--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I'd give advice. That never…" description: "\"I don't think I'd give advice. That never pays off. That's always a bad idea. If they follow your advice and it doesn't work out, or if they don't foll..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/tracy-letts-12197_advice_i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never_1057415.png" --- # I don't think I'd give advice. That never pays off. That's… ![“I don't think I'd give advice. That never pays off. That's always a bad idea. If they follow your advice and it doesn't work out, or if they don't follow your advice, somehow you're on the hook for it.” quote by Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/tracy-letts-12197_advice_i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never_1057415.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/tracy-letts-12197_advice_i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never_1057415.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/tracy-letts-12197_advice_i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never_1057415.png) > “I don't think I'd give advice. That never pays off. That's always a bad idea. If they follow your advice and it doesn't work out, or if they don't follow your advice, somehow you're on the hook for it.” [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advice creates responsibility; if outcomes fail, the advisor feels accountable regardless of action taken. **In simple terms:** Giving advice can trap you in others' results. Key Takeaway Avoid giving advice to stay unburdened. Themes responsibility advice accountability risk relationships Mood cautious reflective Type ethical practical When to use this quote - personal counseling - team leadership - friendship decisions - parenting guidance Key Concepts ethical dilemmas social dynamics personal boundaries Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to give advice? - How can you share insight without assuming blame? A Different Perspective Advice can be useful when paired with autonomy and clear expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Bad idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-idea/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/) ## Related quotes > [I don't do talk shows or go on Dr. Phil's show. He's a friend of mine, and, no, he doesn't give me any advice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/i-don-t-do-talk-shows-or-go-on-dr-phil-s-show-he-s-a-friend-of-mine/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [A wise man will take a woman's advice even if he doesn't understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/a-wise-man-will-take-a-woman-s-advice-even-if-he-doesn-t-understand-it/) [Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/) > [When it comes to your inner critic, my advice is to not take advice from someone who doesn't like you. That's like returning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-califia/when-it-comes-to-your-inner-critic-my-advice-is-to-not-take-advice/) [Patrick Califia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-califia/) > [Mind you, physical training doesn't necessarily mean going to an expert for advice. One doesn't have to make a mountain out of a molehill.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-fairbanks/mind-you-physical-training-doesn-t-necessarily-mean-going-to-an/) [Douglas Fairbanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-fairbanks/) > [Just because I give you advice, It doesn't mean I know more than you, It just means I've done more stupid shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/just-because-i-give-you-advice-it-doesn-t-mean-i-know-more-than-you/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [A person is wise if he listens to millions of advice and doesn't implement any of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-person-is-wise-if-he-listens-to-millions-of-advice-and-doesn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's no such thing as advice to the lovelorn. If they took advice, they wouldn't be lovelorn. You see, advice and lovelorn don't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/there-s-no-such-thing-as-advice-to-the-lovelorn-if-they-took-advice/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [“Advice doesn't help lovers! They're not the kind of mountain stream you can build a dam across.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/advice-doesn-t-help-lovers-they-re-not-the-kind-of-mountain-stream/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [People change based on what they feel, not what they know. Which means that understanding all that advice doesn't matter if there's no deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/people-change-based-on-what-they-feel-not-what-they-know-which-means/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) > [I don't think I could give advice to my younger self because she probably wouldn't listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/i-don-t-think-i-could-give-advice-to-my-younger-self-because-she/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [God, I don't think I could give advice when such other incredible actors have done it before me and done such amazing things. