--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a “good boy” in the Amish had…" description: "\"“Being a “good boy” in the Amish had nothing to do with kindness and decency, but everything to do with obeying the church rules without questioning.”\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/misty-griffin-60322_amish_being-a-good-boy-in-the-amish-had-nothin_2775758.jpg" --- # Being a “good boy” in the Amish had nothing to do with… ![“Being a “good boy” in the Amish had nothing to do with kindness and decency, but everything to do with obeying the church rules without questioning.” quote by Misty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/misty-griffin-60322_amish_being-a-good-boy-in-the-amish-had-nothin_2775758.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/misty-griffin-60322_amish_being-a-good-boy-in-the-amish-had-nothin_2775758.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/misty-griffin-60322_amish_being-a-good-boy-in-the-amish-had-nothin_2775758.jpg) > ““Being a “good boy” in the Amish had nothing to do with kindness and decency, but everything to do with obeying the church rules without questioning.”” [Misty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-griffin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being labeled good in the Amish community is defined by strict rule obedience rather than moral virtue. **In simple terms:** Goodness is measured by compliance, not kindness. Key Takeaway Question authority and define your own values. Themes conformity religion identity Mood reflective critical Type social commentary philosophical When to use this quote - family gatherings - church meetings - personal decision making - education - community events Key Concepts social norms authority moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Do you follow rules for their own sake? - How does obedience affect your sense of self? A Different Perspective Blind obedience can suppress personal growth and critical thought. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amish/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) ## Related quotes > [When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/when-once-the-forms-of-civility-are-violated-there-remains-little/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is a good idea to be ambitious, to have goals, to want to be good at what you do, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-solow/it-is-a-good-idea-to-be-ambitious-to-have-goals-to-want-to-be-good-at/) [Robert Solow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-solow/) > [“I do not understand why it is so hard for people to believe that the Amish are capable of horrible crimes. As I told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-griffin/i-do-not-understand-why-it-is-so-hard-for-people-to-believe-that-the/) [Misty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-griffin/) > [The Amish like to live a very plain lifestyle, the way they think God intended. It sort of brings you back to, like, 'Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verne-troyer/the-amish-like-to-live-a-very-plain-lifestyle-the-way-they-think-god/) [Verne Troyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verne-troyer/) > [“We're all broken, Laura. And we're all looking for someone to blame. God's the easiest target. We let ourselves believe that if He loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-fuller/we-re-all-broken-laura-and-we-re-all-looking-for-someone-to-blame-god/) Kathleen Fuller > [I drive out to this quail farm, where I get a lot of these incredible quail eggs, which I eat all day long. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-gallo/i-drive-out-to-this-quail-farm-where-i-get-a-lot-of-these-incredible/) [Vincent Gallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-gallo/) > [“If a mother is the heart of the Amish life, the father is the head; he plays a very significant role, spiritually and practically,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-woods-fisher/if-a-mother-is-the-heart-of-the-amish-life-the-father-is-the-head-he/) [Suzanne Woods Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-woods-fisher/) > [“Eves, on the scale from wholesome to whoresome, you're practically Amish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/eves-on-the-scale-from-wholesome-to-whoresome-you-re-practically-amish/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“I am not Amish enough to emigrate when my way of life is threatened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-r-reader/i-am-not-amish-enough-to-emigrate-when-my-way-of-life-is-threatened/) [G.R. Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-r-reader/) > [“The Swartzentruber Order is the most conservative on the Amish spectrum. Amish people have differences just like any culture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-nixon-m-a/the-swartzentruber-order-is-the-most-conservative-on-the-amish/) Brenda Nixon, M.A > [Vegetarian is like raising a kid Mennonite. It's difficult but not that different. Raising your kid vegan is like being Amish. A totally different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/vegetarian-is-like-raising-a-kid-mennonite-it-s-difficult-but-not/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [“Amish children are usually named after aunts or uncles or some other relation. Keeps the family names going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-price/amish-children-are-usually-named-after-aunts-or-uncles-or-some-other/) [Sarah Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-price/) > [“Thank you for reminding me that the future is in God's hands.'" "'You're welcome. And remember, wherever you go, in body and mind, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/thank-you-for-reminding-me-that-the-future-is-in-god-s-hands-you-re/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“These were the messages we were hearing from some of our non-Amish friends. Hearing these things and opening our hearts to their love started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/these-were-the-messages-we-were-hearing-from-some-of-our-non-amish/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [At Motel 6 in Amish Country I wonder if they leave the light on for you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-london/at-motel-6-in-amish-country-i-wonder-if-they-leave-the-light-on-for/) [Jay London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-london/) ## More by Misty Griffin > [“I do not understand why it is so hard for people to believe that the Amish are capable of horrible crimes. As I told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-griffin/i-do-not-understand-why-it-is-so-hard-for-people-to-believe-that-the/) [Misty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-griffin/) > [“Trying is not failure…failing to try is.” