--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are always going to be reasons to…" description: "\"There are always going to be reasons to do the wrong thing. And the smarter the person, the better the reasons. That doesn't make it right.\" — Marion Ross" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/marion-ross-31815_persons_there-are-always-going-to-be-reasons-to_29131.jpg" --- # There are always going to be reasons to do the wrong… ![“There are always going to be reasons to do the wrong thing. And the smarter the person, the better the reasons. That doesn't make it right.” quote by Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/marion-ross-31815_persons_there-are-always-going-to-be-reasons-to_29131.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/marion-ross-31815_persons_there-are-always-going-to-be-reasons-to_29131.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/marion-ross-31815_persons_there-are-always-going-to-be-reasons-to_29131.jpg) > “There are always going to be reasons to do the wrong thing. And the smarter the person, the better the reasons. That doesn't make it right.” [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People can rationalize unethical actions with clever justifications, but rationalization does not make them morally acceptable. **In simple terms:** Rationalizations don’t excuse wrongdoing. Key Takeaway Smart excuses ≠ moral rightness Themes ethics rationalization morality cognitive bias integrity Mood thoughtful cautious critical Type aphorism advice When to use this quote - business negotiations - political debates - personal relationships - legal defenses Key Concepts moral reasoning self-deception ethical decision-making Practical Applications - ethical training programs - risk assessment frameworks Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent clever rationalizations from influencing decisions? - How can one distinguish between legitimate concerns and moral excuses? A Different Perspective A well-argued justification can sometimes expose hidden benefits, prompting deeper analysis of the action’s impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Going Reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-reasons-421155/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasons Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-wrong-421153/) [Smarter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smarter/) [Smarter Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smarter-person-421154/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) [Wrong things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-things/) ## Related quotes > [That diploma you hold in your hands today is really just your learner's permit for the rest of the drive through life. Remember, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-iovine/that-diploma-you-hold-in-your-hands-today-is-really-just-your-learner/) [Jimmy Iovine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-iovine/) > [Planning my wedding and stuff, there's going to be reasons why people weren't there and nobody knows about why they're not going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-pivarnick/planning-my-wedding-and-stuff-there-s-going-to-be-reasons-why-people/) [Angelina Pivarnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-pivarnick/) > [Just because someone has gone to an elite school and college does not make him smarter than the person who has grown up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/just-because-someone-has-gone-to-an-elite-school-and-college-does-not/) [Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/) > [The smarter the person, the more boring the instagram account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/the-smarter-the-person-the-more-boring-the-instagram-account/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [At the end of the day, you're not defined, I don't believe, by your financial means. That doesn't make you a better person or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-posen/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-re-not-defined-i-don-t-believe-by-your/) [Zac Posen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-posen/) > [As I matured, I became a smarter person, a more sensitive person, a more thinking person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bock/as-i-matured-i-became-a-smarter-person-a-more-sensitive-person-a-more/) [Charles Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bock/) > [“Doing the right for the wrong reasons is right and Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons is wrong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-iraguha/doing-the-right-for-the-wrong-reasons-is-right-and-doing-the-wrong/) [Serge Iraguha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-iraguha/) > [In the stock market... You can be right for the wrong reasons or wrong for the right reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-allen-paulos/in-the-stock-market-you-can-be-right-for-the-wrong-reasons-or-wrong/) [John Allen Paulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-allen-paulos/) > [“Sometimes you do things for the right reasons and sometimes for the wrong ones and sometimes it’s impossible to tell“Sometimes you do things for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-yoon/sometimes-you-do-things-for-the-right-reasons-and-sometimes-for-the/) [Nicola Yoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-yoon/) > [Sometimes you may apologies many times through words only to find out that theres no apology in the world that encompasses all the reasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/sometimes-you-may-apologies-many-times-through-words-only-to-find-out/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [Even a good decision if made for the wrong reasons can be a wrong decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-pryce/even-a-good-decision-if-made-for-the-wrong-reasons-can-be-a-wrong/) [Jonathan Pryce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-pryce/) > [It's better to be alone for the right reasons than to be with someone for the wrong ones!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane/it-s-better-to-be-alone-for-the-right-reasons-than-to-be-with-someone/) [Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane/) > [It is better to do the wrong thing that to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/it-is-better-to-do-the-wrong-thing-that-to-do-nothing/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I've done the wrong things, I've said the wrong things to my father, which is not good for any kid to do and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-tomic/i-ve-done-the-wrong-things-i-ve-said-the-wrong-things-to-my-father/) [Bernard Tomic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-tomic/) > [Just when I thought that I was gtting better, boy was I wrong.. Things just turned to hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cupecake/just-when-i-thought-that-i-was-gtting-better-boy-was-i-wrong-things/) [Cupecake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cupecake/) ## More by Marion Ross > [Happy Days was a wonderful, wonderful experience and I would not have traded it for the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/happy-days-was-a-wonderful-wonderful-experience-and-i-would-not-have/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [Happy Days, which we did for 11 years, we did with three cameras in front of a live audience. Very special. We had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/happy-days-which-we-did-for-11-years-we-did-with-three-cameras-in/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [This moment is your portal to the future. Use it wisely!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/this-moment-is-your-portal-to-the-future-use-it-wisely/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [But if you don't watch me, I will try and sneak in some humor. I see humor everywhere in life around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/but-if-you-don-t-watch-me-i-will-try-and-sneak-in-some-humor-i-see/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [Rule number one is, make sure that you face the person with hearing loss when you are speaking to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/rule-number-one-is-make-sure-that-you-face-the-person-with-hearing/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [The great classics that, as a professional you don't get to do, you do as a student, when you don't know any better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/the-great-classics-that-as-a-professional-you-don-t-get-to-do-you-do/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [I learned a great deal doing Brooklyn Bridge. I was able to take a giant step into the terrible reality that was then. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/i-learned-a-great-deal-doing-brooklyn-bridge-i-was-able-to-take-a/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [I think in Mrs. C, I certainly played myself. A very compulsive, sweet person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/i-think-in-mrs-c-i-certainly-played-myself-a-very-compulsive-sweet/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [Prague is the Paris of the '90s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/prague-is-the-paris-of-the-90s/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [I have tremendous faith in theuniverse. I feel at home on this planet. Even though it's a very big world out there, I plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/i-have-tremendous-faith-in-theuniverse-i-feel-at-home-on-this-planet/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [The thing about hearing loss is that no one can see it. Most people are so impatient; they just assume that the person with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/the-thing-about-hearing-loss-is-that-no-one-can-see-it-most-people/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [I really wanted to go onstage. Not movies. But I ended up under contract to Paramount. Now I adore film work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/i-really-wanted-to-go-onstage-not-movies-but-i-ended-up-under/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [I have to constantly remind myself that I am communicating with a person with hearing loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/i-have-to-constantly-remind-myself-that-i-am-communicating-with-a/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [I was born not too far from Minneapolis, so it's nice to come back and visit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/i-was-born-not-too-far-from-minneapolis-so-it-s-nice-to-come-back-and/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [Hearing loss very often is such a gradual phenomenon that the person is in denial. You really have to be patient with them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/hearing-loss-very-often-is-such-a-gradual-phenomenon-that-the-person/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) [Explore all 16 Marion Ross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) ## More Persons quotes > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. 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If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should - so hard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/when-we-are-struck-at-without-a-reason-we-should-strike-back-again/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [I sound New York. I sound East Coast much more than a blonde person from L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kavner/i-sound-new-york-i-sound-east-coast-much-more-than-a-blonde-person/) [Julie Kavner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kavner/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. 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