---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people put off my mother's erratic…"
description: "\"“Most people put off my mother's erratic behavior to the fact that she was a writer, as if that just explained everything. To me that was just an excus..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74e/sarah-dessen-110_behavior_most-people-put-off-my-mother-s-erratic_1731814.png"
---

#  Most people put off my mother's erratic behavior to the…

![“Most people put off my mother's erratic behavior to the fact that she was a writer, as if that just explained everything. To me that was just an excuse. I mean, brain surgeons can be crazy too, but no one says that's all right. Fortunately for my mother, I am alone in this opinion.” quote by Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74e/sarah-dessen-110_behavior_most-people-put-off-my-mother-s-erratic_1731814.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74e/sarah-dessen-110_behavior_most-people-put-off-my-mother-s-erratic_1731814.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74e/sarah-dessen-110_behavior_most-people-put-off-my-mother-s-erratic_1731814.png)

> ““Most people put off my mother's erratic behavior to the fact that she was a writer, as if that just explained everything. To me that was just an excuse. I mean, brain surgeons can be crazy too, but no one says that's all right. Fortunately for my mother, I am alone in this opinion.””

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The author critiques dismissing erratic behavior as artistic eccentricity, arguing that excuses should not excuse harmful actions.

**In simple terms:** Excuses like “artist” don’t justify bad behavior.

Key Takeaway

Hold people accountable regardless of profession.

Themes

accountability stereotypes behavior

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

analytical personal

When to use this quote

- workplace
- family dynamics
- creative industries
- mental health discussions

Key Concepts

psychology social expectations

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you differentiate between eccentricity and harmful conduct?
- What standards should apply to all professions?

A Different Perspective

Some may argue creative fields foster unique behavior.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Crazy Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy-says-508333/) [Erratic Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erratic-behavior-1437019/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother Erratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-erratic-1437017/) [Mother Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-opinion-1437018/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [“I laugh. Yer crazy, I says. I was fine till I met you, he says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-young/i-laugh-yer-crazy-i-says-i-was-fine-till-i-met-you-he-says/)

[Moira Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-young/)

> [One of the things that's very troubling to voters about Donald Trump is his erratic behavior, his lack of good temperament to serve as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robby-mook/one-of-the-things-that-s-very-troubling-to-voters-about-donald-trump/)

[Robby Mook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robby-mook/)

> [I think, of the kind of erratic behavior that many of us feared once Trump came into office. And I think you're seeing evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/i-think-of-the-kind-of-erratic-behavior-that-many-of-us-feared-once/)

[Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/)

> [Trump's erratic behavior has long been the subject of political criticism, late-night-television jokes, and even speculation about whether it's part of some incomprehensible, multidimensional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/trump-s-erratic-behavior-has-long-been-the-subject-of-political/)

[George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/)

> [Some days it's tough just gettin' up Throwin' on these boots and makin' that climb Some days I'd rather be a no-show lay-low 'fore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-aldean/some-days-it-s-tough-just-gettin-up-throwin-on-these-boots-and-makin/)

[Jason Aldean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-aldean/)

> [Crazy may not be the one who says the sun is the center of the solar system, the Earth is round, and someday people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-tumlinson/crazy-may-not-be-the-one-who-says-the-sun-is-the-center-of-the-solar/)

[Rick Tumlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-tumlinson/)

> [“Yer crazy, I says. I was fine till I met you, he says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-young/yer-crazy-i-says-i-was-fine-till-i-met-you-he-says/)

[Moira Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-young/)

> [“I'm sorry, I says. Fer what? he says. Fer always bein ... you know ... so- Ungrateful? he says. Yeah, I says. Ornery? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-young/i-m-sorry-i-says-fer-what-he-says-fer-always-bein-you-know-so/)

[Moira Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-young/)

> [“Crazy,' says Paddy Mayne, 'is our business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/crazy-says-paddy-mayne-is-our-business/)

[Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/)

> [“You aren’t crazy,’ he says. ‘What?’ ‘I’ve known you all your life, and you’ve always tried to hide the parts of yourself that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/you-aren-t-crazy-he-says-what-i-ve-known-you-all-your-life-and-you-ve/)

[Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/)

> [“I understand that you are under a lot of pressure and that it's hard being a bride. That is all well and good. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-understand-that-you-are-under-a-lot-of-pressure-and-that-it-s-hard/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [And always remember how much your crazy sister loves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/and-always-remember-how-much-your-crazy-sister-loves-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [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/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

## More by Sarah Dessen

> [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“if i were a book i would be so open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/if-i-were-a-book-i-would-be-so-open/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“At times, I found myself questioning his very existence, even though I knew I had, in fact, spotted him, with my own eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/at-times-i-found-myself-questioning-his-very-existence-even-though-i/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [When you had to do something, you had to do it. And eventually, if you were lucky, you did it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/when-you-had-to-do-something-you-had-to-do-it-and-eventually-if-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [the truth about forever is that it is happening right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-truth-about-forever-is-that-it-is-happening-right-now/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [I jammed my hand in my jacket pocket, bracing myself fo the next hit, and fel something. Something grainy and samll, sticking to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-jammed-my-hand-in-my-jacket-pocket-bracing-myself-fo-the-next-hit/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. People weren't meant to be together forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-had-no-illusions-about-love-anymore-it-came-it-went-it-left/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“But maybe that isn't so bad. You can't love anyone that way more than once in a lifetime. It's too hard and it hurts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-maybe-that-isn-t-so-bad-you-can-t-love-anyone-that-way-more-than/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [This was just one night, one chance to vary and see where it took me. The fireflies were probably already out: maybe it wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/this-was-just-one-night-one-chance-to-vary-and-see-where-it-took-me/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [call it chicken salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/call-it-chicken-salad/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“For me, however, it was a mix of the two, this constant push and pull. I loved it here. But I'd been in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/for-me-however-it-was-a-mix-of-the-two-this-constant-push-and-pull-i/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [I think whenever a writer is really enjoying themselves and liking what they are doing, that shows on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-think-whenever-a-writer-is-really-enjoying-themselves-and-liking/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

[Explore all 1,251 Sarah Dessen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

## More Behavior quotes

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [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/)

> [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/)

[Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/)

> [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/)

[Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/)

> [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/)

[Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/)

> [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/)

[Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/)

> [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/)

[Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/)

> [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/)

[J. Willard Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-gibbs/)

> [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/)

[Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/)

> [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/)

[Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/)

> [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

[Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Most people put off my mother's erratic behavior to the fact that she was a writer, as if that just explained everything. To me that was just an excuse. I mean, brain surgeons can be crazy too, but no one says that's all right. Fortunately for my mother, I am alone in this opinion.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sarah Dessen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/most-people-put-off-my-mother-s-erratic-behavior-to-the-fact-that-she/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Behavior"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/most-people-put-off-my-mother-s-erratic-behavior-to-the-fact-that-she/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74e/sarah-dessen-110_behavior_most-people-put-off-my-mother-s-erratic_1731814.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74e/sarah-dessen-110_behavior_most-people-put-off-my-mother-s-erratic_1731814.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74e/sarah-dessen-110_behavior_most-people-put-off-my-mother-s-erratic_1731814.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Most people put off my mother's erratic behavior to the fact that she was a writer, as if that just…” — Sarah Dessen",
                "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": "Sarah Dessen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Most people put off my mother's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/most-people-put-off-my-mother-s-erratic-behavior-to-the-fact-that-she/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/most-people-put-off-my-mother-s-erratic-behavior-to-the-fact-that-she/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
