---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Always enter like a kitten and leave like…"
description: "\"Always enter like a kitten and leave like a lion. But NEVER enter like a lion and leave like a kitten. Always be humble.\" — Carlson Gracie"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/carlson-gracie-38141_be-humble_always-enter-like-a-kitten-and-leave-lik_70835.png"
---

#  Always enter like a kitten and leave like a lion. But…

![“Always enter like a kitten and leave like a lion. But NEVER enter like a lion and leave like a kitten. Always be humble.” quote by Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/carlson-gracie-38141_be-humble_always-enter-like-a-kitten-and-leave-lik_70835.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/carlson-gracie-38141_be-humble_always-enter-like-a-kitten-and-leave-lik_70835.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/carlson-gracie-38141_be-humble_always-enter-like-a-kitten-and-leave-lik_70835.png)

> “Always enter like a kitten and leave like a lion. But NEVER enter like a lion and leave like a kitten. Always be humble.”

[Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

## About This Quote

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

Advocates humility and confidence: start modestly, act boldly, and exit with strength, never the reverse.

**In simple terms:** Humility, confidence, integrity

Key Takeaway

Start modest, act bold, exit strong

Themes

humility confidence integrity self‑respect leadership

Mood

inspired determined

Type

advice maxim

When to use this quote

- job interview
- team meeting
- negotiation
- public speaking
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

personal conduct social dynamics

Practical Applications

- leadership coaching
- personal development workshops

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humility affect long‑term influence?
- When might boldness be counterproductive?

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## Related quotes

> [How do I stay humble? Because I'm the best at being humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/how-do-i-stay-humble-because-i-m-the-best-at-being-humble/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Dear boyfriend, If you wear jackets with strings I will be like your kitten with yarn, and will tear that shit to shreds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-boyfriend-if-you-wear-jackets-with-strings-i-will-be-like-your/)

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> [“He was big and sturdy, with a heavy jaw and a voice that made her want to curl up and ride in his pocket…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-yates/he-was-big-and-sturdy-with-a-heavy-jaw-and-a-voice-that-made-her-want/)

[Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-yates/)

> [“Come here." She shrank back. "I'm alright." "No you're not. You look like an extra out of a splatter film." He jerked her toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-mckenna/come-here-she-shrank-back-i-m-alright-no-you-re-not-you-look-like-an/)

[Shannon McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-mckenna/)

> [“It's like when a kitten tries to bite something to death. The kitten clearly has the cold-blooded murderous instinct of a predator, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-andrews/it-s-like-when-a-kitten-tries-to-bite-something-to-death-the-kitten/)

[Jesse Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-andrews/)

> [“Get up, brat, and for the lord's sake, smooth your hair! You look the most complete romp!' Miss Wantage did her best to comply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/get-up-brat-and-for-the-lord-s-sake-smooth-your-hair-you-look-the/)

[Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/)

> [“It isna flouncing," he said. "It's pacing." "If you say so, Captain MacFlouncy." "Or prowling." "Prowling." She arched one eyebrow. "Like a kitten?" He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/it-isna-flouncing-he-said-it-s-pacing-if-you-say-so-captain/)

[Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/)

> [“Cats, based on their corporeal existence, have a different view on trees even if one dismisses the fruit eating aspect. A closer look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leviak-b-kelly/cats-based-on-their-corporeal-existence-have-a-different-view-on/)

[Leviak B. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leviak-b-kelly/)

> [“Kat watched Gabrielle curl into a tiny ball like a kitten while Hale splayed across the limo's backseat, long legs and arms, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/kat-watched-gabrielle-curl-into-a-tiny-ball-like-a-kitten-while-hale/)

[Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/)

> [“Come on, kitten. She’s waiting for you.” Glaring at the back of his head, I pointed out, “I have a name.” It wasn’t kitten.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-daniels/come-on-kitten-she-s-waiting-for-you-glaring-at-the-back-of-his-head/)

[J.C. Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-daniels/)

> [“I jump on Lane’s back. He catches my legs around his sides, holding on tight, and I wrap my arms around his neck. Mmmmm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-henson/i-jump-on-lane-s-back-he-catches-my-legs-around-his-sides-holding-on/)

Sally Henson

> [“Just a kiss, Kitten.” “Kitten?” No one called her that. His mouth curved. “You’re skittish, wanting my touch, but afraid. Deciding if you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lyon/just-a-kiss-kitten-kitten-no-one-called-her-that-his-mouth-curved-you/)

[Jennifer Lyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lyon/)

> [“You’ve seen me at my worst. Maybe you should see me at my best.” My words hang between us, heavy and charged, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-cole/you-ve-seen-me-at-my-worst-maybe-you-should-see-me-at-my-best-my/)

[Courtney Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-cole/)

