--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s all right.” “It’s not. Nothing’s…" description: "\"“It’s all right.” “It’s not. Nothing’s right. I’ve never done a right thing in my life, it seems.” “That makes a pair of us then.” Her lips pressed aga..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/tessa-dare-564_following-rules_it-s-all-right-it-s-not-nothing-s-right_2953705.png" --- # It’s all right.” “It’s not. Nothing’s right. I’ve never… ![“It’s all right.” “It’s not. Nothing’s right. I’ve never done a right thing in my life, it seems.” “That makes a pair of us then.” Her lips pressed against the spot under his ear. “But I believe we are right together, don’t you? People like us…we have no talent for following rules. We can only…” quote by Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/tessa-dare-564_following-rules_it-s-all-right-it-s-not-nothing-s-right_2953705.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/tessa-dare-564_following-rules_it-s-all-right-it-s-not-nothing-s-right_2953705.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/tessa-dare-564_following-rules_it-s-all-right-it-s-not-nothing-s-right_2953705.png) > ““It’s all right.” “It’s not. Nothing’s right. I’ve never done a right thing in my life, it seems.” “That makes a pair of us then.” Her lips pressed against the spot under his ear. “But I believe we are right together, don’t you? People like us…we have no talent for following rules. We can only follow our hearts. I’ve wronged people as well, but is it horribly wicked that I can’t bring myself to regret it? It brought me to you.” He took one of her hands and kissed it. “You’re so young, you can’t know the meaning of true regret. It’s never what you’ve done, love, it’s what you’ve left undone.”” [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Two characters reconcile their sense of moral failure by embracing love and shared imperfection, suggesting that true regret stems from unfulfilled potential rather than past deeds. **In simple terms:** Love can outweigh past mistakes; regret is about what we didn't do. Key Takeaway Embrace love, focus on shared growth. Themes love redemption imperfection regret selfacceptance Mood reflective hopeful Type romantic philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts existentialism romanticism Questions to Reflect On - Do you define regret by actions or omissions? - Can love truly absolve past wrongs? A Different Perspective Regret may still haunt despite love. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bring Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring-regret-492080/) [Following rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following-rules/) [Hands Kissed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-kissed-318911/) [Kissed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissed/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regret Brought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret-brought-4464329/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) ## Related quotes > [He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her full on the mouth. His skin was wet with rain. When she didn't pull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/he-put-his-hands-on-her-shoulders-and-kissed-her-full-on-the-mouth/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [“He glided to Jane, took her face in his papery hands, kissed her lightly on her full lips, and then floated back a step.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/he-glided-to-jane-took-her-face-in-his-papery-hands-kissed-her/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [It's alright. When I see you, I'll just duck my head and pretend you aren't there. When I hear your name, I'll pretend I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayla-jackson/it-s-alright-when-i-see-you-i-ll-just-duck-my-head-and-pretend-you/) [Kayla Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayla-jackson/) > [What is first love worth, except to prepare for a second? What does second love bring? Only regret for the first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hay/what-is-first-love-worth-except-to-prepare-for-a-second-what-does/) [John Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hay/) > [Don't make the kinds of mistakes that will bring regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/don-t-make-the-kinds-of-mistakes-that-will-bring-regret/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“I couldn't bring myself to regret the decision. When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it's not reasonable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-couldn-t-bring-myself-to-regret-the-decision-when-life-offers-you-a/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“Look at that ship. That clipper cost me a queen’s ransom, even with the Kestrel thrown in the bargain. But it was the fastest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/look-at-that-ship-that-clipper-cost-me-a-queen-s-ransom-even-with-the/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“I found him in the kitchen, at the table in the bay window, already eating his cereal. “I was going to fix you breakfast,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/i-found-him-in-the-kitchen-at-the-table-in-the-bay-window-already/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) > [“Then suddenly, as I was suggesting I take over the daily snare run, he took my face in his hands and kissed me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-suddenly-as-i-was-suggesting-i-take-over-the-daily-snare-run-he/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“He took her face in both his hands and kissed her like they weren't even married yet”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-baker/he-took-her-face-in-both-his-hands-and-kissed-her-like-they-weren-t/) [Ellen Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-baker/) > [“I will always take you home,” he whispered, and Will framed his face with both hands and kissed him again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/i-will-always-take-you-home-he-whispered-and-will-framed-his-face/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“This thing with us is the only real thing I've had in a long time. You're the only real thing." He raised our hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/this-thing-with-us-is-the-only-real-thing-i-ve-had-in-a-long-time-you/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“I love you, Aletta. I want you to be my wife. And no matter how long you need, I’ll wait for you. Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamera-alexander/i-love-you-aletta-i-want-you-to-be-my-wife-and-no-matter-how-long-you/) [Tamera Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamera-alexander/) > [“He crossed the room to me and grabbed me by the shoulders. In three steps, he had me backed up against the bookcase. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/he-crossed-the-room-to-me-and-grabbed-me-by-the-shoulders-in-three/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“I had waited so long to touch him. I was like a kid in a candy store. I backed him into the cabinets and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-tibbs/i-had-waited-so-long-to-touch-him-i-was-like-a-kid-in-a-candy-store-i/) [Rhonda Tibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-tibbs/) ## More by Tessa Dare > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“You think a few features scattered on your face make you plain? I am ugly to the core. All England knows it. And after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/you-think-a-few-features-scattered-on-your-face-make-you-plain-i-am/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“I’d be more than happy to let you survey my physical perfection in its entirety. But only if I get to see you, too.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/i-d-be-more-than-happy-to-let-you-survey-my-physical-perfection-in/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Words for everyday showers of prettiness, and the kind of misty loveliness that disappears whenever you try to grasp it. Beauty that’s heralded by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/words-for-everyday-showers-of-prettiness-and-the-kind-of-misty/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“ The captain? Sophia stood staring numbly after him. Had he just said he’d introduce her to the captain? Of someone else was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-captain-sophia-stood-staring-numbly-after-him-had-he-just-said-he/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Madeline stood before him in a gown of rich, emerald-green silk. The low-cut bodice did miraculous things for her bosom, and the vibrant color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/madeline-stood-before-him-in-a-gown-of-rich-emerald-green-silk-the/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And she was well-enough acquainted with loneliness to understand that the worst part wasn't having nobody caring for you - it was having nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-she-was-well-enough-acquainted-with-loneliness-to-understand-that/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“He stood in the doorway to a side chamber, bared to the waist and dripping. He propped one shoulder against the doorway and clutched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/he-stood-in-the-doorway-to-a-side-chamber-bared-to-the-waist-and/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And you claim to be feeling this way. Floatish. Singsong-ish. About me.” She sighed. “Yes.” “That’s absurd.” “I know, but I can’t seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-you-claim-to-be-feeling-this-way-floatish-singsong-ish-about-me/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“No, of course she didn't say it. But there is no other reason she should have called, except to pave the way for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/no-of-course-she-didn-t-say-it-but-there-is-no-other-reason-she/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And there it was. The prim face of censure he’d been seeking. A strange sense of satisfaction descended on him. Divine justice, perhaps. Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-there-it-was-the-prim-face-of-censure-he-d-been-seeking-a-strange/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Another sketch-this one of Gabriel-hung on the all above the water cask. It swiveled gently on a single tack; or rather, the paper hung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/another-sketch-this-one-of-gabriel-hung-on-the-all-above-the-water/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“I know what you’re thinking, Gray,” O’Shea’s brogue lilted down through the skylight one warm morning, while Sophia was hard at work. Mr. Grayson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-gray-o-shea-s-brogue-lilted-down-through/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“The path was a familiar one. Over the years she’d resided in Spindle Cove, Susanna must have walked it thousands of times. She knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-path-was-a-familiar-one-over-the-years-she-d-resided-in-spindle/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Miss Finch, it’s not wise for officers to quarter in the same house with an unmarried gentlewoman. Have a care for your reputation, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/miss-finch-it-s-not-wise-for-officers-to-quarter-in-the-same-house/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) [Explore all 472 Tessa Dare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) ## More Following rules quotes > [There are certain things that we can deal with by following the rules. But at times, we find the rules restrict you from doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/there-are-certain-things-that-we-can-deal-with-by-following-the-rules/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [I thought being a Christian was about following rules and going to church and being good all the time, but this girl helped me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clark/i-thought-being-a-christian-was-about-following-rules-and-going-to/) [Kelly Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clark/) > [My