--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All people are broken, Shelly. No one is…" description: "\"“All people are broken, Shelly. No one is perfect. Some seek help. Some don’t. But no one is ever fixed by another person. We can only work on ourselve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/penny-reid-1063_quote_all-people-are-broken-shelly-no-one-is-p_1321470.jpg" --- # All people are broken, Shelly. No one is perfect. Some… ![“All people are broken, Shelly. No one is perfect. Some seek help. Some don’t. But no one is ever fixed by another person. We can only work on ourselves. We are—using your analogy—our own refrigerators, no one else’s.” quote by Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/penny-reid-1063_quote_all-people-are-broken-shelly-no-one-is-p_1321470.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/penny-reid-1063_quote_all-people-are-broken-shelly-no-one-is-p_1321470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/penny-reid-1063_quote_all-people-are-broken-shelly-no-one-is-p_1321470.jpg) > ““All people are broken, Shelly. No one is perfect. Some seek help. Some don’t. But no one is ever fixed by another person. We can only work on ourselves. We are—using your analogy—our own refrigerators, no one else’s.”” [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are inherently flawed and cannot be fully fixed by others; self‑work is essential. **In simple terms:** We are broken and must fix ourselves. Key Takeaway Focus on personal growth. Themes self‑improvement relationships personal responsibility Mood reflective hopeful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - therapy - self‑help - personal development - relationship counseling Key Concepts psychology self‑care human imperfection Questions to Reflect On - How can you take ownership of your healing? - What role should others play in your growth? A Different Perspective Self‑fixing is limited; external help can only support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [The fixed person for the fixed duties who in older societies was such a godsend, in future will be a public danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/the-fixed-person-for-the-fixed-duties-who-in-older-societies-was-such/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Our rate of progress is such that an individual human being, of ordinary length of life, will be called on to face novel situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/our-rate-of-progress-is-such-that-an-individual-human-being-of/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [To be broken is usually a bad thing, but there is a good way for people to be broken. Just as seeds cant sprout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-broken-is-usually-a-bad-thing-but-there-is-a-good-way-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Large numbers of people are broken from the notion that the system is working for people, that the system is just or humane or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/large-numbers-of-people-are-broken-from-the-notion-that-the-system-is/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [“But some people are broken. They don't know anything other than hatred… It's a sad thing and we should have compassion for them. Think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-hilmo/but-some-people-are-broken-they-don-t-know-anything-other-than-hatred/) [Tess Hilmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-hilmo/) > [Continue to share your heart with people even if it's been broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/continue-to-share-your-heart-with-people-even-if-it-s-been-broken/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [God loves broken people because broken people are all that there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/god-loves-broken-people-because-broken-people-are-all-that-there-are/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing. Continue to share your heart with people even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/blessed-are-they-who-see-beautiful-things-in-humble-places-where/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [Everybody knows something's broken in the world. But illogically, foolishly, we are looking for fixes from broken people with broken ideas in broken places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/everybody-knows-something-s-broken-in-the-world-but-illogically/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [“There always seemed to be a better way, except when it came to people. Once broken, people couldn't be repaired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/there-always-seemed-to-be-a-better-way-except-when-it-came-to-people/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“But some people are broken. They don't know anything other than hatred... It's like their heart gets going in the wrong direction early on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-hilmo/but-some-people-are-broken-they-don-t-know-anything-other-than-hatred-2/) [Tess Hilmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-hilmo/) > [And then I felt sad because I realized that once people are broken in certain ways, they can't ever be fixed, and this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-then-i-felt-sad-because-i-realized-that-once-people-are-broken-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“people can be broken. And they could cut you on the shards of their toxicity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/people-can-be-broken-and-they-could-cut-you-on-the-shards-of-their/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“I realized that once people are broken in certain ways they can't ever be fixed, and this is something nobody ever tells you when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-realized-that-once-people-are-broken-in-certain-ways-they-can-t/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## More by Penny Reid > [“No. Since I first saw you. Since I first laid eyes on you and felt sorry for every beautiful thing that was made no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/no-since-i-first-saw-you-since-i-first-laid-eyes-on-you-and-felt/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“I