--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are terrible. They do terrible…" description: "\"People are terrible. They do terrible things to each other, they hurt each other, they lie, they're vain, they're shallow, they're violent ... but they..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/torquil-campbell-28620_hurt_people-are-terrible-they-do-terrible-thi_1695927.jpg" --- # People are terrible. They do terrible things to each… ![“People are terrible. They do terrible things to each other, they hurt each other, they lie, they're vain, they're shallow, they're violent ... but they're all we have.” quote by Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/torquil-campbell-28620_hurt_people-are-terrible-they-do-terrible-thi_1695927.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/torquil-campbell-28620_hurt_people-are-terrible-they-do-terrible-thi_1695927.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d04/torquil-campbell-28620_hurt_people-are-terrible-they-do-terrible-thi_1695927.jpg) > “People are terrible. They do terrible things to each other, they hurt each other, they lie, they're vain, they're shallow, they're violent ... but they're all we have.” [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature is flawed and often harmful, yet we remain our only companions and society. **In simple terms:** People are flawed but essential. Key Takeaway Accept imperfections, cherish community. Themes human nature flaws community Mood reflective empathetic Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - relationships - teamwork - conflict resolution - self‑acceptance Key Concepts existentialism social bonds Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance criticism with appreciation? - What role does community play in personal growth? A Different Perspective Even with flaws, people can grow and improve. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Terrible things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-things/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) ## Related quotes > [Hope can make people do terrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/hope-can-make-people-do-terrible-things/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“People do terrible things to each other, but it's worse in the places where everybody is kept in the dark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/people-do-terrible-things-to-each-other-but-it-s-worse-in-the-places/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“People do terrible things. You should never blame ideas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/people-do-terrible-things-you-should-never-blame-ideas/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [People who do not see the terrible things therefore do not see the beautiful things, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaus-kinski/people-who-do-not-see-the-terrible-things-therefore-do-not-see-the/) [Klaus Kinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaus-kinski/) > [Sometimes good people have to do terrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/sometimes-good-people-have-to-do-terrible-things/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [people do terrible things, sometimes, for the best reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/people-do-terrible-things-sometimes-for-the-best-reasons/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“The most peaceble people will do the most terrible things when they're pushed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-most-peaceble-people-will-do-the-most-terrible-things-when-they/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [“People do terrible things, sometimes, for the best reasons. “What’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/people-do-terrible-things-sometimes-for-the-best-reasons-what-s/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I've had terrible, terrible, terrible shows where I just thought, "That was off-key" or I forgot lines or I thought I looked like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babatunde-adebimpe/i-ve-had-terrible-terrible-terrible-shows-where-i-just-thought-that/) [Babatunde Adebimpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babatunde-adebimpe/) > [I'm not a racist. I made a terrible, terrible mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sterling/i-m-not-a-racist-i-made-a-terrible-terrible-mistake/) [Donald Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sterling/) > [It's terrible to be young. It's terrible. Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-s-terrible-to-be-young-it-s-terrible-terrible/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Bullying is a terrible, terrible thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-carlyle/bullying-is-a-terrible-terrible-thing/) [Robert Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-carlyle/) > [Let us be terrible in order to prevent the people from being terrible themselves!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-danton/let-us-be-terrible-in-order-to-prevent-the-people-from-being-terrible/) [Georges Danton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-danton/) > [People are terrible. They can bear anything. Anything! People are hard and brutal. And everyone is disposable. Everyone! That's the lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-werner-fassbinder/people-are-terrible-they-can-bear-anything-anything-people-are-hard/) [Rainer Werner Fassbinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-werner-fassbinder/) > [It's hard to describe to people how terrible it was when you could only watch cartoons at a certain time in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/it-s-hard-to-describe-to-people-how-terrible-it-was-when-you-could-2/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) ## More by Torquil Campbell > [I don't like saying goodbye to people. I find it much easier to forgive people than to say goodbye to them, I always have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/i-don-t-like-saying-goodbye-to-people-i-find-it-much-easier-to/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [Getting up on stage and being able to make people feel like their lives are slightly more special than they realize is my