Logo - Feel The Words

Messenger Quotes

On carrying news others don't want to hear

These messenger quotes explore the old warning against blaming whoever delivers unwelcome news, alongside a writer's sense of purpose in passing information along honestly.

Man is a messenger who forgot the message.

Quotes by Abraham Joshua Heschel

Don't blame the messenger because the message is unpleasant.

Quotes by Ken Starr

As a writer you have a duty to be a messenger.

Quotes by Jay Griffiths

I became the messenger who had to be killed.

Quotes by Anita Hill

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the main idea behind these messenger quotes?
Most center on the old saying not to blame whoever delivers bad news, since the messenger rarely controls the message itself.
Is there a quote about a writer's responsibility?
Yes, one line frames being a messenger as a duty writers take on when sharing information with others. See Purpose quotes for related themes.
Does one of the quotes sound more dramatic or figurative?
Yes, one line uses the phrase about a messenger being killed in a figurative, idiomatic sense, echoing the classic warning against punishing whoever brings unwelcome news.
Is there a quote about forgetting the message itself?
Yes, it suggests people can become so focused on their role as messenger that they lose sight of the actual message they were meant to carry.
What tone do these messenger quotes generally take?
They're mostly reflective, treating the messenger role as a source of duty and identity rather than something to complain about.

A couple of lines take a darker, more figurative turn, describing how a messenger can be punished simply for what they carry, or how the message itself gets forgotten over time. See also Connection quotes.