--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was against felonies when a misdemeanor…" description: "\"I was against felonies when a misdemeanor would do.\" — Maggie Stiefvater" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/maggie-stiefvater-76_misdemeanor_i-was-against-felonies-when-a-misdemeano_3226563.png" --- # I was against felonies when a misdemeanor would do. ![“I was against felonies when a misdemeanor would do.” quote by Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/maggie-stiefvater-76_misdemeanor_i-was-against-felonies-when-a-misdemeano_3226563.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/maggie-stiefvater-76_misdemeanor_i-was-against-felonies-when-a-misdemeano_3226563.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/maggie-stiefvater-76_misdemeanor_i-was-against-felonies-when-a-misdemeano_3226563.png) > “I was against felonies when a misdemeanor would do.” [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing lesser offenses over severe ones reflects a preference for restraint and practicality. **In simple terms:** Prefer minor crimes to major ones. Key Takeaway Opt for less harmful choices. Themes morality law personal choice Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - legal advice - conflict resolution - personal decision making - risk assessment - social work Key Concepts ethics pragmatism Questions to Reflect On - When is a small crime justified? - What drives the choice of restraint? A Different Perspective Minor offenses can still cause harm; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Felonies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felonies-3253320/) [Felonies Misdemeanor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felonies-misdemeanor-6087109/) [Misdemeanor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misdemeanor/) ## Related quotes > [For the rest of your life you must check the box on employment applications asking the dreaded question: "Have you ever been convicted of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/for-the-rest-of-your-life-you-must-check-the-box-on-employment/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [At 16, I was facing 11 life felonies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-vontavious-porter/at-16-i-was-facing-11-life-felonies/) [Montel Vontavious Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-vontavious-porter/) > [“Because of laws like these and countless others, legal experts now agree that just about everybody in the nation, whether they know it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/because-of-laws-like-these-and-countless-others-legal-experts-now/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [People charged with drug offenses, though, are typically poor people of color. They are routinely charged with felonies and sent to prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/people-charged-with-drug-offenses-though-are-typically-poor-people-of/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [Why do all your brilliant ideas involve felonies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-reichs/why-do-all-your-brilliant-ideas-involve-felonies/) [Kathy Reichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-reichs/) > [I'd love to do all those things from my favorite college movies but it turns out they're felonies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-love-to-do-all-those-things-from-my-favorite-college-movies-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I’m praying for a misdemeanor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-bowden/i-m-praying-for-a-misdemeanor/) [Bobby Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-bowden/) > [MISDEMEANOR, n. An infraction of the law having less dignity than a felony and constituting no claim to admittance into the best criminal society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/misdemeanor-n-an-infraction-of-the-law-having-less-dignity-than-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [At first it was just a misdemeanor, but then you lost the "mis-de" and you just got meaner and meaner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/at-first-it-was-just-a-misdemeanor-but-then-you-lost-the-mis-de-and/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [You're going to be accused of every high crime and low misdemeanor there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-brown/you-re-going-to-be-accused-of-every-high-crime-and-low-misdemeanor/) [Willie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-brown/) > [No one is above the law, not even the president. I believe perjury does meet at least the definition of high misdemeanor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-johnson/no-one-is-above-the-law-not-even-the-president-i-believe-perjury-does/) [Nancy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-johnson/) > [“Violating the presidential oath, in whatever fashion, constitutes a “high crime and misdemeanor”—according to the founding generation’s definition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brion-t-mcclanahan/violating-the-presidential-oath-in-whatever-fashion-constitutes-a/) [Brion T. McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brion-t-mcclanahan/) > [“The smile widened, and she decided it ought to be classified as a misdemeanor. Grinning with Intent to Discombobulate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruthie-knox/the-smile-widened-and-she-decided-it-ought-to-be-classified-as-a/) [Ruthie Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruthie-knox/) > [If a man who has committed many a misdemeanor does not repent and cleanse his heart of the evil, retribution will come upon his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-a-man-who-has-committed-many-a-misdemeanor-does-not-repent-and/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Being intelligent is not a felony, but most societies evaluate it as at least a misdemeanor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lazarus-long/being-intelligent-is-not-a-felony-but-most-societies-evaluate-it-as/) [Lazarus Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lazarus-long/) ## More by Maggie Stiefvater > [Sam reached his hand toward mine and I automatically put my fingers in his. With a guilty little smile he pulled my hand toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sam-reached-his-hand-toward-mine-and-i-automatically-put-my-fingers/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Once upon a time, there lived a boy, and he had to risk everything to keep what he loved. But really the story was:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/once-upon-a-time-there-lived-a-boy-and-he-had-to-risk-everything-to/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I think-I need to ask an embarrassing question. Do you think I could borrow a pair of scrubs? I-uh-my pants-" "Oh!" Cried the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-think-i-need-to-ask-an-embarrassing-question-do-you-think-i-could/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [We dance, we dance. You hold the thread of my soul. You spin, you spin. And you unravel the part from the whole. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/we-dance-we-dance-you-hold-the-thread-of-my-soul-you-spin-you-spin/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [It was the way she felt when she looked at the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/it-was-the-way-she-felt-when-she-looked-at-the-stars/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Mum once told Dad that vices are only vices when looked at through the frame of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/mum-once-told-dad-that-vices-are-only-vices-when-looked-at-through/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Why'd she leave so early? It's practically yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/why-d-she-leave-so-early-it-s-practically-yesterday/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [How long it takes us, each day, to know each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/how-long-it-takes-us-each-day-to-know-each-other/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“At least when he was at Aglionby he could turn over his papers to see the grades, concrete proof of his success at something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/at-least-when-he-was-at-aglionby-he-could-turn-over-his-papers-to-see/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I'll cook the water...