---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I become defensive and upset right…"
description: "\"If I become defensive and upset right away, then that's going to adversely affect how I deal with it and it's probably not going to be good press for m..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/brandon-routh-18765_affect_if-i-become-defensive-and-upset-right-aw_2270039.jpg"
---

#  If I become defensive and upset right away, then that's…

![“If I become defensive and upset right away, then that's going to adversely affect how I deal with it and it's probably not going to be good press for me and probably be bad just because I'm angry. Just be open and pleasant.” quote by Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/brandon-routh-18765_affect_if-i-become-defensive-and-upset-right-aw_2270039.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/brandon-routh-18765_affect_if-i-become-defensive-and-upset-right-aw_2270039.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/brandon-routh-18765_affect_if-i-become-defensive-and-upset-right-aw_2270039.jpg)

> “If I become defensive and upset right away, then that's going to adversely affect how I deal with it and it's probably not going to be good press for me and probably be bad just because I'm angry. Just be open and pleasant.”

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Reacting defensively worsens outcomes; staying calm preserves reputation and effectiveness.

**In simple terms:** Anger harms; calm helps.

Key Takeaway

Stay open and pleasant.

Themes

communication emotional control reputation

Mood

anxious hopeful

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- customer service
- media interviews
- team meetings
- personal disputes

Key Concepts

psychology conflict management

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you prepare to stay calm before a tense encounter?
- What strategies help you shift from defensiveness to openness?

A Different Perspective

Calmness may not always be sufficient in high‑stakes crises.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Affect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affect/) [Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) [Angry Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry-just-333434/) [Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away/) [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [Deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deal/) [Defensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensive/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Just Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-angry-966355/) [Just be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-be/) [Just because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-because/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open/) [Pleasant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasant/) [Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/press/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-away/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Upset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upset/)

## Related quotes

> [I've always had a hard time just being angry or just being really sad - the bigger emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/briga-heelan/i-ve-always-had-a-hard-time-just-being-angry-or-just-being-really-sad/)

[Briga Heelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/briga-heelan/)

> [If you use addition they'll be somebody saying your just angry &amp; don't know your times table. People see what they want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/if-you-use-addition-they-ll-be-somebody-saying-your-just-angry-don-t/)

[LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/)

> [Just because your angry, don't take you anger out on others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-l/just-because-your-angry-don-t-take-you-anger-out-on-others/)

[Chloe L](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-l/)

> [It is a waste of energy to be angry with a man who behaves badly, just as it is to be angry with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-is-a-waste-of-energy-to-be-angry-with-a-man-who-behaves-badly-just/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [“Maybe I was just angry that the world had become such a complicated place, that I have never known even a fraction of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-i-was-just-angry-that-the-world-had-become-such-a-complicated/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I also informed her that she was just angry because I was prettier than she was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davey-havok/i-also-informed-her-that-she-was-just-angry-because-i-was-prettier/)

[Davey Havok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davey-havok/)

> [I listen to music that is of our time and I just get angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-winehouse/i-listen-to-music-that-is-of-our-time-and-i-just-get-angry/)

[Amy Winehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-winehouse/)

> [When I was at 17, I was just angry. I hated the world and wanted to fight everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-kingston/when-i-was-at-17-i-was-just-angry-i-hated-the-world-and-wanted-to/)

[Eddie Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-kingston/)

> [It's so easy to just give up or get angry with the course or the conditions, but you can't do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-fleetwood/it-s-so-easy-to-just-give-up-or-get-angry-with-the-course-or-the/)

[Tommy Fleetwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-fleetwood/)

> [Never tell a girl to calm down...she will just get more angry..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/never-tell-a-girl-to-calm-down-she-will-just-get-more-angry/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [In my 20s, I was just angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/in-my-20s-i-was-just-angry/)

[Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/)

> [Maybe this is the secret to talking to boys--maybe you just have to be angry all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/maybe-this-is-the-secret-to-talking-to-boys-maybe-you-just-have-to-be/)

[Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/)

> [Do people have a right to be angry about, not just the political class, but every institution in society? Absolutely. But neither anger nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/do-people-have-a-right-to-be-angry-about-not-just-the-political-class/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [I feel like there's sort of like something in me that is always going to be angry... there are just some things I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/i-feel-like-there-s-sort-of-like-something-in-me-that-is-always-going/)

[Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/)

> [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/)

