--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don’t make to-do lists, but if I did…" description: "\"“I don’t make to-do lists, but if I did, today’s would have gone something like this: 1. get drunk, 2. get laid, 3. go surfing (not necessarily in that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/paula-stokes-14657_arrest_i-don-t-make-to-do-lists-but-if-i-did-to_1541881.jpg" --- # I don’t make to-do lists, but if I did, today’s would have… ![“I don’t make to-do lists, but if I did, today’s would have gone something like this: 1. get drunk, 2. get laid, 3. go surfing (not necessarily in that order.) Noticeably absent from the list: get arrested. And yet here I am, spending my eighteenth birthday with my back against the wall of the…” quote by Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/paula-stokes-14657_arrest_i-don-t-make-to-do-lists-but-if-i-did-to_1541881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/paula-stokes-14657_arrest_i-don-t-make-to-do-lists-but-if-i-did-to_1541881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/paula-stokes-14657_arrest_i-don-t-make-to-do-lists-but-if-i-did-to_1541881.jpg) > ““I don’t make to-do lists, but if I did, today’s would have gone something like this: 1. get drunk, 2. get laid, 3. go surfing (not necessarily in that order.) Noticeably absent from the list: get arrested. And yet here I am, spending my eighteenth birthday with my back against the wall of the Colonel’s hunting cabin, two FBI agents prowling the dark with their guns drawn, both trying to get me to confess to the murder of my friend Preston DeWitt.”” [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker humorously lists reckless priorities while confronting serious danger, highlighting a clash between carefree attitudes and life‑threatening reality. **In simple terms:** He lists fun things while facing danger. Key Takeaway Balance fun with responsibility. Themes recklessness danger humor Mood anxious ironic tense Type narrative dark comedy cautionary When to use this quote - birthday party - law enforcement encounter - personal crisis Key Concepts existential risk irony self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize when faced with danger? - What consequences arise from reckless behavior? A Different Perspective The humor may downplay the seriousness of the situation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birthdays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthdays/) [Eighteenth Birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eighteenth-birthday/) [Guns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guns/) ## Related quotes > [I made some truly awful movies. 'Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot' was the worst. 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And even if Frank was able to end his brother's life before he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-castle/i-was-going-to-die-eleven-days-after-my-eighteenth-birthday-and-even/) [Nicole Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-castle/) > [“If I allow my gaze to travel higher-which I won't-I'll see the solid gold basketball charm on a chain that my mother gave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wiess/if-i-allow-my-gaze-to-travel-higher-which-i-won-t-i-ll-see-the-solid/) [Laura Wiess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wiess/) > [“He wasn't like some of the hippies in England, where the qualification to rebel is planted by the guilt raised from being a spoilt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stone/he-wasn-t-like-some-of-the-hippies-in-england-where-the-qualification/) [Craig Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stone/) > [“She took a deep breath and it was her eighteenth birthday; it was Jess’s wedding and a summer evening at the pool; it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gilley/she-took-a-deep-breath-and-it-was-her-eighteenth-birthday-it-was-jess/) [Lauren Gilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gilley/) > [“Childhood disappears down a storm drain. 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He thought for a long moment and then he said, "I bet you another kiss on your eighteenth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-hartnett/you-re-beautiful-and-i-bet-you-he-thought-for-a-long-moment-and-then/) J.B. Hartnett > [“November 30th marks Luna Hale's eighteenth birthday. Time fucking flies - I remember when she was just a baby and we'd tap each other's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-ritchie/november-30th-marks-luna-hale-s-eighteenth-birthday-time-fucking/) [Krista Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-ritchie/) > [If Joan of Arc could turn the tide of an entire war before her eighteenth birthday, you can get out of bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-jean-carroll/if-joan-of-arc-could-turn-the-tide-of-an-entire-war-before-her/) [E. Jean Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-jean-carroll/) > [“Emily My sneakers hit the pavement and my heart slams like the truck door behind me. "Watch it!" My cousin and best friend Erick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacy-yager/emily-my-sneakers-hit-the-pavement-and-my-heart-slams-like-the-truck/) [Lacy Yager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacy-yager/) ## More by Paula Stokes > [“You know what I regret the most?” Trinity says, her voice just above a whisper. I don’t answer. All I can think about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/you-know-what-i-regret-the-most-trinity-says-her-voice-just-above-a/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“Maybe I could dole out the truth in tiny pieces that, once assembled, would make a picture that resembled a reality in which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/maybe-i-could-dole-out-the-truth-in-tiny-pieces-that-once-assembled/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“But if you want him, you might have to fight for him." I let my head fall to the tabletop. "For the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/but-if-you-want-him-you-might-have-to-fight-for-him-i-let-my-head/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“Nothing will be the same without him." Micah nods slowly. "I know what you're saying. I guess I'm just wondering how we know when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/nothing-will-be-the-same-without-him-micah-nods-slowly-i-know-what/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“A lot of kids think high school represents the best years of their lives, but others recognize that it's mostly irrelevant bullshit, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/a-lot-of-kids-think-high-school-represents-the-best-years-of-their/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“People are always clinging to what they want to hear, discarding the evidence that doesn’t fit with their beliefs, giving greater weight to evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/people-are-always-clinging-to-what-they-want-to-hear-discarding-the/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“The world needs more beautiful things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/the-world-needs-more-beautiful-things/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“That's one of the problems with nice guys. If They can't stand up for themselves then they won't be able to stand up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/that-s-one-of-the-problems-with-nice-guys-if-they-can-t-stand-up-for/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“I go through memory after memory, looking for reassurance that nothing has changed, but it's like flipping through a book of stories I've outgrown.