--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes our cruelest acts come not from…" description: "\"“Sometimes our cruelest acts come not from meaning to do wrong but from not trying hard enough not to.”\" — Richard Paul Evans" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/richard-paul-evans-1002_cruelest_sometimes-our-cruelest-acts-come-not-fro_1725568.png" --- # Sometimes our cruelest acts come not from meaning to do… ![“Sometimes our cruelest acts come not from meaning to do wrong but from not trying hard enough not to.” quote by Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/richard-paul-evans-1002_cruelest_sometimes-our-cruelest-acts-come-not-fro_1725568.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/richard-paul-evans-1002_cruelest_sometimes-our-cruelest-acts-come-not-fro_1725568.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/richard-paul-evans-1002_cruelest_sometimes-our-cruelest-acts-come-not-fro_1725568.png) > ““Sometimes our cruelest acts come not from meaning to do wrong but from not trying hard enough not to.”” [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neglecting effort leads to unintended harm; intention alone isn’t enough. **In simple terms:** Not trying hard can cause damage. Key Takeaway Commit to effort, not just intent. Themes responsibility effort ethical behavior self-discipline consequences Mood thoughtful cautionary Type self-help ethical When to use this quote - Volunteer work - parenting - leadership decisions - personal goals Key Concepts Moral philosophy psychology of action intent vs outcome Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure effort matches intent? - What habits prevent careless mistakes? A Different Perspective Good intentions can mask negligence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [There's nothing wrong with trying to reach out to new fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-trying-to-reach-out-to-new-fans/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [If not now then when? If you will not try.You're insane. You will not have any certain answers. If you just stand there. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/if-not-now-then-when-if-you-will-not-try-you-re-insane-you-will-not/) Louaiq8 > [“There is no “right” way to make art. The only wrong is in not trying, not doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-right-way-to-make-art-the-only-wrong-is-in-not-trying-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only thing wrong with trying to please everyone is that there's always at least one person who will remain unhappy. You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-parker/the-only-thing-wrong-with-trying-to-please-everyone-is-that-there-s/) [Elizabeth Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-parker/) > [“he was wrong, and trying to crush someone else’s windpipe doesn’t make you any less wrong,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/he-was-wrong-and-trying-to-crush-someone-else-s-windpipe-doesn-t-make/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [They don't want to be with you, So you think something is wrong with you and you're trying to figure out what it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/they-don-t-want-to-be-with-you-so-you-think-something-is-wrong-with/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“She believes that going too far is wrong. Yet she's not trying to prove her point; she's just living it out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-thrasher/she-believes-that-going-too-far-is-wrong-yet-she-s-not-trying-to/) [Travis Thrasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-thrasher/) > [“maybe i am doing right , maybe i am doing wrong but at least i'm trying”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameel/maybe-i-am-doing-right-maybe-i-am-doing-wrong-but-at-least-i-m-trying/) Jameel > [I feel like I'm always on the right side of wrong and trying to shout out for the underdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/i-feel-like-i-m-always-on-the-right-side-of-wrong-and-trying-to-shout/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [Nobody said there is something wrong with trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/br/nobody-said-there-is-something-wrong-with-trying/) BR > [Tricking someone into grief is one of the cruelest tricks a person can play, and its been played on me twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/tricking-someone-into-grief-is-one-of-the-cruelest-tricks-a-person/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“That can be the cruelest part of happiness--its tendency to disguise itself as boredom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-helene-bertino/that-can-be-the-cruelest-part-of-happiness-its-tendency-to-disguise/) [Marie-Helene Bertino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-helene-bertino/) > [“So many mistakes. So many errors. So much tragedy as a result. In that moment I understood that the cruelest words in the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/so-many-mistakes-so-many-errors-so-much-tragedy-as-a-result-in-that/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [It is a fact of big cities that one girl's darkest how is always another's moment of shining triumph, and New York is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-godbersen/it-is-a-fact-of-big-cities-that-one-girl-s-darkest-how-is-always/) [Anna Godbersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-godbersen/) > [Failing to differentiate among employees — and holding on to bottom-tier performers — is actually the cruelest form of management there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/failing-to-differentiate-among-employees-and-holding-on-to-bottom/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) ## More by Richard Paul Evans > [ The smells of Christmas are the smells of childhood \[p. 53\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-smells-of-christmas-are-the-smells-of-childhood-p-53/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [We are chained to that which we do not forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/we-are-chained-to-that-which-we-do-not-forgive/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I've found that when someone is beautiful on the outside, but spiritually dark inside, all that outer beauty is just lipstick on a pig.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-ve-found-that-when-someone-is-beautiful-on-the-outside-but/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [There are none so impoverished as those who do not acknowledge the abundance of their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-are-none-so-impoverished-as-those-who-do-not-acknowledge-the/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [It's our memories that make us who we are. Without them, we're nothing. If that means we have to hurt sometimes, it's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/it-s-our-memories-that-make-us-who-we-are-without-them-we-re-nothing/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [At one time in my career, Barnes and Noble bookstores categorized my books as religious fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/at-one-time-in-my-career-barnes-and-noble-bookstores-categorized-my/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I'm no one important or famous, no matter. It is better to be loved by one person who knows your soul than millions who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-m-no-one-important-or-famous-no-matter-it-is-better-to-be-loved-by/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [The first step of a journey is always the longest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-first-step-of-a-journey-is-always-the-longest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“Simply