--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don’t mind citing a bad author if the…" description: "\"I don’t mind citing a bad author if the line is good.\" — Seneca the Younger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/seneca-the-younger-219_ashamed_i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the_2135510.jpg" --- # I don’t mind citing a bad author if the line is good. ![“I don’t mind citing a bad author if the line is good.” quote by Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/seneca-the-younger-219_ashamed_i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the_2135510.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/seneca-the-younger-219_ashamed_i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the_2135510.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/seneca-the-younger-219_ashamed_i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the_2135510.jpg) > “I don’t mind citing a bad author if the line is good.” [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citing a poor author is acceptable if the quoted line is valuable. **In simple terms:** Use a good line even from a bad source. Key Takeaway Prioritize the merit of ideas over the reputation of their source. Themes ethics knowledge critical thinking literature Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - academic writing - public speaking - debates - content creation Key Concepts citation evaluation wisdom Questions to Reflect On - Is the idea more important than its origin? - How do you verify the quality of a quoted line? A Different Perspective Risk of spreading misinformation if source is unreliable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Author Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author-line-4422729/) [Bad Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-author-3526302/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Citing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citing/) [Citing Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citing-bad-4422728/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Line Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line-good-734241/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) ## Related quotes > [I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-shall-never-be-ashamed-of-citing-a-bad-author-if-the-line-is-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I shall never be ashamed to quote a bad author if what he says is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/i-shall-never-be-ashamed-to-quote-a-bad-author-if-what-he-says-is-good/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [A bad author can take the most moral issue and make you want to just never, ever think about that moral issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/a-bad-author-can-take-the-most-moral-issue-and-make-you-want-to-just/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [One of the things that I've always appreciated about the 'X-Men' style of storytelling versus other Marvel stories is how fluid the line between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/one-of-the-things-that-i-ve-always-appreciated-about-the-x-men-style/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [In movies there is a clear line between the good guys and the bad guys. In life, not so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-movies-there-is-a-clear-line-between-the-good-guys-and-the-bad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like to work and it kind of keeps me in line, which is very good because I need that structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-anderson/i-like-to-work-and-it-kind-of-keeps-me-in-line-which-is-very-good/) [Pamela Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-anderson/) > [“Why did you date all of those girls?” “Sometimes, you’re just looking for something that’s right.” Oh, it was a line. It was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-fine/why-did-you-date-all-of-those-girls-sometimes-you-re-just-looking-for/) [Chelsea Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-fine/) > [“In a long line of good exits, that was one of his best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/in-a-long-line-of-good-exits-that-was-one-of-his-best/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [The image people have of comedians staring defiantly over a stationary line of good taste is simply inaccurate. We don't approach this line, put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/the-image-people-have-of-comedians-staring-defiantly-over-a/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [The bottom line for everyone is I'm not good enough. It's only a thought, and a thought can be changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/the-bottom-line-for-everyone-is-i-m-not-good-enough-it-s-only-a/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [The line between good and evil is movable and it's permeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/the-line-between-good-and-evil-is-movable-and-it-s-permeable/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [“Earth never grieves, I thought, walking across the park, watching seagulls cruising greedily above the ground looking for heaven knows what. Don't you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/earth-never-grieves-i-thought-walking-across-the-park-watching/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [To me the bottom line is: good music is good music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-haywood/to-me-the-bottom-line-is-good-music-is-good-music/) [Dave Haywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-haywood/) > [To see the line between being good and bad is really thin. It's not easy for anyone, not the manager, the players or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikel-arteta/to-see-the-line-between-being-good-and-bad-is-really-thin-it-s-not/) [Mikel Arteta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikel-arteta/) > [Even when there's not a joke or a hook, the first line has to be good and snapem to attention. Songs ain't novels. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bern/even-when-there-s-not-a-joke-or-a-hook-the-first-line-has-to-be-good/) [Dan Bern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bern/) ## More by Seneca the Younger > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-great-step-towards-independence-is-a-good-humored-stomach-one-that/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Leisure without study is death, and the grave of a living man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/leisure-without-study-is-death-and-the-grave-of-a-living-man/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/such-as-the-chain-of-causes-we-call-fate-such-is-the-chain-of-wishes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [To rule yourself is the ultimate power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/to-rule-yourself-is-the-ultimate-power/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The road by precepts is tedious, by example, short and efficacious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-road-by-precepts-is-tedious-by-example-short-and-efficacious/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Misfortune is the test of a person's merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/misfortune-is-the-test-of-a-person-s-merit/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [He who does not want to die should not want to live. For life is tendered to us with the proviso of death. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/he-who-does-not-want-to-die-should-not-want-to-live-for-life-is/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Let us not seek our disease out of ourselves; 'tis in us, and planted in our bowels; and the mere fact that we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/let-us-not-seek-our-disease-out-of-ourselves-tis-in-us-and-planted-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [After death there is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/after-death-there-is-nothing/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Adversity finds at last the man whom she has often passed by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/adversity-finds-at-last-the-man-whom-she-has-often-passed-by/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Hesitation is the best cure for anger. The first blows of anger are heavy, but if it waits, it will think again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/hesitation-is-the-best-cure-for-anger-the-first-blows-of-anger-are/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) [Explore all 872 Seneca the Younger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## More Ashamed quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) [Robert Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-preston/) > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“with her own life. And I was ashamed.” Humiliated. Broken. Miserable. If Wilcher had stood by Jaymee, if her father hadn’t berated her, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-green/with-her-own-life-and-i-was-ashamed-humiliated-broken-miserable-if/) [Stacy Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-green/) > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) [Vernon Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-johns/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/whoever-is-ashamed-of-me-and-my-words-the-son-of-man-will-be-ashamed/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“To survive during the Khmer Rouge, you had to steal, cheat, lie, point fingers at others, even kill. And now you are ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brinkley/to-survive-during-the-khmer-rouge-you-had-to-steal-cheat-lie-point/) [Joel Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brinkley/) [Browse all 1,607 Ashamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don’t mind citing a bad author if the line is good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Seneca the Younger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the-line-is-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ashamed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the-line-is-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/seneca-the-younger-219_ashamed_i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the_2135510.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/seneca-the-younger-219_ashamed_i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the_2135510.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/seneca-the-younger-219_ashamed_i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the_2135510.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don’t mind citing a bad author if the line is good.” — Seneca the Younger", "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": "Seneca the Younger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don’t mind citing a bad...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the-line-is-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/i-don-t-mind-citing-a-bad-author-if-the-line-is-good/#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 } } ] } ```