--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Telling me to relax or smile when I'm…" description: "\"Telling me to relax or smile when I'm angry is like bringing a birthday cake into an ape sanctuary. You're just asking to get your nose and genitals bi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/amy-poehler-1084_angry_telling-me-to-relax-or-smile-when-i-m-an_2364660.jpg" --- # Telling me to relax or smile when I'm angry is like… ![“Telling me to relax or smile when I'm angry is like bringing a birthday cake into an ape sanctuary. You're just asking to get your nose and genitals bitten off.” quote by Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/amy-poehler-1084_angry_telling-me-to-relax-or-smile-when-i-m-an_2364660.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/amy-poehler-1084_angry_telling-me-to-relax-or-smile-when-i-m-an_2364660.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/amy-poehler-1084_angry_telling-me-to-relax-or-smile-when-i-m-an_2364660.jpg) > “Telling me to relax or smile when I'm angry is like bringing a birthday cake into an ape sanctuary. You're just asking to get your nose and genitals bitten off.” [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poehler uses a vivid metaphor to criticize the absurdity of demanding calm from someone in anger. **In simple terms:** Expecting calm in anger is unrealistic and insulting. Key Takeaway Respect emotional states; avoid unreasonable expectations. Themes empathy communication emotional intelligence Mood frustrated humorous Type social psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace dynamics - conflict resolution Key Concepts anger management social expectations Questions to Reflect On - What are healthier ways to support an angry person? - How can we express concern without trivializing feelings? A Different Perspective People may feel dismissed rather than helped. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) [Apes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) [Birthday cake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday-cake/) [Sanctuary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctuary/) ## Related quotes > [“Darwin let his nervous face relax into a smile. "No, Your Majesty. I have no aspirations to your throne, but I make no promises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-kell/darwin-let-his-nervous-face-relax-into-a-smile-no-your-majesty-i-have/) [Amber Kell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-kell/) > [I smile when I'm angry , I cheat and I lie. I do what I have to do to get by. But I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-smile-when-i-m-angry-i-cheat-and-i-lie-i-do-what-i-have-to-do-to/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“I like driving cab. Receptionists, sales clerks, waitresses -- they all have to look pleasant all the time. I can snarl if I want.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-potrebenko/i-like-driving-cab-receptionists-sales-clerks-waitresses-they-all/) Helen Potrebenko > [Smile when you meet someone. Smile when you are disappointed. Smile when you are angry. Smile when you are happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troublemaker/smile-when-you-meet-someone-smile-when-you-are-disappointed-smile/) Troublemaker > [“But angry like he was now? It did something to me. Made me ache harder for him. Want him just that much more. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riley-murphy/but-angry-like-he-was-now-it-did-something-to-me-made-me-ache-harder/) [Riley Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riley-murphy/) > [You feel like people are looking at you like, 'I wanted the old Kathleen. Where's the old Kathleen?' I felt that way in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/you-feel-like-people-are-looking-at-you-like-i-wanted-the-old/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [The first song I wrote, when I was 8, was about feeling really angry - like the weight of everything on my shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrianne-lenker/the-first-song-i-wrote-when-i-was-8-was-about-feeling-really-angry/) [Adrianne Lenker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrianne-lenker/) > [“you could cry, get worried or angry like any other human being, as long as you remembered that up above your spirit was laughing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-coelho/you-could-cry-get-worried-or-angry-like-any-other-human-being-as-long/) [Paolo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-coelho/) > [Being angry is like picking up a knife with no handle: it is self-harming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koo-stark/being-angry-is-like-picking-up-a-knife-with-no-handle-it-is-self/) [Koo Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koo-stark/) > [I have a really high bar for being angry. Like, it doesn't even happen every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-have-a-really-high-bar-for-being-angry-like-it-doesn-t-even-happen/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [I no longer have the energy to get really angry, like I used to,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/i-no-longer-have-the-energy-to-get-really-angry-like-i-used-to/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [I have been to anger management twice. After the first session the lady was like, 'Baby, you don't seem that angry at all. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-have-been-to-anger-management-twice-after-the-first-session-the/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [I'm not angry. I like to laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cowherd/i-m-not-angry-i-like-to-laugh/) [Colin Cowherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cowherd/) > [If I'm hungry, I get very angry. If I don't have caffeine, my coffee or my energy drink, I get even more angry. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-pritchard/if-i-m-hungry-i-get-very-angry-if-i-don-t-have-caffeine-my-coffee-or/) [A. J. Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-pritchard/) > [“Just say it: I'm angry and no one will like me. God: No, I will not say that. But don't you think we ached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-e-isaacs/just-say-it-i-m-angry-and-no-one-will-like-me-god-no-i-will-not-say/) [Susan E. Isaacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-e-isaacs/) ## More by Amy Poehler > [When youre a stay-at-home mother you have to pretend its really boring, but its not. Its enriching and fulfilling, and an amazing experience. