--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you denigrate people, they have two…" description: "\"When you denigrate people, they have two ways to fight back - with their fists and guns, or their mouths. And mouths are seemingly the easiest way to n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/carl-reiner-12014_denigrate_when-you-denigrate-people-they-have-two_838850.jpg" --- # When you denigrate people, they have two ways to fight… ![“When you denigrate people, they have two ways to fight back - with their fists and guns, or their mouths. And mouths are seemingly the easiest way to not get hit back. If people are laughing, they're not going to hit you.” quote by Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/carl-reiner-12014_denigrate_when-you-denigrate-people-they-have-two_838850.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/carl-reiner-12014_denigrate_when-you-denigrate-people-they-have-two_838850.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/carl-reiner-12014_denigrate_when-you-denigrate-people-they-have-two_838850.jpg) > “When you denigrate people, they have two ways to fight back - with their fists and guns, or their mouths. And mouths are seemingly the easiest way to not get hit back. If people are laughing, they're not going to hit you.” [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People respond to ridicule with violence or words; humor can defuse aggression and protect the speaker. **In simple terms:** Humor can protect you from violent retaliation. Key Takeaway Use wit to de‑escalate conflict. Themes humor conflict resolution communication Mood defensive lighthearted Type strategic defensive When to use this quote - public speaking - online debates - bullying incidents - political rallies Key Concepts psychology social dynamics non‑violent resistance Questions to Reflect On - How can you tell when humor will help versus worsen a situation? - When is silence a better defense? A Different Perspective Humor may not work against determined aggressors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Denigrate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denigrate/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“Find a reason to turn your nose up at a culture, to denigrate a people because they are different, and it's not such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-balson/find-a-reason-to-turn-your-nose-up-at-a-culture-to-denigrate-a-people/) Ronald H. Balson > [The woman, in a battle of fists or guns, may not be as great a power as a man; but a woman behind a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-parlby/the-woman-in-a-battle-of-fists-or-guns-may-not-be-as-great-a-power-as/) Irene Parlby > [I decided very early that I was going to be a reporter, that I would not cheer for the team. I don't denigrate people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/i-decided-very-early-that-i-was-going-to-be-a-reporter-that-i-would/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [When I was a small boy, if we had a problem, we would fight about it with our fists. We wouldn't shoot somebody, killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/when-i-was-a-small-boy-if-we-had-a-problem-we-would-fight-about-it/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [“Most people fight with their fists. But I fight with my legs. I fight to stay, but they fight to run. Luckily for them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/most-people-fight-with-their-fists-but-i-fight-with-my-legs-i-fight/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Tucker, I want to tell you a secret." She curled my hand into a fist and showed it to me. "Life is a battle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-martin/tucker-i-want-to-tell-you-a-secret-she-curled-my-hand-into-a-fist-and/) [Charles Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-martin/) > [“You fight them by writing letters and making phone calls so you don’t have to fight them with fists. You fight them with fists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bray/you-fight-them-by-writing-letters-and-making-phone-calls-so-you-don-t/) [Mark Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bray/) > [“The Dignity to Fight without Fists The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-johnson/the-dignity-to-fight-without-fists-the/) [Rick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-johnson/) > [The joy with which we denigrate each others' efforts, I hate that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/the-joy-with-which-we-denigrate-each-others-efforts-i-hate-that/) [Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/) > [Far be it from me to denigrate Senator McCain's advice on vice presidential nominees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/far-be-it-from-me-to-denigrate-senator-mccain-s-advice-on-vice/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I'm not myself religious but have no wish to insult or denigrate those who are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/i-m-not-myself-religious-but-have-no-wish-to-insult-or-denigrate/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [To denigrate the union movement in this way is to denigrate the right and the ability of people who are not rich to organize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-beatty/to-denigrate-the-union-movement-in-this-way-is-to-denigrate-the-right/) [Warren Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-beatty/) > [I'm a teacher and a writer; my life is words. When I see the denigration of language, it hurts me, and it's easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-m-a-teacher-and-a-writer-my-life-is-words-when-i-see-the/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I don't know why it is that we need to denigrate, to knock down. It's so sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/i-don-t-know-why-it-is-that-we-need-to-denigrate-to-knock-down-it-s/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [My basis of morality is this: does this action enhance life, or does it denigrate life? Does it build up or does it tear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/my-basis-of-morality-is-this-does-this-action-enhance-life-or-does-it/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) ## More by Carl Reiner > [People have a comic bent or an angularity to their thinking, and those are the people who make jokes. And it's usually people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/people-have-a-comic-bent-or-an-angularity-to-their-thinking-and-those/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [I've seen the invention of television and performed on television even before my family owned one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/i-ve-seen-the-invention-of-television-and-performed-on-television/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [Going through war and living is a very important process. You realize how vulnerable you are and how lucky you are to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/going-through-war-and-living-is-a-very-important-process-you-realize/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [I write books that way - I put a first line down and say, "Where does this go?