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/god-i-don-t-think-i-could-give-advice-when-such-other-incredible/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [When someone opens up to you, don't just sit there and listen. Try to see it from their perspective, and DEFINITELY give advice, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timmerman/when-someone-opens-up-to-you-don-t-just-sit-there-and-listen-try-to/) [Christopher Timmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timmerman/) > [I don't think anyone can give you advice when you've got a broken heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/i-don-t-think-anyone-can-give-you-advice-when-you-ve-got-a-broken/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [“Some people think their advice is a gift, and some people think they know every dam thing. You have to decide only one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-baratono/some-people-think-their-advice-is-a-gift-and-some-people-think-they/) [Ron Baratono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-baratono/) > [“I think about his advice. Don’t use magic the way they expect you to. Surprising them is half the battle, blah, blah, blah. Yeah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cece-rose/i-think-about-his-advice-don-t-use-magic-the-way-they-expect-you-to/) [Cece Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cece-rose/) ## More by Tracy Letts > ['Killer Joe' provides a lot of red meat for the theater. Pam MacKinnon is the perfect director to shepherd a group of actors who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/killer-joe-provides-a-lot-of-red-meat-for-the-theater-pam-mackinnon/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > ['Killer Joe' was originally written in 1991 and first produced in '93 at the Next Theater's Lab - a 40 seat black box theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/killer-joe-was-originally-written-in-1991-and-first-produced-in-93-at/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [“VIOLET: Oh, horseshit, horeshit, let's all say horseshit. Say horseshit, Bill. BILL: Horseshit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/violet-oh-horseshit-horeshit-let-s-all-say-horseshit-say-horseshit/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [The way we tell our stories on stage is that we use spoken word to convey action, and in movies, we use visual images…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/the-way-we-tell-our-stories-on-stage-is-that-we-use-spoken-word-to/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I'm just a Chicago actor who's a playwright. Even with the success of 'August,' the people in town who come to our theater know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-m-just-a-chicago-actor-who-s-a-playwright-even-with-the-success-of/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I like Shakespeare, but I never know what the hell is going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-like-shakespeare-but-i-never-know-what-the-hell-is-going-on/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I don't know what it says about me that I have a greater affinity with the damaged. Probably nothing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-don-t-know-what-it-says-about-me-that-i-have-a-greater-affinity/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [“You're thoughtful, Barbara, but you're not open. You're passionate, but you're hard. You're a good, decent, funny, wonderful woman, and I love you, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/you-re-thoughtful-barbara-but-you-re-not-open-you-re-passionate-but/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [Divorce is an embarrassing public admission of defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/divorce-is-an-embarrassing-public-admission-of-defeat/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [Time wounds all heals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/time-wounds-all-heals/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [One of the things you hope you've done as a playwright is create roles that can sustain different interpretations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/one-of-the-things-you-hope-you-ve-done-as-a-playwright-is-create/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I never know what the hell I'm writing about, I never know what the next thing I'm writing about is, I never have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-never-know-what-the-hell-i-m-writing-about-i-never-know-what-the/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [“We covered this around Year Three, Bill: that you're the Master of Space and Time and I'm a spastic Pomeranian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/we-covered-this-around-year-three-bill-that-you-re-the-master-of/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I grew up in a small town, in a small community, and I would not have had access to great plays when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-grew-up-in-a-small-town-in-a-small-community-and-i-would-not-have/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [You get to know a character that you play on-stage in a pretty profound way over a length of time. I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/you-get-to-know-a-character-that-you-play-on-stage-in-a-pretty/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) [Explore all 56 Tracy Letts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think I'd give advice. That never pays off. That's always a bad idea. If they follow your advice and it doesn't work out, or if they don't follow your advice, somehow you're on the hook for it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tracy Letts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never-pays-off-that-s-always-a-bad/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never-pays-off-that-s-always-a-bad/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/tracy-letts-12197_advice_i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never_1057415.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/tracy-letts-12197_advice_i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never_1057415.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6e/tracy-letts-12197_advice_i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never_1057415.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think I'd give advice. That never pays off. That's always a bad idea. If they follow your advice and…” — Tracy Letts", "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": "Tracy Letts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think I'd give advice....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never-pays-off-that-s-always-a-bad/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never-pays-off-that-s-always-a-bad/#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 } } ] } ```