mother was in the Army Reserve for six years. She taught me the importance of following rules, finishing what I start, never giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/my-mother-was-in-the-army-reserve-for-six-years-she-taught-me-the/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [“The following “Rules for Female Teachers” were posted by the school board of one town in Massachusetts: Do not get married. Do not leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-following-rules-for-female-teachers-were-posted-by-the-school/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I am not good at following rules, I am not good at following instructions, I am not good at driving slow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-combs/i-am-not-good-at-following-rules-i-am-not-good-at-following/) [Jessi Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-combs/) > [“I found him in the kitchen, at the table in the bay window, already eating his cereal. “I was going to fix you breakfast,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/i-found-him-in-the-kitchen-at-the-table-in-the-bay-window-already/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) > [The rhyme always knows better than you, and leads you to places where you wouldn't otherwise have gotten to and that is absolutely the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/the-rhyme-always-knows-better-than-you-and-leads-you-to-places-where/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“Look at that ship. That clipper cost me a queen’s ransom, even with the Kestrel thrown in the bargain. But it was the fastest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/look-at-that-ship-that-clipper-cost-me-a-queen-s-ransom-even-with-the/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“That’s the problem with following all the rules—somebody else is eventually going to get ahead by breaking them, and then where will you be?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/that-s-the-problem-with-following-all-the-rules-somebody-else-is/) [Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/) > [We seem to believe it is possible to ward off death by following rules of good grooming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-seem-to-believe-it-is-possible-to-ward-off-death-by-following/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“There are rules to everything, even if nobody made them up, even if nobody calls it a game. And if you want things to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/there-are-rules-to-everything-even-if-nobody-made-them-up-even-if/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [When subject matter is forced to fit into preconceived patterns, there can be no freshness of vision. Following rules of composition can only lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/when-subject-matter-is-forced-to-fit-into-preconceived-patterns-there/) [Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/) > [Rebellion is not always the right thing. Following the rules is not always the right thing. You have to think for yourself and identify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/rebellion-is-not-always-the-right-thing-following-the-rules-is-not/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [“Suppose there is a group of friends who create a club where the rule is to “not follow any rules.” However, “do not follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-carter/suppose-there-is-a-group-of-friends-who-create-a-club-where-the-rule/) [Lucy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-carter/) > [Following rules is, of course, the reason the dog is man's best friend is because the dog follows rules, and they actually do experiments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/following-rules-is-of-course-the-reason-the-dog-is-man-s-best-friend/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) [Browse all 54 Following rules quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following-rules/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s all right.” “It’s not. Nothing’s right. I’ve never done a right thing in my life, it seems.” “That makes a pair of us then.” Her lips pressed against the spot under his ear. “But I believe we are right together, don’t you? People like us…we have no talent for following rules. We can only follow our hearts. I’ve wronged people as well, but is it horribly wicked that I can’t bring myself to regret it? It brought me to you.” He took one of her hands and kissed it. “You’re so young, you can’t know the meaning of true regret. It’s never what you’ve done, love, it’s what you’ve left undone.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tessa Dare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/it-s-all-right-it-s-not-nothing-s-right-i-ve-never-done-a-right-thing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Following rules" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/it-s-all-right-it-s-not-nothing-s-right-i-ve-never-done-a-right-thing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/tessa-dare-564_following-rules_it-s-all-right-it-s-not-nothing-s-right_2953705.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/tessa-dare-564_following-rules_it-s-all-right-it-s-not-nothing-s-right_2953705.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/tessa-dare-564_following-rules_it-s-all-right-it-s-not-nothing-s-right_2953705.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It’s all right.” “It’s not. Nothing’s right. I’ve never done a right thing in my life, it seems.” “That…” — Tessa Dare", "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": "Tessa Dare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It’s all right.” “It’s not. Nothing’s...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/it-s-all-right-it-s-not-nothing-s-right-i-ve-never-done-a-right-thing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/it-s-all-right-it-s-not-nothing-s-right-i-ve-never-done-a-right-thing/#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 } } ] } ```