--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The character of giving advice often…" description: "\"The character of giving advice often makes us accountable for the conduct of those we advise.\" — Norm MacDonald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/norm-macdonald-1825_advice_the-character-of-giving-advice-often-mak_639038.png" --- # The character of giving advice often makes us accountable… ![“The character of giving advice often makes us accountable for the conduct of those we advise.” quote by Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/norm-macdonald-1825_advice_the-character-of-giving-advice-often-mak_639038.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/norm-macdonald-1825_advice_the-character-of-giving-advice-often-mak_639038.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/norm-macdonald-1825_advice_the-character-of-giving-advice-often-mak_639038.png) > “The character of giving advice often makes us accountable for the conduct of those we advise.” [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Offering advice creates a sense of responsibility for the advised person's actions. **In simple terms:** Advice makes you feel responsible for others. Key Takeaway Own the impact of your counsel. Themes responsibility advice accountability Mood reflective thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - mentoring - counseling Key Concepts ethical duty social influence Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel accountable when you give advice? - How does responsibility affect your willingness to advise? A Different Perspective Advice can backfire if the advised person acts independently. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountable Conduct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable-conduct-5134141/) [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Advice Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice-makes-522087/) [Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advise/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Conduct Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conduct-advise-5134142/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-advice/) [Makes Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-accountable-5134143/) ## Related quotes > [The vanity of being asked advice often makes us confirm the opinion of those that consult us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-vanity-of-being-asked-advice-often-makes-us-confirm-the-opinion/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [My father's only advice is to 'do what makes you happy,' and I follow it religiously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/my-father-s-only-advice-is-to-do-what-makes-you-happy-and-i-follow-it/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [There's no such thing as advice to the lovelorn. If they took advice, they wouldn't be lovelorn. You see, advice and lovelorn don't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/there-s-no-such-thing-as-advice-to-the-lovelorn-if-they-took-advice/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [“Sometimes advises from others are more difficult to bear with than even slang.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/sometimes-advises-from-others-are-more-difficult-to-bear-with-than/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Along with your advice also offer your assistance, if your advice fail them, your assistance may save them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/along-with-your-advice-also-offer-your-assistance-if-your-advice-fail/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [In giving advice I advise you, be short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/in-giving-advice-i-advise-you-be-short/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [In giving advice, aptitude is often less to be considered, than seasonableness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-giving-advice-aptitude-is-often-less-to-be-considered-than/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [There are two things which a man should scrupulously avoid: giving advice that he would not follow, and asking advice when he is determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/there-are-two-things-which-a-man-should-scrupulously-avoid-giving/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [We advise others better than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/we-advise-others-better-than-ourselves/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [If it is only a matter of giving advice, Im available for all; but if someone wants to take advantage of this to renew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786-correction-by-intazar/if-it-is-only-a-matter-of-giving-advice-im-available-for-all-but-if/) [Mak\_786\_correction By Intazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786-correction-by-intazar/) > [“Sensory experience should not be draped on top of the story as sort of a last-minute decoration. Done right, it is woven into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilson/sensory-experience-should-not-be-draped-on-top-of-the-story-as-sort/) [Douglas Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilson/) > [T's funny how I'm good at giving advice to others, but when it comes to helping myself, I don't know what to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/t-s-funny-how-i-m-good-at-giving-advice-to-others-but-when-it-comes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listening to learn isn't about giving advice--at least not until asked--but about trying to understand exactly what someone means,how it is that someone looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-debold/listening-to-learn-isn-t-about-giving-advice-at-least-not-until-asked/) [Elizabeth Debold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-debold/) > [“Statements make sense for somebody who needs advice. I’m not giving advice. I don’t instruct. At my best, I delight. That’s my job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/statements-make-sense-for-somebody-who-needs-advice-i-m-not-giving/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [I don't believe in giving advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/i-don-t-believe-in-giving-advice/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) ## More by Norm MacDonald > [In estimating the adversities of life, we would seldom have much reason to complain of the evils we suffer, did we understand the dangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-estimating-the-adversities-of-life-we-would-seldom-have-much/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Chastity is oftener owing to diffidence and shame, than to fortitude of reason or virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/chastity-is-oftener-owing-to-diffidence-and-shame-than-to-fortitude/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I'd say Jon Stewart has remained funny the entire time. Jon always makes it funny first. And he's just, he's talking about serious things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-d-say-jon-stewart-has-remained-funny-the-entire-time-jon-always/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Liberty, like health, appears most precious when lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/liberty-like-health-appears-most-precious-when-lost/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [In theatres, you're kind of disconnected. Also, it's way too big for the likes of me. Unless you're Robin Williams or someone that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-theatres-you-re-kind-of-disconnected-also-it-s-way-too-big-for-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [After months of speculation, the sitcom star Ellen DeGeneres admitted that yes, she's gay. Inspired by her courage, today, diet-guru Richard Simmons admitted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/after-months-of-speculation-the-sitcom-star-ellen-degeneres-admitted/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [So much in L.A. is waiting. It's so irritating. That's what's good about stand-up. You can go away, and you don't have to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/so-much-in-l-a-is-waiting-it-s-so-irritating-that-s-what-s-good-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [You ever hear guys with small cocks talk about sex? Can't talk about it enough. They even got poems. They'll say, 'It's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/you-ever-hear-guys-with-small-cocks-talk-about-sex-can-t-talk-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [My dad died, and my grandfather died, and my great-grandfather died. And the guy before him, I don't know. Probably died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/my-dad-died-and-my-grandfather-died-and-my-great-grandfather-died-and/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [ Louis \[C.K.\] is great. But I don't know how many you could do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/louis-c-k-is-great-but-i-don-t-know-how-many-you-could-do/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I don't have any ego about it, but I find there's not a great work ethic in show business. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-don-t-have-any-ego-about-it-but-i-find-there-s-not-a-great-work/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Many people are skeptical about marriage of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Pressley. They say, Lisa Marie is more of a sit at home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/many-people-are-skeptical-about-marriage-of-michael-jackson-and-lisa/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Back in the old days, a man could just get sick and die. Now they have to wage a battle. So my Uncle Bert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/back-in-the-old-days-a-man-could-just-get-sick-and-die-now-they-have/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The man that does not fear punishment, little regards crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-man-that-does-not-fear-punishment-little-regards-crime/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) [Explore all 205 Norm MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [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/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' 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. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The character of giving advice often makes us accountable for the conduct of those we advise.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norm MacDonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-character-of-giving-advice-often-makes-us-accountable-for-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-character-of-giving-advice-often-makes-us-accountable-for-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/norm-macdonald-1825_advice_the-character-of-giving-advice-often-mak_639038.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/norm-macdonald-1825_advice_the-character-of-giving-advice-often-mak_639038.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/norm-macdonald-1825_advice_the-character-of-giving-advice-often-mak_639038.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The character of giving advice often makes us accountable for the conduct of those we advise.” — Norm MacDonald", "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": "Norm MacDonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The character of giving advice often...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-character-of-giving-advice-often-makes-us-accountable-for-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-character-of-giving-advice-often-makes-us-accountable-for-the/#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 } } ] } ```