--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He says when you're smoking a cigarette…" description: "\"“He says when you're smoking a cigarette with someone, and you have a lighter, you should light their cigarette first. But if you have matches, you sho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/stephen-chbosky-387_bad-luck_he-says-when-you-re-smoking-a-cigarette_424232.jpg" --- # He says when you're smoking a cigarette with someone, and… ![“He says when you're smoking a cigarette with someone, and you have a lighter, you should light their cigarette first. But if you have matches, you should light your cigarette first, so you breathe in the 'harmful sulfur' instead of them. He says it's the polite thing to do. He also says it's bad…” quote by Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/stephen-chbosky-387_bad-luck_he-says-when-you-re-smoking-a-cigarette_424232.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/stephen-chbosky-387_bad-luck_he-says-when-you-re-smoking-a-cigarette_424232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/stephen-chbosky-387_bad-luck_he-says-when-you-re-smoking-a-cigarette_424232.jpg) > ““He says when you're smoking a cigarette with someone, and you have a lighter, you should light their cigarette first. But if you have matches, you should light your cigarette first, so you breathe in the 'harmful sulfur' instead of them. He says it's the polite thing to do. He also says it's bad luck to have "three on a match." He heard that from his uncle who fought in Vietnam. Something about how three cigarettes was enough time for the enemy to know where you are. Bob says that when you're alone, and you light a cigarette, and the cigarette is only halfway lit that means someone is thinking about you.”” [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sharing a cigarette first shows courtesy and protects yourself; lighting your own first avoids inhaling harmful smoke; superstitions about matches reflect wartime caution. **In simple terms:** Politeness and self‑preservation in small actions. Key Takeaway Consider others before yourself. Themes courtesy self‑care superstition Mood reflective cautious Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - social gatherings - stressful situations - war zones Key Concepts social etiquette risk avoidance cultural belief Questions to Reflect On - When does courtesy become self‑sacrifice? - Do superstitions affect your decisions? A Different Perspective Politeness may be superficial; superstitions can be irrational. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-luck/) [Cigarette Halfway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette-halfway-3753467/) [Cigarette Matches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette-matches-3753466/) [Cigarettes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarettes/) [Enough time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough-time/) [Light Cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-cigarette-446763/) [Matches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matches/) [Says Smoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-smoking-2927320/) [Smoking Cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoking-cigarette-242192/) [Vietnam war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vietnam-war/) ## Related quotes > [Of course I'm eating a ciggarete. The sign says no smoking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/of-course-i-m-eating-a-ciggarete-the-sign-says-no-smoking/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“Rather than you smoking a cigarette, the cigarette is really smoking you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/rather-than-you-smoking-a-cigarette-the-cigarette-is-really-smoking/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“I was in control of every area of my life except for smoking. The cigarette was deciding where I could go, what I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-carr/i-was-in-control-of-every-area-of-my-life-except-for-smoking-the/) [Allen Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-carr/) > [In a long coat, grey hat, smoking a cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/in-a-long-coat-grey-hat-smoking-a-cigarette/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [“He said that when you’re locked up, smoking a cigarette is like having a friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/he-said-that-when-you-re-locked-up-smoking-a-cigarette-is-like-having/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Just saw a pregnant lady smoking a cigarette. We live in a cruel world ladies and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-saw-a-pregnant-lady-smoking-a-cigarette-we-live-in-a-cruel-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Yeah,' I said and started smoking another cigarette. Unless I inform you otherwise, I'm always smoking another cigarette.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/yeah-i-said-and-started-smoking-another-cigarette-unless-i-inform-you/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“If you ask someone out and they say no, try it again in a few minutes wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigarette.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-delaney/if-you-ask-someone-out-and-they-say-no-try-it-again-in-a-few-minutes/) [Rob Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-delaney/) > [Unless I specifically inform you otherwise, I'm always smoking another cigarette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/unless-i-specifically-inform-you-otherwise-i-m-always-smoking-another/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“He even let me smoke a cigarette in his office, but he urged me to quit smoking because of the health risks. He even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/he-even-let-me-smoke-a-cigarette-in-his-office-but-he-urged-me-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“That is a terrifically intimate thing, you know? Letting a stranger light your cigarette. Leaning forward so he can hold a flame to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/that-is-a-terrifically-intimate-thing-you-know-letting-a-stranger/) [Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/) > [If there was a pause in a conversation with anyone, you could always light a cigarette, or if a man lit a cigarette for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/if-there-was-a-pause-in-a-conversation-with-anyone-you-could-always/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [“Why do you lie to me, darling? You know that I’ll stick with you to the end.” I picked up a cigarette. He hurried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-caspary/why-do-you-lie-to-me-darling-you-know-that-i-ll-stick-with-you-to-the/) [Vera Caspary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-caspary/) > [It should not be an act of social disobedience to light a cigarette. Unless you're actually a doctor working at an incubator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/it-should-not-be-an-act-of-social-disobedience-to-light-a-cigarette/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [“I believe anyone could light a cigarette from the sparks that fly from your eyes!