only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/getting-up-on-stage-and-being-able-to-make-people-feel-like-their/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [I'm not an endings person. I don't do endings. There may have been people in the band who wanted this to be an ending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/i-m-not-an-endings-person-i-don-t-do-endings-there-may-have-been/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [We're going to talk about the big things that matter, which are the little things, really. For me, Stars has always had one overarching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/we-re-going-to-talk-about-the-big-things-that-matter-which-are-the/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [We haven't really changed, we've just gotten better at executing what we've always been trying to do. We're not really a band that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/we-haven-t-really-changed-we-ve-just-gotten-better-at-executing-what/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [ Blind hope. Blind hope is all we have. There's a Greek tragedy called Prometheus Bound; Prometheus is the \[titan\] that gave humans fire. He's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/blind-hope-blind-hope-is-all-we-have-there-s-a-greek-tragedy-called/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [I think if you listen to our records, they come at different points in your life. When people say to me that Stars records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/i-think-if-you-listen-to-our-records-they-come-at-different-points-in/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [For all of my life, I've had this one song in my head, and I'm still trying to write it. I'm still trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/for-all-of-my-life-i-ve-had-this-one-song-in-my-head-and-i-m-still/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [That's the great thing about being in a band: it's a gang for people who are too wimpy to fight. You can create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/that-s-the-great-thing-about-being-in-a-band-it-s-a-gang-for-people/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [I think people are naturally good, I see it every day. Look at this restaurant. No one's causing anybody any trouble in here. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/i-think-people-are-naturally-good-i-see-it-every-day-look-at-this/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [I consider being a performer work. I come from a theater family; I've been an actor all my life. I started acting when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/i-consider-being-a-performer-work-i-come-from-a-theater-family-i-ve/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [When I see friends of mine break up and they're like, "Oh, we still really love each other, but we just couldn't make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/when-i-see-friends-of-mine-break-up-and-they-re-like-oh-we-still/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [I'm not confident about my appearance, I'm not confident about anything really in my life, I'm a very tortured soul when it comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/i-m-not-confident-about-my-appearance-i-m-not-confident-about/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [ I think you have to make concessions in life. One of the most frustrating things about getting older is \[you realize\] the reason you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/i-think-you-have-to-make-concessions-in-life-one-of-the-most/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [My pledge to myself is I will believe in my music, always. I stand behind everything I do. If I don't think it's amazing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/my-pledge-to-myself-is-i-will-believe-in-my-music-always-i-stand/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) [Explore all 19 Torquil Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) ## More Hurt quotes > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. I made it so hot that I had to get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/i-locked-the-door-and-turned-on-the-water-to-fill-the-tub-i-made-it/) [Susan Crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [It is easier to say you're mad, rather than admitting you're hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easier-to-say-you-re-mad-rather-than-admitting-you-re-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [There's only so much for a man to take...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gilchrist/there-s-only-so-much-for-a-man-to-take/) Kirsten Gilchrist > [A HURTED HEART IS LIKE SMALL BABY WHICH CAN ONLY CRY BT IT WONT B ABLE 2 EXPRESS ITS FEELINGS.SO DONT HURT ANYBODY IN…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butterfly-kisses/a-hurted-heart-is-like-small-baby-which-can-only-cry-bt-it-wont-b/) Butterfly\_Kisses > [The greatest gift you can give to those around you is honesty. Sometimes honest words may sting the heart, but dishonesty pierces deep into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-to-those-around-you-is-honesty/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/) Mennah al refaey > [Some things hurt, you know, and there's pain. But we magnify the suffering of it often, I think, by our reactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/some-things-hurt-you-know-and-there-s-pain-but-we-magnify-the/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [You can't force any one to love you, and fighting it, you just gonna hurt yourself badly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mongotleng/you-can-t-force-any-one-to-love-you-and-fighting-it-you-just-gonna/) Edward Mongotleng > [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/) Aviation > [It hurt, of course, but more often than not the best things do, I've found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-hurt-of-course-but-more-often-than-not-the-best-things-do-i-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) Browse all 13,577 Hurt quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People are terrible. 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