--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if you are a pompous ass with no…" description: "\"“Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for authority, you're worth fifty men, and I mean to see you in my army.\" \"That was an incredibly backha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/brian-mcclellan-24957_compliment_even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-re_22134.jpg" --- # Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for… ![“Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for authority, you're worth fifty men, and I mean to see you in my army." "That was an incredibly backhanded compliment." "I meant every word.” quote by Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/brian-mcclellan-24957_compliment_even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-re_22134.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/brian-mcclellan-24957_compliment_even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-re_22134.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/brian-mcclellan-24957_compliment_even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-re_22134.jpg) > ““Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for authority, you're worth fifty men, and I mean to see you in my army." "That was an incredibly backhanded compliment." "I meant every word.”” [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A paradoxical praise that acknowledges someone's competence despite their arrogance, implying they are valuable in a collective effort. **In simple terms:** Valuable despite hubris Key Takeaway Talent outweighs attitude Themes leadership recognition paradox confidence value Mood wry defiant admiring Type aphorism dialogue When to use this quote - recruiting a strong but difficult personality - managing a talented but insubordinate team - strategic alliances with powerful individuals Key Concepts authority self-worth military compliment Practical Applications - identifying high-potential hires - leveraging talent in crisis situations Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance respect for authority with recognizing raw ability? - When might a backhanded compliment be more motivating than a sincere one? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ass Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ass-respect-400476/) [Backhanded Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backhanded-compliment-400474/) [Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment/) [Compliment Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment-meant-400475/) [Pompous Ass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pompous-ass-400477/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [When people said I was ahead of my time I took it as a compliment. It meant I was doing things that weren't in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-garewal/when-people-said-i-was-ahead-of-my-time-i-took-it-as-a-compliment-it/) [Simi Garewal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-garewal/) > [I will tell you that when I was heavy, people would say to me - and it was such a backhanded compliment - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-will-tell-you-that-when-i-was-heavy-people-would-say-to-me-and-it/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When I was heavy, people would say to me - and it was such a backhanded compliment - they would say, 'You've got such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/when-i-was-heavy-people-would-say-to-me-and-it-was-such-a-backhanded/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [“I hear Peeta's voice in my head. She has no idea. The effect she can have. Obviously meant to demean me. Right? But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-hear-peeta-s-voice-in-my-head-she-has-no-idea-the-effect-she-can/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Beth grimaced. “He is a pompous ass.” “And in dire need of a wealthy wife. Perhaps you should find a twitch to go with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/beth-grimaced-he-is-a-pompous-ass-and-in-dire-need-of-a-wealthy-wife/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [A man sufficiently gifted with humor is in small danger of succumbing to flattering delusions about himself, because he cannot help perceiving what a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/a-man-sufficiently-gifted-with-humor-is-in-small-danger-of-succumbing/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [“Are you smirking at me, Mr. Grey?” I ask sweetly. Pompous ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/are-you-smirking-at-me-mr-grey-i-ask-sweetly-pompous-ass/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“You’re ridiculous—” Heat crept up my face. “Well, you’re a pompous ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priya-kanaparti/you-re-ridiculous-heat-crept-up-my-face-well-you-re-a-pompous-ass/) [Priya Kanaparti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priya-kanaparti/) > [As far as most improved, I don't take it as a backhanded compliment at all. That's what you're supposed to do as a professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-randle/as-far-as-most-improved-i-don-t-take-it-as-a-backhanded-compliment-at/) [Julius Randle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-randle/) > [“I'm so proud of you!'' I gushed, a statement I've only recently come to realize can be a backhanded compliment, insinuating that the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cooper/i-m-so-proud-of-you-i-gushed-a-statement-i-ve-only-recently-come-to/) [Bernard Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cooper/) > [“I don’t think I’ve ever been called beautiful by a boy in my life. It’s definitely not an English-guy thing; in London, we pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-henderson/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-been-called-beautiful-by-a-boy-in-my-life-it/) [Lauren Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-henderson/) > [My whole life story is kind of a backhanded compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-spelling/my-whole-life-story-is-kind-of-a-backhanded-compliment/) [Tori Spelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-spelling/) > [Dark Fantasy" was my long, backhanded apology. You know how people give a backhanded compliment? It was a backhanded apology. It was like, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/dark-fantasy-was-my-long-backhanded-apology-you-know-how-people-give/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“NR, Master of the backhanded compliment/putdown strikes again!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-nicholls/nr-master-of-the-backhanded-compliment-putdown-strikes-again/) [M.J. Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-nicholls/) > [Could you imagine me and the roasters taking on the GOP field? It would be the greatest show ever. Prove that you can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/could-you-imagine-me-and-the-roasters-taking-on-the-gop-field-it/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) ## More by Brian McClellan > [“No one else’s suffering is ever as acute as your own,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/no-one-else-s-suffering-is-ever-as-acute-as-your-own/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“First rule of bathing,” Gavril said. “If you can’t smell yourself anymore, it’s time to wash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/first-rule-of-bathing-gavril-said-if-you-can-t-smell-yourself-anymore/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“The age of kings is dead, Adamat, and I have killed it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/the-age-of-kings-is-dead-adamat-and-i-have-killed-it/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“You missed the morning’s festivities,” Bo said to Adamat. “You call torturing a man ‘festivities’?” Adamat asked. “I’m not a good person,” Bo said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/you-missed-the-morning-s-festivities-bo-said-to-adamat-you-call/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“Children bleed as easy as anyone else, don't they? Why