing-to-do-with-it/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) [Explore all 271 Mae West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [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/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [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/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I'm good I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mae West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/when-i-m-good-i-m-very-very-good-but-when-i-m-bad-i-m-better/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/when-i-m-good-i-m-very-very-good-but-when-i-m-bad-i-m-better/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/mae-west-1200_bad_when-i-m-good-i-m-very-very-good-but-whe_1494177.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/mae-west-1200_bad_when-i-m-good-i-m-very-very-good-but-whe_1494177.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/mae-west-1200_bad_when-i-m-good-i-m-very-very-good-but-whe_1494177.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I'm good I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better.” — Mae West", "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": "Mae West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I'm good I'm very, very...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/when-i-m-good-i-m-very-very-good-but-when-i-m-bad-i-m-better/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/when-i-m-good-i-m-very-very-good-but-when-i-m-bad-i-m-better/#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 } } ] } ```