didn't care about embarrassing myself further. What was one more debit of mortification when my balance sheet was already in the red by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-didn-t-care-about-embarrassing-myself-further-what-was-one-more/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“He was the dehydrated horse. He had to drink water himself. He had to want it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/he-was-the-dehydrated-horse-he-had-to-drink-water-himself-he-had-to/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“she’s too quiet about it.” “Isn’t that the point of leading by example?” Kat frowned at her ball of yarn, more of a tangled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/she-s-too-quiet-about-it-isn-t-that-the-point-of-leading-by-example/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Boy bands are sent by God to aid women of all ages in their quest to avoid reality, but specifically to trick young women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/boy-bands-are-sent-by-god-to-aid-women-of-all-ages-in-their-quest-to/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Because knowledge is only a cage if you dwell in isolation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/because-knowledge-is-only-a-cage-if-you-dwell-in-isolation/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Breathless and Wretched, the new fragrance by Calvin Klein.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/breathless-and-wretched-the-new-fragrance-by-calvin-klein/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Proposing is like giving someone your dick and a sharp knife, then waiting to see what they do next.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/proposing-is-like-giving-someone-your-dick-and-a-sharp-knife-then/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“I felt abruptly as though I’d just been peed on. I didn’t want to be peed on. \*\*\*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-felt-abruptly-as-though-i-d-just-been-peed-on-i-didn-t-want-to-be/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Why are heroines in romantic novels—despite their cleanliness and enviable lifestyles—so unlikeable? It’s like they’ve been hit with a vanilla ninny stick, devoid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/why-are-heroines-in-romantic-novels-despite-their-cleanliness-and/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“this post-modern individualism is harmful, that we—Western society—have become lazy in our dependencies and relationships. To say, ‘Don’t attempt to love another until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/this-post-modern-individualism-is-harmful-that-we-western-society/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“You’re a good kisser.” It sounded like an accusation. I shrugged, giving her a satisfied smile. “I practice.” Her gaze sharpened. “Oh?” “Yes. With my pillow. And a watermelon that one time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/you-re-a-good-kisser-it-sounded-like-an-accusation-i-shrugged-giving/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Why do you look like that, Duane?" "Like what, Cletus?" "Like your heart is diseased.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/why-do-you-look-like-that-duane-like-what-cletus-like-your-heart-is/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“I was planning to sort my comic books based on level of second wave feminist influence.” “As opposed to first wave?” “Yes, well, Susan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-was-planning-to-sort-my-comic-books-based-on-level-of-second-wave/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“\*fist bump\* \*high five\* \*bottom pat\* … too far?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/fist-bump-high-five-bottom-pat-too-far/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) [Explore all 296 Penny Reid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) ## More Broken quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [You don't want to fix things that aren't broken, so that kind of stops you from make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/you-don-t-want-to-fix-things-that-aren-t-broken-so-that-kind-of-stops/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [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/) > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [There is no pain like the first time you get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/there-is-no-pain-like-the-first-time-you-get-your-heart-broken/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [My life was incoherent to me. I felt it quivering, spitting out broken teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-fox/my-life-was-incoherent-to-me-i-felt-it-quivering-spitting-out-broken/) [Paula Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-fox/) > [Don't fix what's not broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-atkins/don-t-fix-what-s-not-broken/) [Robert Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-atkins/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Rome, believe me, my friend, is like its own Monte Testaceo, Merelya marvellous mass of broken and castaway wine-pots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hugh-clough/rome-believe-me-my-friend-is-like-its-own-monte-testaceo-merelya/) [Arthur Hugh Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hugh-clough/) > [Its funny how someone breaks your heart but you still love them with all those broken pieces..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-funny-how-someone-breaks-your-heart-but-you-still-love-them-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we don't get what we want, there's a legitimate grieving, and then the spiritual journey truly begins, because not getting what we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/when-we-don-t-get-what-we-want-there-s-a-legitimate-grieving-and-then/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) Browse all 5,851 Broken quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“All people are broken, Shelly. 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