would they be spared? A child is nothing but a future enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/children-bleed-as-easy-as-anyone-else-don-t-they-why-would-they-be/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“The people are hungry,” Mihali said. He lifted his hands, spreading them to encompass the city. “The people need to be fed. They need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/the-people-are-hungry-mihali-said-he-lifted-his-hands-spreading-them/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“Doctor, what could you prescribe for Charlemund?” The doctor looked down his nose at the unconscious form of the arch-diocel. “Arsenic?” “Now, really. Something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/doctor-what-could-you-prescribe-for-charlemund-the-doctor-looked-down/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“When a man solved his problems by punching them, books were often a foreign thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/when-a-man-solved-his-problems-by-punching-them-books-were-often-a/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“Styke's people were outnumbered two to one. The Dynize, he decided, should have brought more men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/styke-s-people-were-outnumbered-two-to-one-the-dynize-he-decided/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“I believed it had been long enough that Kresimir would never return. I believed it was time for change. I thought all of Rozalia’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/i-believed-it-had-been-long-enough-that-kresimir-would-never-return-i/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“The minutiae of the common man is the grease that slicks the gears of civilization. She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/the-minutiae-of-the-common-man-is-the-grease-that-slicks-the-gears-of/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“But there were some wounds you could ask an old soldier about and others you had to wait for him to tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/but-there-were-some-wounds-you-could-ask-an-old-soldier-about-and/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“I’m an investigator, my dear. Other people’s business is my business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/i-m-an-investigator-my-dear-other-people-s-business-is-my-business/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“You know,” Taniel said, “we could have kept firing after they sounded the retreat. Would have wiped out thousands on the mountainside. The Kez…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/you-know-taniel-said-we-could-have-kept-firing-after-they-sounded-the/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [“God' is a funny word, it implies omnipotence and omniscience. Let me assure, I am neither.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/god-is-a-funny-word-it-implies-omnipotence-and-omniscience-let-me/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) [Explore all 23 Brian McClellan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) ## More Compliment quotes > [Hot legs, bring your Mother, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/hot-legs-bring-your-mother-too/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [I see the joy in life and I see the joy in simple things. I over-compliment. I over-praise. I over-express my feelings toward people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-lansing/i-see-the-joy-in-life-and-i-see-the-joy-in-simple-things-i-over/) [Sherry Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-lansing/) > [The words I LOVE YOU, sometimes fooled us... But when someone says I TRUST YOU.. That's a better compliment, a true care with faith...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reolope/the-words-i-love-you-sometimes-fooled-us-but-when-someone-says-i/) [Janet Reolope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reolope/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [I've got the public. I don't care about the critics. I did at one time. I don't any more. I did when I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-got-the-public-i-don-t-care-about-the-critics-i-did-at-one-time/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [When one is frank, one's very presence is a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/when-one-is-frank-one-s-very-presence-is-a-compliment/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [Well, I think every now and again, some people deserve to get their butts chewed. Every now and again some people deserve a pat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-i-think-every-now-and-again-some-people-deserve-to-get-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are searching for the same thing,” Stripey said. “How do you know?” Janco asked. “I read his mind.” The Sitian pointed to Ari.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/we-are-searching-for-the-same-thing-stripey-said-how-do-you-know/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [You're better off owning 30 percent and having two amazing partners who compliment you and are equally as driven as you are than having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dyrdek/you-re-better-off-owning-30-percent-and-having-two-amazing-partners/) [Rob Dyrdek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dyrdek/) > [The three of us just try put our heads down and stay creative. The awards truly are just cake. It's one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/the-three-of-us-just-try-put-our-heads-down-and-stay-creative-the/) [Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/) > [Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/your-eyes-are-like-two-jewels-in-the-sky/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I've made this conscious decision to tell people on the street when I think they're wearing something great. If more people did that, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-jensen/i-ve-made-this-conscious-decision-to-tell-people-on-the-street-when-i/) [Ashley Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-jensen/) > [“Why did you decide to be an architect?" "I didn't know it then. But it's because I've never believed in God." "Come on, talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/why-did-you-decide-to-be-an-architect-i-didn-t-know-it-then-but-it-s/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Love is appreciating, complimenting, feeling gratitude, and speaking good words to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/love-is-appreciating-complimenting-feeling-gratitude-and-speaking/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) [Browse all 1,338 Compliment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for authority, you're worth fifty men, and I mean to see you in my army.\" \"That was an incredibly backhanded compliment.\" \"I meant every word.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian McClellan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-respect-for-authority-you-re/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compliment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-respect-for-authority-you-re/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/brian-mcclellan-24957_compliment_even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-re_22134.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/brian-mcclellan-24957_compliment_even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-re_22134.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/brian-mcclellan-24957_compliment_even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-re_22134.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for authority, you're worth fifty men, and I mean to see you…” — Brian McClellan", "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": "Brian McClellan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Even if you are a pompous...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-respect-for-authority-you-re/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-respect-for-authority-you-re/#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 } } ] } ```