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-ll-cook-the-water/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“That's the one." In Puck Connolly's custody. That might be the last I see of that jacket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/that-s-the-one-in-puck-connolly-s-custody-that-might-be-the-last-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I asked,”Are you going to pick up next time I call you?” ”I did this time didn’t I?” “Say yes.” “Yes. Conditionally yes.”…... …”What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-asked-are-you-going-to-pick-up-next-time-i-call-you-i-did-this-time/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Tell me what it's like. The race." "What it's like is a battle. A mess of horses and men and blood. The fastest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/tell-me-what-it-s-like-the-race-what-it-s-like-is-a-battle-a-mess-of/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I felt a tickle on my skin; it took me a moment to realize that Cole was driving his die-cast Mustang up my arm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-felt-a-tickle-on-my-skin-it-took-me-a-moment-to-realize-that-cole/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Happiness isn't something this island yields easily; the ground is too rocky and the sun too sparse for it to flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/happiness-isn-t-something-this-island-yields-easily-the-ground-is-too/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) [Explore all 1,564 Maggie Stiefvater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More Misdemeanor quotes > [Being intelligent is not a felony, but most societies evaluate it as at least a misdemeanor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lazarus-long/being-intelligent-is-not-a-felony-but-most-societies-evaluate-it-as/) [Lazarus Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lazarus-long/) > [If a man who has committed many a misdemeanor does not repent and cleanse his heart of the evil, retribution will come upon his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-a-man-who-has-committed-many-a-misdemeanor-does-not-repent-and/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“The smile widened, and she decided it ought to be classified as a misdemeanor. Grinning with Intent to Discombobulate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruthie-knox/the-smile-widened-and-she-decided-it-ought-to-be-classified-as-a/) [Ruthie Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruthie-knox/) > [“Violating the presidential oath, in whatever fashion, constitutes a “high crime and misdemeanor”—according to the founding generation’s definition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brion-t-mcclanahan/violating-the-presidential-oath-in-whatever-fashion-constitutes-a/) [Brion T. McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brion-t-mcclanahan/) > [No one is above the law, not even the president. I believe perjury does meet at least the definition of high misdemeanor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-johnson/no-one-is-above-the-law-not-even-the-president-i-believe-perjury-does/) [Nancy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-johnson/) > [You're going to be accused of every high crime and low misdemeanor there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-brown/you-re-going-to-be-accused-of-every-high-crime-and-low-misdemeanor/) [Willie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-brown/) > [At first it was just a misdemeanor, but then you lost the "mis-de" and you just got meaner and meaner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/at-first-it-was-just-a-misdemeanor-but-then-you-lost-the-mis-de-and/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [MISDEMEANOR, n. An infraction of the law having less dignity than a felony and constituting no claim to admittance into the best criminal society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/misdemeanor-n-an-infraction-of-the-law-having-less-dignity-than-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I’m praying for a misdemeanor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-bowden/i-m-praying-for-a-misdemeanor/) [Bobby Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-bowden/) > [“So my offense is what, misdemeanor gargling?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/so-my-offense-is-what-misdemeanor-gargling/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Virginia, like most states, has few guidelines about how closely parents are expected to supervise their children. As a result, I was charged not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/virginia-like-most-states-has-few-guidelines-about-how-closely/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [“Where the questions of religion are concerned people are guilty of every possible kind of insincerity and intellectual misdemeanor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/where-the-questions-of-religion-are-concerned-people-are-guilty-of/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Our investigation looked at whether there is evidence classified information was improperly stored or transmitted on that personal system, in violation of a federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-comey/our-investigation-looked-at-whether-there-is-evidence-classified/) [James Comey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-comey/) > [“There's nothing uglier than an ugly mouth, there's nothing filthier than a filthy heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-s-nothing-uglier-than-an-ugly-mouth-there-s-nothing-filthier/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I consider sex a misdemeanor, the more I miss, de meaner I get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-consider-sex-a-misdemeanor-the-more-i-miss-de-meaner-i-get/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) [Browse all 16 Misdemeanor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misdemeanor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was against felonies when a misdemeanor would do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maggie Stiefvater" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-was-against-felonies-when-a-misdemeanor-would-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Misdemeanor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-was-against-felonies-when-a-misdemeanor-would-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/maggie-stiefvater-76_misdemeanor_i-was-against-felonies-when-a-misdemeano_3226563.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/maggie-stiefvater-76_misdemeanor_i-was-against-felonies-when-a-misdemeano_3226563.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/maggie-stiefvater-76_misdemeanor_i-was-against-felonies-when-a-misdemeano_3226563.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was against felonies when a misdemeanor would do.” — Maggie Stiefvater", "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": "Maggie Stiefvater", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was against felonies when a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-was-against-felonies-when-a-misdemeanor-would-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-was-against-felonies-when-a-misdemeanor-would-do/#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 } } ] } ```