--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm against solutions that are worse than…" description: "\"I'm against solutions that are worse than the problem. Like old women who want their hair dyed the color of shoe polish to hide the gray.\" — Neal Shust..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/neal-shusterman-412_color_i-m-against-solutions-that-are-worse-tha_3164790.png" --- # I'm against solutions that are worse than the problem… ![“I'm against solutions that are worse than the problem. Like old women who want their hair dyed the color of shoe polish to hide the gray.” quote by Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/neal-shusterman-412_color_i-m-against-solutions-that-are-worse-tha_3164790.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/neal-shusterman-412_color_i-m-against-solutions-that-are-worse-tha_3164790.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/neal-shusterman-412_color_i-m-against-solutions-that-are-worse-tha_3164790.png) > “I'm against solutions that are worse than the problem. Like old women who want their hair dyed the color of shoe polish to hide the gray.” [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A solution that creates a new problem is worse than the original issue. **In simple terms:** Bad fixes are worse than the problem. Key Takeaway Avoid solutions that worsen the issue. Themes policy ethics problem solving Mood cautious critical Type advice warning When to use this quote - government reform - healthcare - environmental regulation - technology deployment Key Concepts cost‑benefit analysis unintended consequences Questions to Reflect On - What hidden costs might a proposed fix have? - How can we test solutions before implementation? A Different Perspective A " fix may seem attractive but can cause greater harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gray/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Hair dye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair-dye/) [Old woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-woman/) [Polish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polish/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-like-790489/) [Shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoes/) [Solutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solutions/) [Solutions Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solutions-worse-1357226/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse/) [Worse Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse-problem-1832013/) ## Related quotes > [Moral crusaders with zeal but no ethical understanding are likely to give us solutions that are worse than the problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/moral-crusaders-with-zeal-but-no-ethical-understanding-are-likely-to/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [Most of my problems have no answer or else the answer is worse than the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/most-of-my-problems-have-no-answer-or-else-the-answer-is-worse-than/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [The cure might be worse than the problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/the-cure-might-be-worse-than-the-problem/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“The Complexity Trap: Every problem gets solved by adding more …more meetings, more approval, more process. Until the solution becomes worse than the problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-born/the-complexity-trap-every-problem-gets-solved-by-adding-more-more/) [Greg Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-born/) > [“Question #3: Would being wrong create a better or a worse problem than my current problem, for both myself and others? This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/question-3-would-being-wrong-create-a-better-or-a-worse-problem-than/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [When ever I have a Problem, I just sing. Then I know my voice is a lot worse then my Problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-ever-i-have-a-problem-i-just-sing-then-i-know-my-voice-is-a-lot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whenever I have a problem, I sing. Then I realize that my voice is a lot worse than my problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/whenever-i-have-a-problem-i-sing-then-i-realize-that-my-voice-is-a/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The problem is that there is only one you and I can never find someone like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-problem-is-that-there-is-only-one-you-and-i-can-never-find/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You don't look at the problem all at once, or it's like being caught in a spring flood under a downpour. You tackle the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/you-don-t-look-at-the-problem-all-at-once-or-it-s-like-being-caught/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [If I see a problem, I like to think if there's a better way to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rober/if-i-see-a-problem-i-like-to-think-if-there-s-a-better-way-to-do-it/) [Mark Rober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rober/) > [“He had a problem, like any other problem. The problem just hadn't been well posed. The problem was: Should he leave Penny or not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/he-had-a-problem-like-any-other-problem-the-problem-just-hadn-t-been/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“The problem, like most problems in life, probably had to do with his footwork.