--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anything that begins 'I don't know how to…" description: "\"Anything that begins 'I don't know how to tell you this' is never good news.\" — Ruth Gordon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/ruth-gordon-14305_conversation_anything-that-begins-i-don-t-know-how-to_157603.jpg" --- # Anything that begins 'I don't know how to tell you this'… ![“Anything that begins 'I don't know how to tell you this' is never good news.” quote by Ruth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/ruth-gordon-14305_conversation_anything-that-begins-i-don-t-know-how-to_157603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/ruth-gordon-14305_conversation_anything-that-begins-i-don-t-know-how-to_157603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/ruth-gordon-14305_conversation_anything-that-begins-i-don-t-know-how-to_157603.jpg) > “Anything that begins 'I don't know how to tell you this' is never good news.” [Ruth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-gordon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Starting a conversation with uncertainty often signals bad news or difficult topics. **In simple terms:** Opening with 'I don't know' hints at trouble. Key Takeaway Prepare for tough messages. Themes communication anticipation empathy Mood empathetic cautious Type advice psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace feedback - conflict resolution Key Concepts bad news delivery relationship dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond to uncertain news? - What strategies help deliver bad news gently? A Different Perspective Not all such openings are negative; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Good news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-news/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) ## Related quotes > [As an introvert, you can be your own best friend or your worst enemy. 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If we want someone to know us, we have to tell them stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-dellaira/but-we-aren-t-transparent-if-we-want-someone-to-know-us-we-have-to/) [Ava Dellaira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-dellaira/) > [What you don’t know, you can’t tell. Or made to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/what-you-don-t-know-you-can-t-tell-or-made-to-tell/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Kids know everything you never tell them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-l-mandel/kids-know-everything-you-never-tell-them/) [Judy L. Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-l-mandel/) > [“I know where they are.' 'Where?' 'Why should I tell you?' 'Because, if I don't have a suitcase, I can't go to Paris tomorrow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-alender/i-know-where-they-are-where-why-should-i-tell-you-because-if-i-don-t/) [Katie Alender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-alender/) > [It's astonishing how many people who direct action don't know how to tell a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-pascal/it-s-astonishing-how-many-people-who-direct-action-don-t-know-how-to/) [Amy Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-pascal/) > [Its that moment you love him but you don't know how to tell him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie/its-that-moment-you-love-him-but-you-don-t-know-how-to-tell-him/) Christie > [If someone tells you something and you know you should tell, tell the person, you know you would want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-tells-you-something-and-you-know-you-should-tell-tell-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I haven't played with a player before and I don't know anything about them, the more they tell me about themselves, the better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-negreanu/if-i-haven-t-played-with-a-player-before-and-i-don-t-know-anything/) [Daniel Negreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-negreanu/) > [Don't ask me something if you don't want to know. Because I will tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/don-t-ask-me-something-if-you-don-t-want-to-know-because-i-will-tell/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [Do you know because I tell you so, or do you know, do you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/do-you-know-because-i-tell-you-so-or-do-you-know-do-you-know/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I don't trust everyone,like we can be cool but I know I can't tell you shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/i-don-t-trust-everyone-like-we-can-be-cool-but-i-know-i-can-t-tell/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [I have a crush on someone but do not know how to tell him. Any ideas???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelyn-mcbride/i-have-a-crush-on-someone-but-do-not-know-how-to-tell-him-any-ideas/) Katelyn McBride ## More by Ruth Gordon > [Try something new each day. After all, we're given life to find it out. It doesn't last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-gordon/try-something-new-each-day-after-all-we-re-given-life-to-find-it-out/) [Ruth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-gordon/) > [The good that men do lives after them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-gordon/the-good-that-men-do-lives-after-them/) [Ruth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-gordon/) > [If you're thinking of becoming a critic, why not make other plans?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-gordon/if-you-re-thinking-of-becoming-a-critic-why-not-make-other-plans/) [Ruth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-gordon/) > [Your first big trouble can be a bonanza if you live through it. 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Get the knack of getting people to help you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-gordon/to-get-it-right-be-born-with-luck-or-else-make-it-never-give-up-get/) [Ruth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-gordon/) [Explore all 47 Ruth Gordon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-gordon/) ## More Conversation quotes > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. 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Count how often it succeeds and how often it doesn’t. 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