--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are worse things than being…" description: "\"“There are worse things than being robbed...\" I could smell the sick old-meat stench on his breath, like he really had eaten my grandmother. \"...worse ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/neal-shusterman-412_advice_there-are-worse-things-than-being-robbed_2218524.png" --- # There are worse things than being robbed..." I could smell… ![“There are worse things than being robbed..." I could smell the sick old-meat stench on his breath, like he really had eaten my grandmother. "...worse things than dyin' even. You be a good boy, Little Red, and maybe you'll get to live awhile. Maybe you'll get to die in your own natural time.” quote by Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/neal-shusterman-412_advice_there-are-worse-things-than-being-robbed_2218524.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/neal-shusterman-412_advice_there-are-worse-things-than-being-robbed_2218524.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/neal-shusterman-412_advice_there-are-worse-things-than-being-robbed_2218524.png) > ““There are worse things than being robbed..." I could smell the sick old-meat stench on his breath, like he really had eaten my grandmother. "...worse things than dyin' even. You be a good boy, Little Red, and maybe you'll get to live awhile. Maybe you'll get to die in your own natural time.”” [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. Even amidst horror, there is a chance for goodness and a natural, inevitable end. **In simple terms:** Goodness can exist even in terrible circumstances. Key Takeaway Seek goodness despite darkness. Themes goodness mortality survival hope Mood somber hopeful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - war zones - personal trauma - ethical dilemmas - life-and-death decisions - storytelling Key Concepts human nature ethical choices existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you find goodness in painful moments? - What does a “natural time” mean to you? A Different Perspective May romanticize suffering or oversimplify complex trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) ## Related quotes > [You have robbed me, and everyone here, of their purpose. That's not salvation, that's damnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/you-have-robbed-me-and-everyone-here-of-their-purpose-that-s-not/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“All he ever wanted was a comfortable chair and a place in history. Well, he was robbed of one and died in the other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/all-he-ever-wanted-was-a-comfortable-chair-and-a-place-in-history/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Being frightened of things is worse than the things themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/being-frightened-of-things-is-worse-than-the-things-themselves/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [“There are worse things than suffering and death... it is worse to lose one's self-respect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ndor-m-rai/there-are-worse-things-than-suffering-and-death-it-is-worse-to-lose/) [Sándor Márai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ndor-m-rai/) > [There are surely worse things than being wrong, and being dull and pedantic are surely among them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kac/there-are-surely-worse-things-than-being-wrong-and-being-dull-and/) [Mark Kac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kac/) > [It kind of makes me wish that the worst thing that will ever happen to me would just hurry up and happen already. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/it-kind-of-makes-me-wish-that-the-worst-thing-that-will-ever-happen/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [There are worse things to be called than a dreamer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-are-worse-things-to-be-called-than-a-dreamer/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The higher the coefficient of inequality (Gini coefficient) in a society, the worse things tend to be for those at the bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-wilson/the-higher-the-coefficient-of-inequality-gini-coefficient-in-a/) [Catherine Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-wilson/) > [There's a lot of worse things going on in the world than me hitting a bad five wood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-fleetwood/there-s-a-lot-of-worse-things-going-on-in-the-world-than-me-hitting-a/) [Tommy Fleetwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-fleetwood/) > [There are worse things than poverty, though I can't for the moment remember what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/there-are-worse-things-than-poverty-though-i-can-t-for-the-moment/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [Every time we find a sense of hope, worse things happen that cause us to slide into despair again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-we-find-a-sense-of-hope-worse-things-happen-that-cause-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There are worse things you can do to the people you love than kill them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/there-are-worse-things-you-can-do-to-the-people-you-love-than-kill/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [We didn't want to do any more interviews. The more we talked, the worse things got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-pilatus/we-didn-t-want-to-do-any-more-interviews-the-more-we-talked-the-worse/) [Rob Pilatus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-pilatus/) > [At that age, it's one of the worse things in the world to wake up and not see your bike where you left it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/at-that-age-it-s-one-of-the-worse-things-in-the-world-to-wake-up-and/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [... there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/there-are-far-far-worse-things-in-the-living-world-than-dying/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) ## 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 Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. 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I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. 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