--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: …the only way to do that was to make the…" description: "\"“…the only way to do that was to make the trouble she was causing seem unimportant. It was a good strategy, and I was failing at it.”\" — C.D. Reiss" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/c-d-reiss-1966_failing_the-only-way-to-do-that-was-to-make-the_691846.jpg" --- # …the only way to do that was to make the trouble she was… ![“…the only way to do that was to make the trouble she was causing seem unimportant. It was a good strategy, and I was failing at it.” quote by C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/c-d-reiss-1966_failing_the-only-way-to-do-that-was-to-make-the_691846.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/c-d-reiss-1966_failing_the-only-way-to-do-that-was-to-make-the_691846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/c-d-reiss-1966_failing_the-only-way-to-do-that-was-to-make-the_691846.jpg) > ““…the only way to do that was to make the trouble she was causing seem unimportant. It was a good strategy, and I was failing at it.”” [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admits using dismissal as a tactic to minimize a problem, acknowledging personal failure in execution. **In simple terms:** Dismissal used as a tactic, but ineffective. Key Takeaway Recognize when avoidance fails and address issues directly. Themes communication strategy conflict self‑awareness failure Mood cautious reflective Type advice psychological When to use this quote - workplace negotiations - personal relationships - team leadership Key Concepts manipulation problem solving personal growth Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to downplay a problem? - How can you improve conflict resolution skills? A Different Perspective The approach can damage trust if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that people make their own luck by great preparation and good strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-believe-that-people-make-their-own-luck-by-great-preparation-and/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“Any good strategy involves risk. 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Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“You turned my existence into a life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/you-turned-my-existence-into-a-life/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“...Tomorrow I'm going to destroy you. I'm going to mark your body and ruin your mind. By noon, you won't know whether to laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/tomorrow-i-m-going-to-destroy-you-i-m-going-to-mark-your-body-and/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“I want to fuck you right here, teacup.” “The engraved invitation’s in the mail.” I raised my leg over his waist and he tucked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/i-want-to-fuck-you-right-here-teacup-the-engraved-invitation-s-in-the/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“I was many things. I was submissive. I was masochistic. I was trusting. I was a sexual slave. But obedient? Not as much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/i-was-many-things-i-was-submissive-i-was-masochistic-i-was-trusting-i/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“And right now, the only thing I want to face is a certain hot alpha racecar driver on my Kindle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/and-right-now-the-only-thing-i-want-to-face-is-a-certain-hot-alpha/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“I’ll break you with my love and put you back together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/i-ll-break-you-with-my-love-and-put-you-back-together/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“She tasted like the rest of my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/she-tasted-like-the-rest-of-my-life/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“I wanted to hug him and slap him, in that order.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/i-wanted-to-hug-him-and-slap-him-in-that-order/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“I'm human, It's a terminal condition”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/i-m-human-it-s-a-terminal-condition/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“If I were this kid, I’d shit myself too. “Five,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/if-i-were-this-kid-i-d-shit-myself-too-five/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“I took one step toward him and he took the sign as if it was in neon paint. Which it was. Neon paint with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/i-took-one-step-toward-him-and-he-took-the-sign-as-if-it-was-in-neon/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [“It’s wrong to want to protect you? To keep you above my shit? A goddess?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/it-s-wrong-to-want-to-protect-you-to-keep-you-above-my-shit-a-goddess/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) [Explore all 193 C.D. Reiss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) ## More Failing quotes > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Trial by jury. Live wherever you can make a living. How could a government based on such principles fail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/trial-by-jury-live-wherever-you-can-make-a-living-how-could-a/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. 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