## More by Brandon Routh

> [I'm very excited to see where the characters and their relationships go. But in the end, it really boils down to the people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/i-m-very-excited-to-see-where-the-characters-and-their-relationships/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [I'm kind of looking for something with a lot less action and more talking and listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/i-m-kind-of-looking-for-something-with-a-lot-less-action-and-more/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [And then once in Australia, I really hit the weights hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/and-then-once-in-australia-i-really-hit-the-weights-hard/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [It was important to have a similar energy in my performance. To make the character too different would have just been about my ego…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/it-was-important-to-have-a-similar-energy-in-my-performance-to-make/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [Well physically preparing for the role, definitely and then continuing to stay physically fit throughout filming, getting up, 4.00 4.30 in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/well-physically-preparing-for-the-role-definitely-and-then-continuing/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [I think Superman's journey is to become comfortable on earth. Of course he's got his role as earth's greatest protector but he also wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/i-think-superman-s-journey-is-to-become-comfortable-on-earth-of/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [I am, of comics I was never as big of a fan as I probably could have been I suppose but I'm definitely a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/i-am-of-comics-i-was-never-as-big-of-a-fan-as-i-probably-could-have/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [But so long as we can keep this crew of fantastic people together and can continue to make real breakthrough films in this category,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/but-so-long-as-we-can-keep-this-crew-of-fantastic-people-together-and/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [There are things about growing up in a small town that you can't necessarily quantify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/there-are-things-about-growing-up-in-a-small-town-that-you-can-t/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [One of the most amazing things I got from the film, so much green screen, there are so many moments and it really taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/one-of-the-most-amazing-things-i-got-from-the-film-so-much-green/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [As I said before, I'm prepared to be prepared and I think that remains the same, you know there's no way to really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/as-i-said-before-i-m-prepared-to-be-prepared-and-i-think-that-remains/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [It is important to get different roles and to be seen in a different light. I am an actor. To go too far one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/it-is-important-to-get-different-roles-and-to-be-seen-in-a-different/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [Well no, I think we won't have that problem but as far as paparazzi I'm speaking, I will deal with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/well-no-i-think-we-won-t-have-that-problem-but-as-far-as-paparazzi-i/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [I could finally quit my job as a bartender and stop dreaming that I might be Superman and know that I was. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/i-could-finally-quit-my-job-as-a-bartender-and-stop-dreaming-that-i/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

> [Well I'm Superman, just not action. I'm kind of looking for something with a lot less action and more talking and listening. I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/well-i-m-superman-just-not-action-i-m-kind-of-looking-for-something/)

[Brandon Routh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

[Explore all 34 Brandon Routh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/)

## More Affect quotes

> [That is the real problem of depression - a condition which will affect an estimated one in five of the population at some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-andreae/that-is-the-real-problem-of-depression-a-condition-which-will-affect/)

[Giles Andreae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-andreae/)

> [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/)

[will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/)

> [I almost always mess up. I fall too easily in love. I cry over boys. I'm not the prettiest girl you can find. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-almost-always-mess-up-i-fall-too-easily-in-love-i-cry-over-boys-i-m/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Never let the opinion of another affect your opinion of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/never-let-the-opinion-of-another-affect-your-opinion-of-yourself/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [Everyone has those times when you feel like you don't fit in. Everyone struggles to a certain extent with being cool and popular, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-boldman/everyone-has-those-times-when-you-feel-like-you-don-t-fit-in-everyone/)

[Spencer Boldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-boldman/)

> [When you're not working, it does affect you. It destroys you if your film doesn't release.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoojit-sircar/when-you-re-not-working-it-does-affect-you-it-destroys-you-if-your/)

[Shoojit Sircar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoojit-sircar/)

> [I want to say that our shows are safer-spaces shows. Don't push anyone or affect anyone's space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hopkins/i-want-to-say-that-our-shows-are-safer-spaces-shows-don-t-push-anyone/)

[Ben Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hopkins/)

> [Geometric shapes hold an energy pattern, and scientists did some experiments which say certain geometric shapes can affect matter around them. It's simply because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delonge/geometric-shapes-hold-an-energy-pattern-and-scientists-did-some/)

[Tom DeLonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delonge/)

> [“I look up at the painting. It's not even that interesting. Definitely doesn't grab me and shake my brain around like the meadow scene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-bachmann/i-look-up-at-the-painting-it-s-not-even-that-interesting-definitely/)

[Stefan Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-bachmann/)

> [We live our whole lives, and in our dying moment, we have to ask ourselves, 'What did we really care about? What impact did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/we-live-our-whole-lives-and-in-our-dying-moment-we-have-to-ask/)

[Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/)

> [It's sad to see that something you have done or the decisions that you have made affect your children in a negative way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-anderson/it-s-sad-to-see-that-something-you-have-done-or-the-decisions-that/)

[Pamela Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-anderson/)

> [Sometimes, you feel like, 'Am I going to be upset about this as a black person or as a woman first? Or am I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-williams/sometimes-you-feel-like-am-i-going-to-be-upset-about-this-as-a-black/)

[Jessica Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-williams/)

> [Even the good things don't go to my head and I don't let the bad things affect me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo/even-the-good-things-don-t-go-to-my-head-and-i-don-t-let-the-bad/)

[Marcelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo/)

> [My job as a physician is to make sure I have provided my patients with the best options to make the decisions that affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/my-job-as-a-physician-is-to-make-sure-i-have-provided-my-patients/)

[Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/)

> [Every day, all of us at Gannett are given the rare and sacred opportunity to affect change for the good in the communities we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracia-martore/every-day-all-of-us-at-gannett-are-given-the-rare-and-sacred/)

[Gracia Martore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracia-martore/)

[Browse all 447 Affect quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affect/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If I become defensive and upset right away, then that's going to adversely affect how I deal with it and it's probably not going to be good press for me and probably be bad just because I'm angry. Just be open and pleasant.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brandon Routh"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/if-i-become-defensive-and-upset-right-away-then-that-s-going-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Affect"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/if-i-become-defensive-and-upset-right-away-then-that-s-going-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/brandon-routh-18765_affect_if-i-become-defensive-and-upset-right-aw_2270039.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/brandon-routh-18765_affect_if-i-become-defensive-and-upset-right-aw_2270039.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/brandon-routh-18765_affect_if-i-become-defensive-and-upset-right-aw_2270039.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If I become defensive and upset right away, then that's going to adversely affect how I deal with it and…” — Brandon Routh",
                "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": "Brandon Routh",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-routh/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If I become defensive and upset...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/if-i-become-defensive-and-upset-right-away-then-that-s-going-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-routh/if-i-become-defensive-and-upset-right-away-then-that-s-going-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