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-griffin/trying-is-not-failure-failing-to-try-is-i/) [Misty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-griffin/) > [“I felt we were "falling through the cracks;” society’s anonymous victims who would live and die in unacknowledged misery...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-griffin/i-felt-we-were-falling-through-the-cracks-society-s-anonymous-victims/) [Misty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-griffin/) > [“we are all human and tend to feel the unfairness of our own situation first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-griffin/we-are-all-human-and-tend-to-feel-the-unfairness-of-our-own-situation/) [Misty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-griffin/) [Explore all 5 Misty Griffin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-griffin/) ## More Amish quotes > [At Motel 6 in Amish Country I wonder if they leave the light on for you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-london/at-motel-6-in-amish-country-i-wonder-if-they-leave-the-light-on-for/) [Jay London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-london/) > [“These were the messages we were hearing from some of our non-Amish friends. Hearing these things and opening our hearts to their love started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/these-were-the-messages-we-were-hearing-from-some-of-our-non-amish/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“Thank you for reminding me that the future is in God's hands.'" "'You're welcome. And remember, wherever you go, in body and mind, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-goyer/thank-you-for-reminding-me-that-the-future-is-in-god-s-hands-you-re/) [Tricia Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-goyer/) > [“Amish children are usually named after aunts or uncles or some other relation. Keeps the family names going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-price/amish-children-are-usually-named-after-aunts-or-uncles-or-some-other/) [Sarah Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-price/) > [Vegetarian is like raising a kid Mennonite. It's difficult but not that different. Raising your kid vegan is like being Amish. A totally different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/vegetarian-is-like-raising-a-kid-mennonite-it-s-difficult-but-not/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [“I do not understand why it is so hard for people to believe that the Amish are capable of horrible crimes. As I told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-griffin/i-do-not-understand-why-it-is-so-hard-for-people-to-believe-that-the/) [Misty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-griffin/) > [“The Swartzentruber Order is the most conservative on the Amish spectrum. Amish people have differences just like any culture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-nixon-m-a/the-swartzentruber-order-is-the-most-conservative-on-the-amish/) Brenda Nixon, M.A > [“I am not Amish enough to emigrate when my way of life is threatened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-r-reader/i-am-not-amish-enough-to-emigrate-when-my-way-of-life-is-threatened/) [G.R. Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-r-reader/) > [“Eves, on the scale from wholesome to whoresome, you're practically Amish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/eves-on-the-scale-from-wholesome-to-whoresome-you-re-practically-amish/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“If a mother is the heart of the Amish life, the father is the head; he plays a very significant role, spiritually and practically,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-woods-fisher/if-a-mother-is-the-heart-of-the-amish-life-the-father-is-the-head-he/) [Suzanne Woods Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-woods-fisher/) > [I drive out to this quail farm, where I get a lot of these incredible quail eggs, which I eat all day long. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-gallo/i-drive-out-to-this-quail-farm-where-i-get-a-lot-of-these-incredible/) [Vincent Gallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-gallo/) > [“We're all broken, Laura. And we're all looking for someone to blame. God's the easiest target. We let ourselves believe that if He loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-fuller/we-re-all-broken-laura-and-we-re-all-looking-for-someone-to-blame-god/) Kathleen Fuller > [The Amish like to live a very plain lifestyle, the way they think God intended. It sort of brings you back to, like, 'Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verne-troyer/the-amish-like-to-live-a-very-plain-lifestyle-the-way-they-think-god/) [Verne Troyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verne-troyer/) > [I turned atheist in the '90s when India went through troubled times - communal riots, bomb blasts... Mumbai, where I live, was badly affected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/i-turned-atheist-in-the-90s-when-india-went-through-troubled-times/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [“Growing up Amish, I was always well provided for. I felt loved, even though I don’t remember my parents telling me that. There was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/growing-up-amish-i-was-always-well-provided-for-i-felt-loved-even/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) [Browse all 119 Amish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Being a “good boy” in the Amish had nothing to do with kindness and decency, but everything to do with obeying the church rules without questioning.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Misty Griffin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-griffin/being-a-good-boy-in-the-amish-had-nothing-to-do-with-kindness-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amish" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-griffin/being-a-good-boy-in-the-amish-had-nothing-to-do-with-kindness-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/misty-griffin-60322_amish_being-a-good-boy-in-the-amish-had-nothin_2775758.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/misty-griffin-60322_amish_being-a-good-boy-in-the-amish-had-nothin_2775758.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/misty-griffin-60322_amish_being-a-good-boy-in-the-amish-had-nothin_2775758.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being a “good boy” in the Amish had nothing to do with kindness and decency, but everything to do with…” — Misty Griffin", "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": "Misty Griffin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-griffin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Being a “good boy” in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-griffin/being-a-good-boy-in-the-amish-had-nothing-to-do-with-kindness-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-griffin/being-a-good-boy-in-the-amish-had-nothing-to-do-with-kindness-and/#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 } } ] } ```