--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes people do what they think is…" description: "\"“Sometimes people do what they think is for the best, and their intentions are misinterpreted.”\" — Theresa Breslin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/theresa-breslin-23100_best-intentions_sometimes-people-do-what-they-think-is-f_2826328.png" --- # Sometimes people do what they think is for the best, and… ![“Sometimes people do what they think is for the best, and their intentions are misinterpreted.” quote by Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/theresa-breslin-23100_best-intentions_sometimes-people-do-what-they-think-is-f_2826328.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/theresa-breslin-23100_best-intentions_sometimes-people-do-what-they-think-is-f_2826328.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/theresa-breslin-23100_best-intentions_sometimes-people-do-what-they-think-is-f_2826328.png) > ““Sometimes people do what they think is for the best, and their intentions are misinterpreted.”” [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People act with good intentions but can be misread, leading to unintended consequences. **In simple terms:** Good intentions can be misunderstood. Key Takeaway Clarify intentions and seek feedback. Themes communication misinterpretation intentions relationships Mood reflective cautious Type advice psychology When to use this quote - personal interactions - teamwork - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive bias perspective taking Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify others’ intentions? - What steps ensure clear communication? A Different Perspective Assumptions may cause conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-intentions/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions/) ## Related quotes > [I can only think seriously of trying to live up to an ideal, to improve myself, if I am split in two pieces. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/i-can-only-think-seriously-of-trying-to-live-up-to-an-ideal-to/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [“There are two sides to every story — especially if you’re a hypocrite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/there-are-two-sides-to-every-story-especially-if-you-re-a-hypocrite/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“As she drove, she surprised herself with a sudden laugh. How blind, infinitely blind, she had been to think that men’s inability to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-smith/as-she-drove-she-surprised-herself-with-a-sudden-laugh-how-blind/) [Ray Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-smith/) > [My intentions were good, just that I used wrong tactics and ended up being misinterpreted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-drew/my-intentions-were-good-just-that-i-used-wrong-tactics-and-ended-up/) An Drew > [The vast majority of our teachers, our principals and our PTAs are well informed and well meaning, but even those with the best intentions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-james/the-vast-majority-of-our-teachers-our-principals-and-our-ptas-are/) [Letitia James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-james/) > [“Even with the very best of intentions, even with the ambition of making the world a better place, when we cast judgment upon people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnostic-zetetic/even-with-the-very-best-of-intentions-even-with-the-ambition-of/) Agnostic Zetetic > [Without action, the best intentions in the world are nothing more than that: intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-belfort/without-action-the-best-intentions-in-the-world-are-nothing-more-than/) [Jordan Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-belfort/) > [Please tell me you will remember, no matter how much I do wrong that I had the best of intentions all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-tritt/please-tell-me-you-will-remember-no-matter-how-much-i-do-wrong-that-i/) [Travis Tritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-tritt/) > [The intention to live as long as possible isn't one of the mind's best intentions, because quantity isn't the same as quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-intention-to-live-as-long-as-possible-isn-t-one-of-the-mind-s/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Some of our best intentions fail because we don’t have a system of execution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/some-of-our-best-intentions-fail-because-we-don-t-have-a-system-of/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [We are not our best intentions. We are what we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/we-are-not-our-best-intentions-we-are-what-we-do/) [Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/) > [You can have the best intentions in the world but if you do nothing, you are nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/you-can-have-the-best-intentions-in-the-world-but-if-you-do-nothing/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [“Sometimes our best intentions are not enough, but always remain genuine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-michelle-carithers/sometimes-our-best-intentions-are-not-enough-but-always-remain-genuine/) M (Michelle) Carithers > [Even if you have the best intentions, there may sometimes be a price or a cost or a pushback against what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/even-if-you-have-the-best-intentions-there-may-sometimes-be-a-price/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [“Our best intentions are the most impactful when they are formed by the actual needs and desires of our community.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-docusen/our-best-intentions-are-the-most-impactful-when-they-are-formed-by/) David Docusen ## More by Theresa Breslin > [“The Maestro spoke again. "When we are not, at what point do we become?" I could not reply. For I had grasped no shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/the-maestro-spoke-again-when-we-are-not-at-what-point-do-we-become-i/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [In addition to being a writer, I'm a librarian - professionally trained and everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/in-addition-to-being-a-writer-i-m-a-librarian-professionally-trained/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“What makes a human being want to kill another who has done him no personal harm? Patriotism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/what-makes-a-human-being-want-to-kill-another-who-has-done-him-no/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“I peered at his writing, but I could make nothing of it. Then I saw why, and my soul chilled like marble. His writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/i-peered-at-his-writing-but-i-could-make-nothing-of-it-then-i-saw-why/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“I must tell you this, Maggie. Your letters are my lifeline. Your threat to stop them terrified me. Never stop writing to me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/i-must-tell-you-this-maggie-your-letters-are-my-lifeline-your-threat/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“If you are not a Conchie, what are you man?' demanded the Major. After some moments' thought, Francis said, 'I am a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/if-you-are-not-a-conchie-what-are-you-man-demanded-the-major-after/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“This was not completely true. I had run so fast that I still had a stitch in my side, but I did not want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/this-was-not-completely-true-i-had-run-so-fast-that-i-still-had-a/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“Being illegitimate is a technicality. It does not mean that there is anything wrong with you. Men use "bastard" as a curse. But