--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would have been funny if I had been an…" description: "\"It would have been funny if I had been an observer and not a participant, an idea that gave me a disconcerting insight into gossip. As I walked beside ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/sherwood-smith-10181_bottom_it-would-have-been-funny-if-i-had-been-a_89624.jpg" --- # It would have been funny if I had been an observer and not… ![“It would have been funny if I had been an observer and not a participant, an idea that gave me a disconcerting insight into gossip. As I walked beside the silent Tamara, I realized that despite how entertaining certain stories were, at the bottom of every item of gossip there was someone getting…” quote by Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/sherwood-smith-10181_bottom_it-would-have-been-funny-if-i-had-been-a_89624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/sherwood-smith-10181_bottom_it-would-have-been-funny-if-i-had-been-a_89624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/sherwood-smith-10181_bottom_it-would-have-been-funny-if-i-had-been-a_89624.jpg) > “It would have been funny if I had been an observer and not a participant, an idea that gave me a disconcerting insight into gossip. As I walked beside the silent Tamara, I realized that despite how entertaining certain stories were, at the bottom of every item of gossip there was someone getting hurt.” [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gossip masks pain; the entertainment value hides the harm inflicted on real people. **In simple terms:** Gossip hurts its subjects. Key Takeaway Stories have hidden victims. Themes empathy social dynamics communication Mood reflective somber Type observation reflection When to use this quote - office chatter - online forums Key Concepts psychology morality Practical Applications - conflict resolution - media literacy Questions to Reflect On - When does sharing a story become exploitation? - How can we enjoy narratives without harming others? A Different Perspective Some argue gossip can serve as social bonding, but it still risks damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Disconcerting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disconcerting/) [Entertaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertaining/) [Getting hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-hurt/) [Gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip/) [Gossip Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip-getting-1117295/) [Gossip Walked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip-walked-1117293/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [I realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-realized/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight/) [Insight Gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight-gossip-1117294/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Despite how entertaining certain stories were, at the bottom of every item of gossip there was someone getting hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/despite-how-entertaining-certain-stories-were-at-the-bottom-of-every/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [It's always disconcerting when somebody comes over to you on the bus and says, 'I know who you are.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-taylor/it-s-always-disconcerting-when-somebody-comes-over-to-you-on-the-bus/) [Diana Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-taylor/) > [“It was always disconcerting to discover that you shared opinions with someone you had no respect for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-cypess/it-was-always-disconcerting-to-discover-that-you-shared-opinions-with/) [Leah Cypess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-cypess/) > [Existence itself is disconcerting and disorienting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/existence-itself-is-disconcerting-and-disorienting/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [There are a few things that were disconcerting, the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/there-are-a-few-things-that-were-disconcerting-the-stories-about-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [raking a hand through his hair, he forced his attention to the text she'd left on the coffee table, refusing to dwell on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/raking-a-hand-through-his-hair-he-forced-his-attention-to-the-text/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [A yawn is more disconcerting than a contradiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/a-yawn-is-more-disconcerting-than-a-contradiction/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Truth is so often disconcerting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/truth-is-so-often-disconcerting/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [“Truth can well out of a man like blood from a wound, and it can be just as disconcerting to look at.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/truth-can-well-out-of-a-man-like-blood-from-a-wound-and-it-can-be/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [The mystic lives and looks; and speaks the disconcerting language of first-hand experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/the-mystic-lives-and-looks-and-speaks-the-disconcerting-language-of/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [“During his reading hours, which were between one and five o'clock in the morning, but not every morning, he had come to the disconcerting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-cort-zar/during-his-reading-hours-which-were-between-one-and-five-o-clock-in/) [Julio Cortázar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-cort-zar/) > [I find it both fascinating and disconcerting when I discover yet another person who believes that writing can't be taught. Frankly, I don't understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-find-it-both-fascinating-and-disconcerting-when-i-discover-yet/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [“The intimacy was disconcerting, right and wrong at the same time, comforting and terrifying, exhilarating and guilt-inducing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasinda-wilder/the-intimacy-was-disconcerting-right-and-wrong-at-the-same-time/) [Jasinda Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasinda-wilder/) > [I do find it a bit disconcerting when your name becomes a brand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-find-it-a-bit-disconcerting-when-your-name-becomes-a-brand/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just cannot imagine why anyone would want to be really famous. You go to a restaurant and people are pointing at you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-horner/i-just-cannot-imagine-why-anyone-would-want-to-be-really-famous-you/) [Jack Horner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-horner/) ## More by Sherwood Smith > [“Who in the universe halts when the enemy tells them to?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/who-in-the-universe-halts-when-the-enemy-tells-them-to/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [Except. What is normal at any given time? We change just as the seasons change, and each spring brings new growth. So nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/except-what-is-normal-at-any-given-time-we-change-just-as-the-seasons/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [I have made number mistakes - I have such bad number dyslexia that I can look at a number and see the wrong one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/i-have-made-number-mistakes-i-have-such-bad-number-dyslexia-that-i/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“War is a convenient fix for government problems if it happens somewhere else. To other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/war-is-a-convenient-fix-for-government-problems-if-it-happens/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“If your opponent is better armed and has longer reach, then surprise is your only ally. And then you'd better hope he's half asleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/if-your-opponent-is-better-armed-and-has-longer-reach-then-surprise/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [As a kid, I pretty much got nothing but scorn, and occasionally active animus, for writing fantasy and squirreling it away in my closet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/as-a-kid-i-pretty-much-got-nothing-but-scorn-and-occasionally-active/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“The more one has, the less one desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/the-more-one-has-the-less-one-desires/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“Fall in love with heart, not head, to trouble you’re led. Fall in love with heart and mind, then true love you’ll find.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/fall-in-love-with-heart-not-head-to-trouble-you-re-led-fall-in-love/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [I had seen ardency in men's eyes, but I had only felt it once. With Flauvic, false and therefore easy to dismiss. I suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/i-had-seen-ardency-in-men-s-eyes-but-i-had-only-felt-it-once-with/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [Everyone is an idiot," I stated. "Except me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/everyone-is-an-idiot-i-stated-except-me/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [Despite how entertaining certain stories were, at the bottom of every item of gossip there was someone getting hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/despite-how-entertaining-certain-stories-were-at-the-bottom-of-every/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [They're safe,'' he said. "And you're not made of glass". He swept me up in his arms. I laughed. "And I'm not made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/they-re-safe-he-said-and-you-re-not-made-of-glass-he-swept-me-up-in/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“Who can ever know what turns the spark into flame? Vidanric's initial interest in me might well have been kindled by the fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/who-can-ever-know-what-turns-the-spark-into-flame-vidanric-s-initial/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [“For the first time, I comprehended that love, at least for me, had nothing to do with sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/for-the-first-time-i-comprehended-that-love-at-least-for-me-had/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) > [Why is it the songs all end with the good people winning, but in life they don't?" They don't make songs when the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-smith/why-is-it-the-songs-all-end-with-the-good-people-winning-but-in-life/) [Sherwood Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) [Explore all 67 Sherwood Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-smith/) ## More Bottom 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/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/search-for-the-seed-of-good-in-every-adversity-master-that-principle/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought you ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/one-thing-you-learned-as-a-cubs-fan-when-you-bought-you-ticket-you/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) [Browse all 2,558 Bottom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It would have been funny if I had been an observer and not a participant, an idea that gave me a disconcerting insight into gossip. 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