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enid-blyton/i-believe-anyone-could-light-a-cigarette-from-the-sparks-that-fly/) [Enid Blyton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enid-blyton/) ## More by Stephen Chbosky > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“It's great that you can listen and be a shoulder to someone, but what about when someone doesn't need a shoulder. What if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/it-s-great-that-you-can-listen-and-be-a-shoulder-to-someone-but-what/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [Most of the people I know who were raised to be accommodating or were raised to just be nice and put everybody's needs ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/most-of-the-people-i-know-who-were-raised-to-be-accommodating-or-were/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I don’t want to start thinking again. Not like I have this last week. I can’t think again. Not ever again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-don-t-want-to-start-thinking-again-not-like-i-have-this-last-week-i/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“And then Patrick started running after the sunset. And Sam immediately followed him. And I saw them in silhouette. Running after the sun. Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/and-then-patrick-started-running-after-the-sunset-and-sam-immediately/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [That was always my hope that that is exactly what I would do. It was always part of the dream of this story -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/that-was-always-my-hope-that-that-is-exactly-what-i-would-do-it-was/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [And she says she wants to expose me to all these great things. And to tell you the truth, I don't really want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/and-she-says-she-wants-to-expose-me-to-all-these-great-things-and-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“I'm sorry I bothered you, Susan. I'm just having a tough time. That's all. Have a good one," I said and walked away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-m-sorry-i-bothered-you-susan-i-m-just-having-a-tough-time-that-s/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [When we were all getting ready to leave, I walked up to my grandfather and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/when-we-were-all-getting-ready-to-leave-i-walked-up-to-my-grandfather/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [It's like he would take a photograph of Sam, and the photograph would be beautiful. And he would think that the reason the photograph…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/it-s-like-he-would-take-a-photograph-of-sam-and-the-photograph-would/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [Five minutes of a lifetime were truly spent, and we felt young in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/five-minutes-of-a-lifetime-were-truly-spent-and-we-felt-young-in-a/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I feel like a big faker because I've been putting my life back together, and nobody knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-feel-like-a-big-faker-because-i-ve-been-putting-my-life-back/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“So, this is my life. And I want you to know I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/so-this-is-my-life-and-i-want-you-to-know-i-am-both-happy-and-sad-and/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [If you care about somebody, you should want them to be happy. Even if you wind up being left out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/if-you-care-about-somebody-you-should-want-them-to-be-happy-even-if/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I wasn't raised very religiously because my parents went to Catholic school, but I do believe in God very much. I just never gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-wasn-t-raised-very-religiously-because-my-parents-went-to-catholic/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) [Explore all 558 Stephen Chbosky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) ## More Bad luck quotes > [“You never talk to the pitcher when…” He shook his head. “You just never talk to the pitcher when--” “I just wanted to congratulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/you-never-talk-to-the-pitcher-when-he-shook-his-head-you-just-never/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) > [Bad luck isn't brought by broken mirrors, but by broken minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/bad-luck-isn-t-brought-by-broken-mirrors-but-by-broken-minds/) [Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/) > [I never knew an early-rising, hard-working, prudent man, careful of his earnings, and strictly honest who complained of bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-never-knew-an-early-rising-hard-working-prudent-man-careful-of-his/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“I didn't do any of what they told me,' she said, 'because the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/i-didn-t-do-any-of-what-they-told-me-she-said-because-the-more-i/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [“Everyone knows it is bad luck to step on a toad or on the shadow of a tree, to walk under a ladder,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-knows-it-is-bad-luck-to-step-on-a-toad-or-on-the-shadow-of-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Because the core of my personal philosophy is that everything that happens to us benefits us, I was also spared the futility of cursing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-the-core-of-my-personal-philosophy-is-that-everything-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is no bad luck in the world but whitefolks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-is-no-bad-luck-in-the-world-but-whitefolks/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [The biggest trap, the biggest dungeon in life isn't laziness or bad luck, it's comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-biggest-trap-the-biggest-dungeon-in-life-isn-t-laziness-or-bad/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [All of us have bad luck and good luck. The man who persists through the bad luck - who keeps right on going -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/all-of-us-have-bad-luck-and-good-luck-the-man-who-persists-through/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [“I was just beginning to wonder how long I would have to wait when finally a guard sauntered up and said, “Galloway, get your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-galloway/i-was-just-beginning-to-wonder-how-long-i-would-have-to-wait-when/) [Noah Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-galloway/) > [“Oh, I don’t buy lottery tickets... because if I won, and I was capable of that kind of odd luck, then I would also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissi-sepe/oh-i-don-t-buy-lottery-tickets-because-if-i-won-and-i-was-capable-of/) [Chrissi Sepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissi-sepe/) > [“Before Tessa could answer, there was a knock at the door, and a familiar voice. "It's Jem. Tessa, are you there?" Charlotte sat bolt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/before-tessa-could-answer-there-was-a-knock-at-the-door-and-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“If you were crossing the road and saw a black cat passing, you may possibly get hit by a car, or a mail boy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basma-salem/if-you-were-crossing-the-road-and-saw-a-black-cat-passing-you-may/) [Basma Salem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basma-salem/) > [I'm very superstitious, and I think it's bad luck. 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