to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/being-illegitimate-is-a-technicality-it-does-not-mean-that-there-is/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“The scribe was a strict teacher and he did not accept anything less than perfect... Like a mother sensing the baby quickening within her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/the-scribe-was-a-strict-teacher-and-he-did-not-accept-anything-less/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [One of the reasons I began to write was because I wanted stories for my children where the characters spoke as they did and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/one-of-the-reasons-i-began-to-write-was-because-i-wanted-stories-for/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [In order to deliver the emotional truth in the story, you have to include some of the literal truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/in-order-to-deliver-the-emotional-truth-in-the-story-you-have-to/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [My hope is for a literature that raises the language above the ordinary, makes words both functional and emotional, and to resonate at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/my-hope-is-for-a-literature-that-raises-the-language-above-the/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [When I was young, I read everything I could lay my hands on, but the Scots in my storybooks spent their time fighting glorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/when-i-was-young-i-read-everything-i-could-lay-my-hands-on-but-the/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [What I try to do - and I think this is the former librarian in me - is to get primary source material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/what-i-try-to-do-and-i-think-this-is-the-former-librarian-in-me-is-to/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [In addition to exploring imaginative worlds, I believe that young people should have access to reading material that validates their life, that gives them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/in-addition-to-exploring-imaginative-worlds-i-believe-that-young/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) [Explore all 26 Theresa Breslin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) ## More Best intentions quotes > [Where the sky begins, the horizon ends, despite the best intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/where-the-sky-begins-the-horizon-ends-despite-the-best-intentions/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [“Our best intentions are the most impactful when they are formed by the actual needs and desires of our community.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-docusen/our-best-intentions-are-the-most-impactful-when-they-are-formed-by/) David Docusen > [Time and distance have a way of playing tricks with your best intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kiedis/time-and-distance-have-a-way-of-playing-tricks-with-your-best/) [Anthony Kiedis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kiedis/) > [I can only think seriously of trying to live up to an ideal, to improve myself, if I am split in two pieces. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/i-can-only-think-seriously-of-trying-to-live-up-to-an-ideal-to/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Even with the best intentions, growing apart might just be an inevitable part of growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/even-with-the-best-intentions-growing-apart-might-just-be-an/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [“The greatest harm can result from the best intentions - Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/the-greatest-harm-can-result-from-the-best-intentions-zeddicus-zu-l/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [In terms of how the music developed, it was my normal process, which I would say is really a hybrid process of sketching on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-richter/in-terms-of-how-the-music-developed-it-was-my-normal-process-which-i/) [Max Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-richter/) > [Even if you have the best intentions, there may sometimes be a price or a cost or a pushback against what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/even-if-you-have-the-best-intentions-there-may-sometimes-be-a-price/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [“Only a foolish soul would love the stars. As beautiful as they are, they will burn you. Regardless of your best intentions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendal-rob/only-a-foolish-soul-would-love-the-stars-as-beautiful-as-they-are/) [Kendal Rob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendal-rob/) > [“Sometimes our best intentions are not enough, but always remain genuine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-michelle-carithers/sometimes-our-best-intentions-are-not-enough-but-always-remain-genuine/) M (Michelle) Carithers > [“So I found myself asking the question: what is the opposite of a mistake? And I realised there wasn’t a word, in fact, precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-boyd/so-i-found-myself-asking-the-question-what-is-the-opposite-of-a/) [William Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-boyd/) > [“I'm still of the same mind. For many years I've been ashamed, mortally ashamed, of having been, even with the best intentions, even at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-m-still-of-the-same-mind-for-many-years-i-ve-been-ashamed-mortally/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“...I feel like a traitor, a phony, a fake. But I am a hypocrite with the best intentions, and I need kissing desperately.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-j-ginger/i-feel-like-a-traitor-a-phony-a-fake-but-i-am-a-hypocrite-with-the/) Coco J. Ginger > [“Maybe you will never be able to forgive me, but I wanted you to know I had the best intentions-and I still love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/maybe-you-will-never-be-able-to-forgive-me-but-i-wanted-you-to-know-i/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [“The maxim, by which we commonly conduct ourselves in our reasonings, is, that the objects, of which we have no experience, resemble those, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-maxim-by-which-we-commonly-conduct-ourselves-in-our-reasonings-is/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Browse all 158 Best intentions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-intentions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sometimes people do what they think is for the best, and their intentions are misinterpreted.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theresa Breslin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/sometimes-people-do-what-they-think-is-for-the-best-and-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best intentions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/sometimes-people-do-what-they-think-is-for-the-best-and-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/theresa-breslin-23100_best-intentions_sometimes-people-do-what-they-think-is-f_2826328.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/theresa-breslin-23100_best-intentions_sometimes-people-do-what-they-think-is-f_2826328.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/theresa-breslin-23100_best-intentions_sometimes-people-do-what-they-think-is-f_2826328.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes people do what they think is for the best, and their intentions are misinterpreted.” — Theresa Breslin", "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": "Theresa Breslin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Sometimes people do what they think...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/sometimes-people-do-what-they-think-is-for-the-best-and-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/sometimes-people-do-what-they-think-is-for-the-best-and-their/#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 } } ] } ```