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/i-write-books-that-way-i-put-a-first-line-down-and-say-where-does/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [I think that comedy really tells you how it is. The other thing about comedy is that - you don't even know if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/i-think-that-comedy-really-tells-you-how-it-is-the-other-thing-about/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [I'm not a believer, I call myself an atheist. It was man who invented God. I once wrote that there are 15 things I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/i-m-not-a-believer-i-call-myself-an-atheist-it-was-man-who-invented/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [I was a Teletype operator in the army, so that's where I learned to type. One day, I went downstairs to see if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/i-was-a-teletype-operator-in-the-army-so-that-s-where-i-learned-to/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [Every morning, I would actually look at the obituaries before I had breakfast. And as a joke I said if I was not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/every-morning-i-would-actually-look-at-the-obituaries-before-i-had/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [Writing is the basis of all, because creating something that didn't even exist before is like taking an empty canvass. It is a wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/writing-is-the-basis-of-all-because-creating-something-that-didn-t/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [I only please myself. I figure I'm just one of many people. I'm not that different from anybody else and I don't have great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/i-only-please-myself-i-figure-i-m-just-one-of-many-people-i-m-not/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [You can get the best out of people if they're happy and not worried or not frightened that they're going to make a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/you-can-get-the-best-out-of-people-if-they-re-happy-and-not-worried/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [It's like a bird. If he knew what he was doing, he would fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/it-s-like-a-bird-if-he-knew-what-he-was-doing-he-would-fall/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > ['The Dick Van Dyke Show' was my labor of love. When asked the best thing I ever did - that was it. I wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/the-dick-van-dyke-show-was-my-labor-of-love-when-asked-the-best-thing/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [My father was a watchmaker and an inventor. I saw him working in the house every day. The work ethic, I got from him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/my-father-was-a-watchmaker-and-an-inventor-i-saw-him-working-in-the/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [I love tweeting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/i-love-tweeting/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) [Explore all 57 Carl Reiner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) ## More Denigrate quotes > [My basis of morality is this: does this action enhance life, or does it denigrate life? Does it build up or does it tear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/my-basis-of-morality-is-this-does-this-action-enhance-life-or-does-it/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I don't know why it is that we need to denigrate, to knock down. It's so sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/i-don-t-know-why-it-is-that-we-need-to-denigrate-to-knock-down-it-s/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [I'm a teacher and a writer; my life is words. When I see the denigration of language, it hurts me, and it's easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-m-a-teacher-and-a-writer-my-life-is-words-when-i-see-the/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [To denigrate the union movement in this way is to denigrate the right and the ability of people who are not rich to organize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-beatty/to-denigrate-the-union-movement-in-this-way-is-to-denigrate-the-right/) [Warren Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-beatty/) > [I'm not myself religious but have no wish to insult or denigrate those who are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/i-m-not-myself-religious-but-have-no-wish-to-insult-or-denigrate/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [The joy with which we denigrate each others' efforts, I hate that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/the-joy-with-which-we-denigrate-each-others-efforts-i-hate-that/) [Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/) > [Far be it from me to denigrate Senator McCain's advice on vice presidential nominees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/far-be-it-from-me-to-denigrate-senator-mccain-s-advice-on-vice/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I think that what I do, in terms of how I craft my words rhetorically, is fairly simple stuff. I don't mean that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-think-that-what-i-do-in-terms-of-how-i-craft-my-words-rhetorically/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“Find a reason to turn your nose up at a culture, to denigrate a people because they are different, and it's not such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-balson/find-a-reason-to-turn-your-nose-up-at-a-culture-to-denigrate-a-people/) Ronald H. Balson > [One time I happened to use the word 'denigrate' onstage, and it didn't get any reaction. So as I continued my act, the left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/one-time-i-happened-to-use-the-word-denigrate-onstage-and-it-didn-t/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [“The way to shut us up - to denigrate and destroy the truth we hear and see -is to render us unworthy and unsuccessful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nasdijj/the-way-to-shut-us-up-to-denigrate-and-destroy-the-truth-we-hear-and/) Nasdijj > [“No one is responsible for what he is nor even for what he does. This is obvious and everyone more or less agrees that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/no-one-is-responsible-for-what-he-is-nor-even-for-what-he-does-this/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [If we self-denigrate, we take away precious energy from our core soul. That's no good. You've gotto give yourself the energy to slog on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/if-we-self-denigrate-we-take-away-precious-energy-from-our-core-soul/) Senoraroy > [I guess I get bored easily, and thank God. I don't want to all my life pound only the same key, although some artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-baldessari/i-guess-i-get-bored-easily-and-thank-god-i-don-t-want-to-all-my-life/) [John Baldessari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-baldessari/) [Browse all 15 Denigrate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denigrate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you denigrate people, they have two ways to fight back - with their fists and guns, or their mouths. And mouths are seemingly the easiest way to not get hit back. 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