--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It wasn't the intention to do something…" description: "\"It wasn't the intention to do something important, or to even relate about social issues. The ground is so fertile in the justice world, dealing with t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/richard-lagravenese-13232_action_it-wasn-t-the-intention-to-do-something_2754323.jpg" --- # It wasn't the intention to do something important, or to… ![“It wasn't the intention to do something important, or to even relate about social issues. The ground is so fertile in the justice world, dealing with the death penalty and the Innocence Project, for characters that have a moral ambiguity, which we were both attracted to. It's the idea that…” quote by Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/richard-lagravenese-13232_action_it-wasn-t-the-intention-to-do-something_2754323.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/richard-lagravenese-13232_action_it-wasn-t-the-intention-to-do-something_2754323.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/richard-lagravenese-13232_action_it-wasn-t-the-intention-to-do-something_2754323.jpg) > “It wasn't the intention to do something important, or to even relate about social issues. The ground is so fertile in the justice world, dealing with the death penalty and the Innocence Project, for characters that have a moral ambiguity, which we were both attracted to. It's the idea that everybody has their reasons. Whatever their actions are, whether you agree with them or not, you can understand why they're feeling that way, in terms of racism or even the death penalty.” [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Exploring moral ambiguity in justice topics reveals diverse motivations behind actions. **In simple terms:** Understanding complex motives behind controversial issues. Key Takeaway Seek multiple perspectives before judging. Themes ethics justice morality human behavior Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - courtrooms - policy debates - community forums Key Concepts philosophy law psychology Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to support controversial policies? - How can we foster dialogue on divisive topics? A Different Perspective Complex issues may lack clear solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Ambiguity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambiguity/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death penalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-penalty/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Innocence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocence/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral ambiguity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-ambiguity/) [Penalties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalties/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-issues/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Readers of novels often fall into the bad habit of being overly exacting about the characters' moral flaws. They apply to these fictional beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/readers-of-novels-often-fall-into-the-bad-habit-of-being-overly/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [“It wasn't my intention to love you that much. I did everything to show how much I care for you. But I guess, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aser-alas-jr/it-wasn-t-my-intention-to-love-you-that-much-i-did-everything-to-show/) Aser Alas Jr > [To see you cry wasn't my intention. just let me make it OK, just give me one more chance to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-mew/to-see-you-cry-wasn-t-my-intention-just-let-me-make-it-ok-just-give/) Darren Mew > [Everybody who reasons carefully about anything is making a contribution ... and if you abstract it away and send it to the Department of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/everybody-who-reasons-carefully-about-anything-is-making-a/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [No matter how bad the individual, everybody has reasons for why they do what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/no-matter-how-bad-the-individual-everybody-has-reasons-for-why-they/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [Everybody has their reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-auguste-renoir/everybody-has-their-reasons/) [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-auguste-renoir/) > [“The truly terrible thing is that everybody has their reasons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-renoir/the-truly-terrible-thing-is-that-everybody-has-their-reasons/) [Jean Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-renoir/) > [Maybe it's because I'm a little naive, but I do like to think that there aren't really very many truly bad people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/maybe-it-s-because-i-m-a-little-naive-but-i-do-like-to-think-that/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [Some of the guys that can teach you the best never really made it just because they couldn't execute it themselves, but they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/triple-h/some-of-the-guys-that-can-teach-you-the-best-never-really-made-it/) [Triple H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/triple-h/) > [Understand the causes of terror? Yes, we should try, but let there be no moral ambiguity about this: nothing could ever justify the events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/understand-the-causes-of-terror-yes-we-should-try-but-let-there-be-no/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Whether it's movies or television that I've directed, or characters that I've played, I'm just always fascinated by the moral ambiguity inherent in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-goldwyn/whether-it-s-movies-or-television-that-i-ve-directed-or-characters/) [Tony Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-goldwyn/) > [I'm not sure why I'm so drawn to heroes who do bad things and to villains who think they're the good guys, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-m-not-sure-why-i-m-so-drawn-to-heroes-who-do-bad-things-and-to/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“Not long ago, I read an interview with the war correspondent Chris Hedges in which he used a phrase that seemed like a perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/not-long-ago-i-read-an-interview-with-the-war-correspondent-chris/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [One of my favourite films is called 'Lacombe Lucien,' directed by Louis Malle. The lead character in that film, like the lead characters in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-cornish/one-of-my-favourite-films-is-called-lacombe-lucien-directed-by-louis/) [Joe Cornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-cornish/) > [“It changed from a seventies movie to an eighties movie. In the seventies, action movies were all full of moral ambiguity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-abrams/it-changed-from-a-seventies-movie-to-an-eighties-movie-in-the/) [Brian Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-abrams/) ## More by Richard LaGravenese > [I don't want to be a writer where all the characters sound the same. There's a facility in that kind of writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-writer-where-all-the-characters-sound-the-same/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [How do you survive living in a cell knowing you are innocent? Many of those exonerated whom I have met seem to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/how-do-you-survive-living-in-a-cell-knowing-you-are-innocent-many-of/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [If I can make a living as a writer, I can do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/if-i-can-make-a-living-as-a-writer-i-can-do-anything/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [I'm a dramatist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/i-m-a-dramatist/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [Even as a kid, I was more enchanted watching Bette Davis than Errol Flynn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/even-as-a-kid-i-was-more-enchanted-watching-bette-davis-than-errol/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [What I do usually is read the book first, for pleasure, to see if my brain starts connecting with it, as a movie. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/what-i-do-usually-is-read-the-book-first-for-pleasure-to-see-if-my/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [I think musical theater fans - obsessive fans - are very much like Comic Con fans in our personalities. We're very possessive, and we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/i-think-musical-theater-fans-obsessive-fans-are-very-much-like-comic/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [The thing that I love is human behavior - why people do what they do, who they are, and the choices that they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/the-thing-that-i-love-is-human-behavior-why-people-do-what-they-do/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [I'm not really a believer in romantic, happily-ever-after love stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/i-m-not-really-a-believer-in-romantic-happily-ever-after-love-stories/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [There is a musical rhythm to great writing, especially if it's performed correctly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/there-is-a-musical-rhythm-to-great-writing-especially-if-it-s/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [I always thought that if you don't feel the breath in the actors' bodies, you lose all the intimacy and truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/i-always-thought-that-if-you-don-t-feel-the-breath-in-the-actors/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [I've been a teenager. I even feel like I've been a 16-year-old girl. So I have a lot of voices inside my head!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/i-ve-been-a-teenager-i-even-feel-like-i-ve-been-a-16-year-old-girl-so/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [You can take the high moral ground intellectually, but if it ever happens to you personally, I don't know that I could honestly say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/you-can-take-the-high-moral-ground-intellectually-but-if-it-ever/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [I had to audition as an actor, and I got so tired of doing the same monologues over and over, so I started writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/i-had-to-audition-as-an-actor-and-i-got-so-tired-of-doing-the-same/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [Connie Heermann is a Freedom Writer teacher. I believe she represents the best of what dedicated teachers can be because she chose to serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/connie-heermann-is-a-freedom-writer-teacher-i-believe-she-represents/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) [Explore all 51 Richard LaGravenese quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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