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/i-go-through-memory-after-memory-looking-for-reassurance-that-nothing/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“How do you make me smile when it seems like there’s nothing in the whole world to smile about?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/how-do-you-make-me-smile-when-it-seems-like-there-s-nothing-in-the/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“Who would vandalize a doghouse? I ask. "Cats?" Bee suggests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/who-would-vandalize-a-doghouse-i-ask-cats-bee-suggests/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“Sometimes being poor means having to choose between your principles and your survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/sometimes-being-poor-means-having-to-choose-between-your-principles/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“The truth doesn't get you very far on the streets, or in a group home, or even in high school. That's probably why the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/the-truth-doesn-t-get-you-very-far-on-the-streets-or-in-a-group-home/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“It’s not right that some people have so much and others have so little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/it-s-not-right-that-some-people-have-so-much-and-others-have-so-little/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) > [“Lainey is hot in a prom queen kind of way and we used to be friends back in grade school, but that was two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/lainey-is-hot-in-a-prom-queen-kind-of-way-and-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) [Explore all 45 Paula Stokes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/) ## More Arrest quotes > [“Do not fear ARREST. Why? Because, there is REST at the end of each AR"REST"; either in jail or in the grave. The wisest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opoong-amankwaa/do-not-fear-arrest-why-because-there-is-rest-at-the-end-of-each-ar/) Opoong Amankwaa > [They would almost throw the cops in jail when they tried to arrest me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-taylor/they-would-almost-throw-the-cops-in-jail-when-they-tried-to-arrest-me/) [Lawrence Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-taylor/) > [“I am here to arrest your manservant. The one named Bugg.’ ‘Oh, now really, his cooking isn’t that bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-am-here-to-arrest-your-manservant-the-one-named-bugg-oh-now-really/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/what-is-to-be-will-be-and-no-prayers-of-ours-can-arrest-the-decree/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [P=l-o=under arrest for ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-simmons/p-l-o-under-arrest-for-ever/) [Angela Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-simmons/) > [“The real purpose of the opposition is to minimize the amount of money the ruling party will have stolen from the people at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/the-real-purpose-of-the-opposition-is-to-minimize-the-amount-of-money/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Shortly before my arrest, my girlfriend at the time, who's now my wife of ten years, told me she was quitting drugs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-hosoi/shortly-before-my-arrest-my-girlfriend-at-the-time-who-s-now-my-wife/) [Christian Hosoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-hosoi/) > [“cops fear false arrest like they fear the plague. If they arrest you and can’t make it stick, a lot of people are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-hudson/cops-fear-false-arrest-like-they-fear-the-plague-if-they-arrest-you/) [Jeffery Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-hudson/) > [“The servants of a queen, even a queen under arrest, were not usually supposed to be physically higher than she was. Did the women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-clark/the-servants-of-a-queen-even-a-queen-under-arrest-were-not-usually/) Nicola Clark > [You can't arrest me, I'm a rockstar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-arrest-me-i-m-a-rockstar/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The wrongful arrest of tens of thousands of British Muslims after the September 11 attacks can be explained by the very poor intelligence the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/the-wrongful-arrest-of-tens-of-thousands-of-british-muslims-after-the/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [During the period of house arrest, I had an electronic manacle around my leg for 24 hours a day, and for someone who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/during-the-period-of-house-arrest-i-had-an-electronic-manacle-around/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [An unjust law is itself a species of violence. Arrest for its breach is more so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/an-unjust-law-is-itself-a-species-of-violence-arrest-for-its-breach/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I preach in countries if I say 'Jesus Christ is the only way, the truth and the life,' they'll arrest me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/i-preach-in-countries-if-i-say-jesus-christ-is-the-only-way-the-truth/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [It is made the duty of every Commanding Officer in the Department, to arrest and send to these Headquarters, under guard, every officer or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-made-the-duty-of-every-commanding-officer-in-the-department-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 116 Arrest quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I don’t make to-do lists, but if I did, today’s would have gone something like this: 1. get drunk, 2. get laid, 3. go surfing (not necessarily in that order.) 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