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/when-youre-a-stay-at-home-mother-you-have-to-pretend-its-really/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [I hope and assume that every good comedy writer, no matter the age, has a moment where they discover how great Cheers is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-hope-and-assume-that-every-good-comedy-writer-no-matter-the-age-has/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [I also think if you're an actor and you can improvise, when you go on an audition and you can improvise you're just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-also-think-if-you-re-an-actor-and-you-can-improvise-when-you-go-on/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [It seems a strange thing, but once I was able to get past that kind of self-image problem, I was able to open up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/it-seems-a-strange-thing-but-once-i-was-able-to-get-past-that-kind-of/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [Sleep can completely change your entire outlook on life. One good night's sleep can help you realize that you shouldn't break up with someone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/sleep-can-completely-change-your-entire-outlook-on-life-one-good/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [Career is the stringing together of opportunities and jobs. Mix in public opinion and past regrets. Add a dash of future panic and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/career-is-the-stringing-together-of-opportunities-and-jobs-mix-in/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people's ideas are often better than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/as-you-navigate-through-the-rest-of-your-life-be-open-to/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [I like hard work and I don’t like pretending things are perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-like-hard-work-and-i-don-t-like-pretending-things-are-perfect/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [The pressure of 'what are you going to do?' makes everyone feel like they haven't done anything yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/the-pressure-of-what-are-you-going-to-do-makes-everyone-feel-like/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [I ate two waffles, a banana and cereal with blueberries. And that whas between my two breakfasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-ate-two-waffles-a-banana-and-cereal-with-blueberries-and-that-whas/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [ “\[On getting older\]: You can witness young people embarrassing themselves and get a thrill--that it's not you. You can watch them throw around their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/on-getting-older-you-can-witness-young-people-embarrassing-themselves/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [Too often we women try to tackle chaos that is not ours to fix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/too-often-we-women-try-to-tackle-chaos-that-is-not-ours-to-fix/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [Try to keep your mind open to possibilities and your mouth closed on matters that you don't know about. Limit your 'always' and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/try-to-keep-your-mind-open-to-possibilities-and-your-mouth-closed-on/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [All we do is watch The Wire and go out to dinner with our friends. I wish I could tell you that we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/all-we-do-is-watch-the-wire-and-go-out-to-dinner-with-our-friends-i/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [I have these meetings with really powerful men and they ask me all the time, 'Where are your kids? Are your kids here?' It's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-have-these-meetings-with-really-powerful-men-and-they-ask-me-all/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) [Explore all 296 Amy Poehler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) ## More Angry quotes > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [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 > [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-re-frustrated-with-people-when-they-ve-made-you-angry-it/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When I was writing 'Black Panther,' on one level, I was angry because DC would never let me write 'Batman,' so I was doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/when-i-was-writing-black-panther-on-one-level-i-was-angry-because-dc/) [Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [I'm an angry guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gandolfini/i-m-an-angry-guy/) [James Gandolfini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gandolfini/) > [Apparently, I'm the angriest man. I don't know. It's just an interpretation. If it was someone else, they might be called focused or competitive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alun-wyn-jones/apparently-i-m-the-angriest-man-i-don-t-know-it-s-just-an/) [Alun Wyn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alun-wyn-jones/) > [In the 1998 Oscars, I found myself in the bathroom in a stall, next to Tom Selleck. So I leaned over and I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/in-the-1998-oscars-i-found-myself-in-the-bathroom-in-a-stall-next-to/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [Of course I get angry, but I want to use my brain a little bit and not just smash things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/of-course-i-get-angry-but-i-want-to-use-my-brain-a-little-bit-and-not/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) [Browse all 3,857 Angry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Telling me to relax or smile when I'm angry is like bringing a birthday cake into an ape sanctuary. You're just asking to get your nose and genitals bitten off.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Amy Poehler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/telling-me-to-relax-or-smile-when-i-m-angry-is-like-bringing-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Angry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/telling-me-to-relax-or-smile-when-i-m-angry-is-like-bringing-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/amy-poehler-1084_angry_telling-me-to-relax-or-smile-when-i-m-an_2364660.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/amy-poehler-1084_angry_telling-me-to-relax-or-smile-when-i-m-an_2364660.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/amy-poehler-1084_angry_telling-me-to-relax-or-smile-when-i-m-an_2364660.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Telling me to relax or smile when I'm angry is like bringing a birthday cake into an ape sanctuary. You're…” — Amy Poehler", "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": "Amy Poehler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Telling me to relax or smile...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/telling-me-to-relax-or-smile-when-i-m-angry-is-like-bringing-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/telling-me-to-relax-or-smile-when-i-m-angry-is-like-bringing-a/#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 } } ] } ```