> [What feeling is so nice as a child's hand in yours? So small, so soft and warm, like a kitten huddling in the shelter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-feeling-is-so-nice-as-a-child-s-hand-in-yours-so-small-so-soft/)

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

> [“Just like a kitten pretending to be a lion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-hamilton/just-like-a-kitten-pretending-to-be-a-lion/)

[Kiki Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-hamilton/)

## More by Carlson Gracie

> [Life is yours, do not let life's problems have other influences on what you believe. See for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/life-is-yours-do-not-let-life-s-problems-have-other-influences-on/)

[Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

> [If your opponent is tapping, your technique is good. If he is not tapping, your technique sucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/if-your-opponent-is-tapping-your-technique-is-good-if-he-is-not/)

[Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

> [The best way to get a move to work is to make it so uncomfortable that the opponent gives it to you to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/the-best-way-to-get-a-move-to-work-is-to-make-it-so-uncomfortable/)

[Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

> [You should be a missile and go and destroy your opponent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/you-should-be-a-missile-and-go-and-destroy-your-opponent/)

[Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

> [If it were not for me, the Gracies would be selling Bananas in Largo do Machado!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/if-it-were-not-for-me-the-gracies-would-be-selling-bananas-in-largo/)

[Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

> [Never quit, you have to resist to the utmost. 'Til you drop, like a Samurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/never-quit-you-have-to-resist-to-the-utmost-til-you-drop-like-a/)

[Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

> [If you want to be a lion, you must train with lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/if-you-want-to-be-a-lion-you-must-train-with-lions/)

[Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

> [There is no reward without sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/there-is-no-reward-without-sacrifice/)

[Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

> [Punch a black belt in the face, he becomes a brown belt. Punch him again, purple...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/punch-a-black-belt-in-the-face-he-becomes-a-brown-belt-punch-him/)

[Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

> [If you can not win, make the enemy pay a steep price for victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/if-you-can-not-win-make-the-enemy-pay-a-steep-price-for-victory/)

[Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

[Explore all 11 Carlson Gracie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/)

## More Be humble quotes

> [To seek yourself in this world is to be lost; and to be humble is to be exalted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/to-seek-yourself-in-this-world-is-to-be-lost-and-to-be-humble-is-to/)

[John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/)

> [Well I think they broke the mould when they made me and being humble is one of my great assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hagman/well-i-think-they-broke-the-mould-when-they-made-me-and-being-humble/)

[Larry Hagman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hagman/)

> [Remember this-all the sighing, mourning, sobbing, and complaining in the world, does not so undeniably evidence a man to be humble, as his overlooking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/remember-this-all-the-sighing-mourning-sobbing-and-complaining-in-the/)

[Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/)

> [ Be humble and say okay, all right, I have to prep myself. So everybody prepped, and we finished the film \[Valerian \] four days… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-besson/be-humble-and-say-okay-all-right-i-have-to-prep-myself-so-everybody/)

[Luc Besson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-besson/)

> [Catch {a man} at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, "By jove, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/catch-a-man-at-the-moment-when-he-is-really-poor-in-spirit-and/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [Humility does not mean weakness. It does not mean timidity. It does not mean fear. A man can be humble and fearless. A man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/humility-does-not-mean-weakness-it-does-not-mean-timidity-it-does-not/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [There is no substitute for hardwork. Always be humble and hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/there-is-no-substitute-for-hardwork-always-be-humble-and-hungry/)

[Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/)

> [You've got to be humble really to be yourself or to get a chance to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/you-ve-got-to-be-humble-really-to-be-yourself-or-to-get-a-chance-to/)

[George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/)

> [Learning something means coming into contact with a world of which you know nothing. In order to learn, you must be humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/learning-something-means-coming-into-contact-with-a-world-of-which/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [Create your own job. Become the master of what you do. Fully imerse yourself in your culter. Be humble. You are never above having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/create-your-own-job-become-the-master-of-what-you-do-fully-imerse/)

[Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/)

> [It's very easy for us to be humble when no one else is around. There is no reason for us to demonstrate our superiority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-s-very-easy-for-us-to-be-humble-when-no-one-else-is-around-there/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [I'm totally normal. I think it's obnoxious when people demand limos or bodyguards. I eat at McDonald's or Taco Bell. My parents always taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paris-hilton/i-m-totally-normal-i-think-it-s-obnoxious-when-people-demand-limos-or/)

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[Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/)

> [I know that a Christian should be humble, but against the Pope I am going to be proud and say to him: "You, Pope,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-know-that-a-christian-should-be-humble-but-against-the-pope-i-am/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [Don't try to do this by yourself: to become a good yogi you need a teacher. Find a teacher you can bow to, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/don-t-try-to-do-this-by-yourself-to-become-a-good-yogi-you-need-a/)

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Browse all 243 Be humble quotes

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