--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: and third things a theory of assholes…" description: "\"“and third things a theory of assholes should explain are related and must be handled with greater care. The second thing to explain is that most assho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/aaron-james-28681_quote_and-third-things-a-theory-of-assholes-sh_766597.jpg" --- # and third things a theory of assholes should explain are… ![“and third things a theory of assholes should explain are related and must be handled with greater care. The second thing to explain is that most assholes are not morally beyond the pale, unlike, say, a murderer, rapist, or tyrant. Most assholes are not that bad. One post in the Urban Dictionary…” quote by Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/aaron-james-28681_quote_and-third-things-a-theory-of-assholes-sh_766597.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/aaron-james-28681_quote_and-third-things-a-theory-of-assholes-sh_766597.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/aaron-james-28681_quote_and-third-things-a-theory-of-assholes-sh_766597.jpg) > ““and third things a theory of assholes should explain are related and must be handled with greater care. The second thing to explain is that most assholes are not morally beyond the pale, unlike, say, a murderer, rapist, or tyrant. Most assholes are not that bad. One post in the Urban Dictionary has it that “\[an asshole is\] the worst kind of person.… If you’re an asshole, you are disgusting, loathsome, vile, distasteful, wrathful, belligerent, agoraphobic, and more.… \[Assholes\] are the lowest of”” [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that many people labeled as “assholes” are not as morally reprehensible as violent criminals, and that the term is overused and lacks nuance. **In simple terms:** Not all “assholes” are extremely bad; the label is often exaggerated. Key Takeaway Recognize the spectrum of bad behavior and avoid overgeneralizing. Themes ethics language social judgment Mood critical reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - workplace conflicts - online debates - personal relationships - media criticism Key Concepts moral relativism labeling theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - What criteria truly distinguish a harmful person from a merely irritating one? - How does overusing harsh labels affect social discourse? A Different Perspective The definition of “asshole” varies culturally and contextually, limiting universal application. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assholes Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assholes-bad-5934714/) [Assholes Explain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assholes-explain-5934713/) [Assholes Lowest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assholes-lowest-5934715/) [Assholes Morally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assholes-morally-5934712/) [Explain Assholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain-assholes-5934711/) [Urban dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urban-dictionary-199172/) ## Related quotes > [I found this on urban dictionary :) someone who is very random,ask alot of questions but is never annoying.and knows how to have fun!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-found-this-on-urban-dictionary-someone-who-is-very-random-ask-alot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Friday: The day after Thursday and before Saturday according to Rebecca Black. Also the most annoying day of the week now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-peckham/friday-the-day-after-thursday-and-before-saturday-according-to/) [Aaron Peckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-peckham/) > [Look what I found on urban dictionary about my name lol this is true hehe. Brianna Someone who is hot, nice,tappable, sexy, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-ramos/look-what-i-found-on-urban-dictionary-about-my-name-lol-this-is-true/) [Brianna Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-ramos/) > [Thank you Urban Dictionary for being there in times of need when I have no earthly clue what people are talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-b/thank-you-urban-dictionary-for-being-there-in-times-of-need-when-i/) [Hannah B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-b/) > [1/2 A Rachel is a kind, caring, sweet person. She can come off as naive at first, but if you get to know her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/1-2-a-rachel-is-a-kind-caring-sweet-person-she-can-come-off-as-naive/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [Language is ever on the move, and most days, I check out the 'Urban Dictionary' where anyone can invent a new and useful word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/language-is-ever-on-the-move-and-most-days-i-check-out-the-urban/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) ## More by Aaron James > [“of view, may show that he is not getting the respect he deserves. Although our theory is a definition of the term “asshole,” we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/of-view-may-show-that-he-is-not-getting-the-respect-he-deserves/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“Fully cooperative people, we may say, see themselves as equals, as having grounds for special treatment only in special circumstances that others will equally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/fully-cooperative-people-we-may-say-see-themselves-as-equals-as/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“To summarize, then, our three requirements for a good theory of assholes are as follows. We are looking for (1) a stable trait of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/to-summarize-then-our-three-requirements-for-a-good-theory-of/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“That is why otherwise coolheaded people fall into a fit of rage or lash out at the asshole: they are fighting to be recognized.