stated, earth is a school-a divine educational process custom-fit to each of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/simply-stated-earth-is-a-school-a-divine-educational-process-custom/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [So much of young adult literature has turned dark, almost pathological. It's almost as if there is a race to see who can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/so-much-of-young-adult-literature-has-turned-dark-almost-pathological/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [If the errors of my life have profited me one great truth it is this: believe. Believe in your destiny and the star from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/if-the-errors-of-my-life-have-profited-me-one-great-truth-it-is-this/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Some people in this world have stopped looking for beauty, then wonder why their lives are so ugly. Don't be like them. The ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/some-people-in-this-world-have-stopped-looking-for-beauty-then-wonder/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“There's a big difference between us. I write non-fiction, you write fiction. I write truths that tell lies. You write lies that tell truths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-s-a-big-difference-between-us-i-write-non-fiction-you-write/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [As a boy I heard this story in church. A man was patching a pitched roof of a tall building when he began sliding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/as-a-boy-i-heard-this-story-in-church-a-man-was-patching-a-pitched/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I am facing the most difficult thing of my life, my own greatest failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-am-facing-the-most-difficult-thing-of-my-life-my-own-greatest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) [Explore all 311 Richard Paul Evans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## More Cruelest quotes > [Failing to differentiate among employees — and holding on to bottom-tier performers — is actually the cruelest form of management there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/failing-to-differentiate-among-employees-and-holding-on-to-bottom/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [It is a fact of big cities that one girl's darkest how is always another's moment of shining triumph, and New York is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-godbersen/it-is-a-fact-of-big-cities-that-one-girl-s-darkest-how-is-always/) [Anna Godbersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-godbersen/) > [“So many mistakes. So many errors. So much tragedy as a result. In that moment I understood that the cruelest words in the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/so-many-mistakes-so-many-errors-so-much-tragedy-as-a-result-in-that/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [“That can be the cruelest part of happiness--its tendency to disguise itself as boredom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-helene-bertino/that-can-be-the-cruelest-part-of-happiness-its-tendency-to-disguise/) [Marie-Helene Bertino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-helene-bertino/) > [Tricking someone into grief is one of the cruelest tricks a person can play, and its been played on me twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/tricking-someone-into-grief-is-one-of-the-cruelest-tricks-a-person/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [One of the cruelest things you can do to another person is pretend you care about them more than you really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/one-of-the-cruelest-things-you-can-do-to-another-person-is-pretend/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [The grossest, the cruelest, the most selfish, the most easily pervertible and perverted thing in this world, is government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/the-grossest-the-cruelest-the-most-selfish-the-most-easily/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Fate is the cruelest of masters, taking Life when it pleases or at random, handing Rigged decks to whom it pleases, cheating All alike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-wetch/fate-is-the-cruelest-of-masters-taking-life-when-it-pleases-or-at/) [Justin Wetch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-wetch/) > [“February is the cruelest month in western Oregon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-nedry/february-is-the-cruelest-month-in-western-oregon/) Judy Nedry > [“I like to hurt people too. I can make the cruelest choice. The difference is, sometimes I don't, and you always do, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-like-to-hurt-people-too-i-can-make-the-cruelest-choice-the/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [The cruelest thing a guy can do to a girl is to let her fall when he doesnt have an intention of catching her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-cruelest-thing-a-guy-can-do-to-a-girl-is-to-let-her-fall-when-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The cruelest thing you can do to someone is force them to hurt alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/the-cruelest-thing-you-can-do-to-someone-is-force-them-to-hurt-alone/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“She always made sure the bad was outweighed by so much good. I...well, I didn't do that for her. I made it fifty-fifty. Which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-jenkins-reid/she-always-made-sure-the-bad-was-outweighed-by-so-much-good-i-well-i/) [Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-jenkins-reid/) > [“The weakest are always the cruelest, in the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-derr/the-weakest-are-always-the-cruelest-in-the-end/) [Megan Derr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-derr/) > [“Dauntless is the cruelest of the five They tear each other to pieces . . . . Erudite is the coldest of the five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/dauntless-is-the-cruelest-of-the-five-they-tear-each-other-to-pieces/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) Browse all 71 Cruelest quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sometimes our cruelest acts come not from meaning to do wrong but from not trying hard enough not to.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Paul Evans" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/sometimes-our-cruelest-acts-come-not-from-meaning-to-do-wrong-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cruelest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/sometimes-our-cruelest-acts-come-not-from-meaning-to-do-wrong-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/richard-paul-evans-1002_cruelest_sometimes-our-cruelest-acts-come-not-fro_1725568.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/richard-paul-evans-1002_cruelest_sometimes-our-cruelest-acts-come-not-fro_1725568.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/richard-paul-evans-1002_cruelest_sometimes-our-cruelest-acts-come-not-fro_1725568.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes our cruelest acts come not from meaning to do wrong but from not trying hard enough not to.” — Richard Paul Evans", "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": "Richard Paul Evans", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Sometimes our cruelest acts come not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/sometimes-our-cruelest-acts-come-not-from-meaning-to-do-wrong-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/sometimes-our-cruelest-acts-come-not-from-meaning-to-do-wrong-but/#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 } } ] } ```