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/the-problem-like-most-problems-in-life-probably-had-to-do-with-his/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [My problem is I'm like a junkie. I want a good movie fix, and I never get that fix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/my-problem-is-i-m-like-a-junkie-i-want-a-good-movie-fix-and-i-never/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Problem is like washing machine.They twist us,spin us,& knock around but in the end we come cleaner & brighter & better than before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/problem-is-like-washing-machine-they-twist-us-spin-us-knock-around/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“We all over-share here. It’s a problem we have. It’s like we all think our lives are a movie and we want everyone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-over-share-here-it-s-a-problem-we-have-it-s-like-we-all-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Neal Shusterman > [“Picking locks was not a skill he had ever cultivated, but he persisted day after day, turning the tip of his talon into different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/picking-locks-was-not-a-skill-he-had-ever-cultivated-but-he-persisted/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“If you come anywhere near my daughter, I will see to it that you are taken apart piece by bloody piece. Do I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-come-anywhere-near-my-daughter-i-will-see-to-it-that-you-are/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Dead kids are put on pedestals, but mentally ill kids get hidden under the rug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/dead-kids-are-put-on-pedestals-but-mentally-ill-kids-get-hidden-under/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“The fear of not living is a deep, abiding dread of watching your own potential decompose into irredeemable disappointment when “should be” gets crushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-fear-of-not-living-is-a-deep-abiding-dread-of-watching-your-own/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [That's wisdom you can take to the grave, and dig up when you need it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/that-s-wisdom-you-can-take-to-the-grave-and-dig-up-when-you-need-it/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“And you know the darkness beyond despair, just as intimately as you know the soaring heights. Because in this and all universes, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/and-you-know-the-darkness-beyond-despair-just-as-intimately-as-you/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [You may feel a tugging sensation near your ankles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/you-may-feel-a-tugging-sensation-near-your-ankles/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone could love the right kid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universally-loved-everyone-could-love/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“It's like art, you know? Picasso had to prove to the world he can paint the right way, before he goes putting both eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/it-s-like-art-you-know-picasso-had-to-prove-to-the-world-he-can-paint/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [The way I see it, the impossible happens all the time; but we're so good at taking it for granted, we forget it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-way-i-see-it-the-impossible-happens-all-the-time-but-we-re-so/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“a true leader never puts his ego ahead of his assets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/a-true-leader-never-puts-his-ego-ahead-of-his-assets/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [If you have to ask then you don't deserve an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-have-to-ask-then-you-don-t-deserve-an-answer/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“There was never anything wrong with my life. Perhaps that was the problem... The crack in my life was the fact that I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/there-was-never-anything-wrong-with-my-life-perhaps-that-was-the/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“But fate is a freak when it comes to messing with your future in ways you don't see coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/but-fate-is-a-freak-when-it-comes-to-messing-with-your-future-in-ways/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“The sad truth about humanity, Risa was quick to realize, is that people believe what they are told. Maybe not the first time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-sad-truth-about-humanity-risa-was-quick-to-realize-is-that-people/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) [Explore all 573 Neal Shusterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## More Color quotes > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [The color of somebody's skin or the way he wears his hair or clothes has nothing to do with anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-color-of-somebody-s-skin-or-the-way-he-wears-his-hair-or-clothes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [When I haven't any blue I use red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/when-i-haven-t-any-blue-i-use-red/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [A well-fashioned day - with a beginning and an end, a purpose and a content, a color and a character, a feel and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/a-well-fashioned-day-with-a-beginning-and-an-end-a-purpose-and-a/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [If you're white and you're wrong, then you're wrong; if you're black and you're wrong, you're wrong. People are people. Black, blue, pink, green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/if-you-re-white-and-you-re-wrong-then-you-re-wrong-if-you-re-black/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [Today, at Harvard, any student with the currently fashionable color of skin is given rights denied to students of the currently unfashionable color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capp/today-at-harvard-any-student-with-the-currently-fashionable-color-of/) [Al Capp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capp/) > [Orange is my favorite color overall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-earnhardt-jr/orange-is-my-favorite-color-overall/) [Dale Earnhardt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-earnhardt-jr/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [We have to keep in practice like musicians. 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