--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's easier to make a good person better…" description: "\"It's easier to make a good person better than to make a bad person good.\" — Michael Josephson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4d/michael-josephson-2363_bad-person_it-s-easier-to-make-a-good-person-better_2137827.png" --- # It's easier to make a good person better than to make a… ![“It's easier to make a good person better than to make a bad person good.” quote by Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4d/michael-josephson-2363_bad-person_it-s-easier-to-make-a-good-person-better_2137827.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4d/michael-josephson-2363_bad-person_it-s-easier-to-make-a-good-person-better_2137827.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4d/michael-josephson-2363_bad-person_it-s-easier-to-make-a-good-person-better_2137827.png) > “It's easier to make a good person better than to make a bad person good.” [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Improving an already good person is easier than reforming a bad one because the former already has a moral foundation to build upon. **In simple terms:** Better people are easier to improve than bad ones. Key Takeaway Focus on nurturing existing virtues. Themes ethics personal development leadership Mood encouraging reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - education - mentorship - community programs - rehabilitation Key Concepts moral psychology behavioral change Questions to Reflect On - What strengths can you amplify in yourself? - How do you help others recognize their own good? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated bad habits often meets resistance and may require more resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Good character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-character/) [Good person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-person/) ## Related quotes > [Character is doing the right thing even when it costs more than you want to pay. 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Nor can it make you a person of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-will-realize-one-day-that-all-the-money-in-the-world-cannot-buy/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Every person has a dark side. 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Grow from your faults and strive to be a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nesta-jojoe-erskine/you-are-not-a-bad-person-just-because-you-were-at-fault-this-once/) [Nesta Jojoe Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nesta-jojoe-erskine/) > [I think that a good person can sometimes do wrong out of ignorance or weakness or wrong thinking, but when hard times come, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-a-good-person-can-sometimes-do-wrong-out-of-ignorance-or/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“You're not a bad person. You're a very good person. Who bad things have happened to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/you-re-not-a-bad-person-you-re-a-very-good-person-who-bad-things-have/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) ## More by Michael Josephson > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [America is a song that sounds the best when we all sing together - at least for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/america-is-a-song-that-sounds-the-best-when-we-all-sing-together-at/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/approach-the-new-year-with-resolve-to-find-the-opportunities-hidden/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [The difference between stepping stones and stumbling blocks is not in the event itself but how you think about it and what you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/the-difference-between-stepping-stones-and-stumbling-blocks-is-not-in/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Pretty isn't beauty. 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A true leader teaches others to understand more, motivates them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/leadership-is-not-a-matter-of-authority-it-is-a-matter-of-influence-a/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [People who don't believe in you are right only if you believe they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/people-who-don-t-believe-in-you-are-right-only-if-you-believe-they-are/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [There is within you, waiting to be called, a great source of power called courage. 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That's why it's such a lofty goal and an admirable achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/ethics-is-not-for-wimps-it-s-not-easy-being-a-good-person-that-s-why/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) [Explore all 170 Michael Josephson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) ## More Bad person quotes > [“Claiming to be offended is a great way to elevate yourself at the expense of others: “Look at me! I'm a much better person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/claiming-to-be-offended-is-a-great-way-to-elevate-yourself-at-the/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [How many times do you want me to forgive you? when you just keep doing the same thing? and you say I am the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superman/how-many-times-do-you-want-me-to-forgive-you-when-you-just-keep-doing/) Superman > [The Indians didn't help me in dealing with the media. I think they wanted to keep my market value down. I'm moody. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/the-indians-didn-t-help-me-in-dealing-with-the-media-i-think-they/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [“Odd, don't you think? I have seen war, and invasions and riots. I have heard of massacres and brutalities beyond imagining, and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/odd-don-t-you-think-i-have-seen-war-and-invasions-and-riots-i-have/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [Yeah, I smoke, I drink, I have tattoos, but that doesnt mean Im a bad person. Stop stereotyping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yeah-i-smoke-i-drink-i-have-tattoos-but-that-doesnt-mean-im-a-bad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate when a mother prevents the father of her children from seeing his kids because she is mad that he moved on, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deshawn-branch/i-hate-when-a-mother-prevents-the-father-of-her-children-from-seeing/) [Deshawn Branch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deshawn-branch/) > [I fell down the stairs of the one level mental institute.so they put me in the safe cusion room but they found a bruise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-mcswain/i-fell-down-the-stairs-of-the-one-level-mental-institute-so-they-put/) Trinity McSwain > [“Looks sure can be deceiving: not every ‘ugly’ person is a ‘bad’ person (or is guilty of whatever it is that they are accused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/looks-sure-can-be-deceiving-not-every-ugly-person-is-a-bad-person-or/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Its funny how you can be hurt so bad...from the person you least expected it from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-funny-how-you-can-be-hurt-so-bad-from-the-person-you-least/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Being a good person likely is more related to distanced feelings of compassion and kindness, along with intelligence, self-control, and a sense of justice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/being-a-good-person-likely-is-more-related-to-distanced-feelings-of/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [“Good friendship, in Buddhism, means considerably more than associating with people that one finds amenable and who share one's interests. It means in effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhikkhu-bodhi/good-friendship-in-buddhism-means-considerably-more-than-associating/) [Bhikkhu Bodhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhikkhu-bodhi/) > [Person that never do anything in life to success,getting bad!person that never listen ,doing bad!person that never think at all that is so bad!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/axll-sblns/person-that-never-do-anything-in-life-to-success-getting-bad-person/) AXLL\_SBLNS > [I've played so many mean-looking troublemakers I have to keep reminding myself I'm really not a bad person deep down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/i-ve-played-so-many-mean-looking-troublemakers-i-have-to-keep/) [Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/) > [When relationships don't work out, it doesn't mean you're a bad person, it just means you weren't meant to be together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/when-relationships-don-t-work-out-it-doesn-t-mean-you-re-a-bad-person/) [Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/) > [I'm not a bad person. I'm just doing my thing... I'm, you know, running, I want to do something that's good. It's not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-not-a-bad-person-i-m-just-doing-my-thing-i-m-you-know-running-i/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) Browse all 352 Bad person quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's easier to make a good person better than to make a bad person good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Josephson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/it-s-easier-to-make-a-good-person-better-than-to-make-a-bad-person/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad person" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/it-s-easier-to-make-a-good-person-better-than-to-make-a-bad-person/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4d/michael-josephson-2363_bad-person_it-s-easier-to-make-a-good-person-better_2137827.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4d/michael-josephson-2363_bad-person_it-s-easier-to-make-a-good-person-better_2137827.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4d/michael-josephson-2363_bad-person_it-s-easier-to-make-a-good-person-better_2137827.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's easier to make a good person better than to make a bad person good.” — Michael Josephson", "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": "Michael Josephson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's easier to make a good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/it-s-easier-to-make-a-good-person-better-than-to-make-a-bad-person/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/it-s-easier-to-make-a-good-person-better-than-to-make-a-bad-person/#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 } } ] } ```