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/that-is-why-otherwise-coolheaded-people-fall-into-a-fit-of-rage-or/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“According to Rousseau, healthy self-love does not require comparing oneself to others at all; feeling worthy does not necessarily involve feeling superior to someone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/according-to-rousseau-healthy-self-love-does-not-require-comparing/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“The asshole not only takes special privileges but refuses to listen when people complain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/the-asshole-not-only-takes-special-privileges-but-refuses-to-listen/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“The fight can become extraordinarily frustrating because the asshole usually wins: his sense of entitlement is entrenched, so there is usually no getting through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/the-fight-can-become-extraordinarily-frustrating-because-the-asshole/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“However misguided, the asshole is morally motivated. He is fundamentally different from the psychopath, who either lacks or fails to engage moral concepts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/however-misguided-the-asshole-is-morally-motivated-he-is/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“The asshole is not just another annoying person but a deeply bothersome person—bothersome enough to trigger feelings of powerlessness, fear, or rage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/the-asshole-is-not-just-another-annoying-person-but-a-deeply/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“one of our basic moral responsibilities is to hear people out, to at least take seriously the reasons they give for wanting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/one-of-our-basic-moral-responsibilities-is-to-hear-people-out-to-at/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“The asshole, by contrast, traffics in and is moved by moral justification—except that moral justification, for him, leads to an entrenched sense of special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/the-asshole-by-contrast-traffics-in-and-is-moved-by-moral/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“The key is to understand why we are easily tempted to fight on the asshole’s terms: we are fighting for moral recognition in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/the-key-is-to-understand-why-we-are-easily-tempted-to-fight-on-the/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“answer to our initial question: What is it for someone to be an asshole?4 If nothing else, a good answer—a good theory of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/answer-to-our-initial-question-what-is-it-for-someone-to-be-an/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“When anyone seems to be provoking you, remember that it is only your judgement of the incident that provokes you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/when-anyone-seems-to-be-provoking-you-remember-that-it-is-only-your/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) > [“Our theory is simply this: a person counts as an asshole when, and only when, he systematically allows himself to enjoy special advantages in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/our-theory-is-simply-this-a-person-counts-as-an-asshole-when-and-only/) [Aaron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) [Explore all 19 Aaron James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-james/) ## More Urban dictionary quotes > [I found this on urban dictionary :) someone who is very random,ask alot of questions but is never annoying.and knows how to have fun!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-found-this-on-urban-dictionary-someone-who-is-very-random-ask-alot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Friday: The day after Thursday and before Saturday according to Rebecca Black. Also the most annoying day of the week now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-peckham/friday-the-day-after-thursday-and-before-saturday-according-to/) [Aaron Peckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-peckham/) > [Look what I found on urban dictionary about my name lol this is true hehe. Brianna Someone who is hot, nice,tappable, sexy, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-ramos/look-what-i-found-on-urban-dictionary-about-my-name-lol-this-is-true/) [Brianna Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-ramos/) > [Thank you Urban Dictionary for being there in times of need when I have no earthly clue what people are talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-b/thank-you-urban-dictionary-for-being-there-in-times-of-need-when-i/) [Hannah B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-b/) > [1/2 A Rachel is a kind, caring, sweet person. She can come off as naive at first, but if you get to know her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/1-2-a-rachel-is-a-kind-caring-sweet-person-she-can-come-off-as-naive/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [Language is ever on the move, and most days, I check out the 'Urban Dictionary' where anyone can invent a new and useful word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/language-is-ever-on-the-move-and-most-days-i-check-out-the-urban/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) [Browse all 7 Urban dictionary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urban-dictionary-199172/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“and third things a theory of assholes should explain are related and must be handled with greater care. The second thing to explain is that most assholes are not morally beyond the pale, unlike, say, a murderer, rapist, or tyrant. Most assholes are not that bad. One post in the Urban Dictionary has it that “[an asshole is] the worst kind of person.… If you’re an asshole, you are disgusting, loathsome, vile, distasteful, wrathful, belligerent, agoraphobic, and more.… [Assholes] are the lowest of”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aaron James" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/and-third-things-a-theory-of-assholes-should-explain-are-related-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Urban dictionary" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-james/and-third-things-a-theory-of-assholes-should-explain-are-related-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/aaron-james-28681_quote_and-third-things-a-theory-of-assholes-sh_766597.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/aaron-james-28681_quote_and-third-things-a-theory-of-assholes-sh_766597.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/aaron-james-28681_quote_and-third-things-a-theory-of-assholes-sh_766597.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“and third things a theory of assholes should explain are related and must be handled with greater care. 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