--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't use blackmail on someone who…" description: "\"“You can't use blackmail on someone who doesn't know anything about the hold you have on them.”\" — Charlaine Harris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/charlaine-harris-542_blackmail_you-can-t-use-blackmail-on-someone-who-d_897064.png" --- # You can't use blackmail on someone who doesn't know… ![“You can't use blackmail on someone who doesn't know anything about the hold you have on them.” quote by Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/charlaine-harris-542_blackmail_you-can-t-use-blackmail-on-someone-who-d_897064.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/charlaine-harris-542_blackmail_you-can-t-use-blackmail-on-someone-who-d_897064.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/charlaine-harris-542_blackmail_you-can-t-use-blackmail-on-someone-who-d_897064.png) > ““You can't use blackmail on someone who doesn't know anything about the hold you have on them.”” [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power over others is ineffective if they are unaware of the leverage you claim. **In simple terms:** Blackmail fails without knowledge. Key Takeaway Know your leverage. Themes power manipulation knowledge ethics Mood cautious thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - legal negotiations - personal boundaries - political strategy Key Concepts information asymmetry control dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is knowledge more powerful than force? - How to protect against unseen leverage? A Different Perspective Ignorance can neutralize perceived power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [It sucks when you try to blackmail someone & it doesn't work. 'If you do this ever, I'm never going to talk to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/it-sucks-when-you-try-to-blackmail-someone-it-doesn-t-work-if-you-do/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“I always use this to blackmail her. I'd rather not, but hey, payback's a bitch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/i-always-use-this-to-blackmail-her-i-d-rather-not-but-hey-payback-s-a/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [“You can’t use a blackmail photo as your profile shot on social media!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-abbott/you-can-t-use-a-blackmail-photo-as-your-profile-shot-on-social-media/) [Kristi Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-abbott/) > [“The soap-box orators talked in the bitter cold at Marble Arch with their mackintoshes turned up around their Adam's apples, and all down the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/the-soap-box-orators-talked-in-the-bitter-cold-at-marble-arch-with/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [“worst that can happen if I refuse to pay up, and these blackmailers turn their records over to the District Attorney?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worst-that-can-happen-if-i-refuse-to-pay-up-and-these-blackmailers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Blackmailers never explain their thinking. They're like pirates that way. Dark-hearted, dangerous--- and cool like Johnny Depp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janette-rallison/blackmailers-never-explain-their-thinking-they-re-like-pirates-that/) [Janette Rallison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janette-rallison/) > [“Blackmailers are never satisfied." His laughter faded into bitterness. "Aren't they? How do you know?" His words were empty, hollow. "When you're the brother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ashley/blackmailers-are-never-satisfied-his-laughter-faded-into-bitterness/) [Jennifer Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ashley/) > [Theres one thing I need to know, should I hold on tighter or just let go?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/theres-one-thing-i-need-to-know-should-i-hold-on-tighter-or-just-let/) [Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/) > [You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-rogers/you-gotta-know-when-to-hold-em-know-when-to-fold-em-know-when-to-walk/) [Kenny Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-rogers/) > [Know that you hold my heart, my hopes, in your hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/know-that-you-hold-my-heart-my-hopes-in-your-hands/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [In the game of love, it doesn't really matter who won or who lost. What's important is that you know when to hold on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-game-of-love-it-doesn-t-really-matter-who-won-or-who-lost-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Does anybody know how to hold my heart How to hold my heart? 'Cause I don't want to let go, let go, let go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/does-anybody-know-how-to-hold-my-heart-how-to-hold-my-heart-cause-i/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [Don't put your heart in someone's hand until you're sure they know how to hold it tight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-put-your-heart-in-someone-s-hand-until-you-re-sure-they-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I will know how to hold you just by the look in your eye, I will never forget - not even on the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-lynn/i-will-know-how-to-hold-you-just-by-the-look-in-your-eye-i-will-never/) Diana Lynn > [“If you ever try to do anything to restrict my movements again, you’ll find out I know how to hold a grudge too,” she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/if-you-ever-try-to-do-anything-to-restrict-my-movements-again-you-ll/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) ## More by Charlaine Harris > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [I like sparkly things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/i-like-sparkly-things/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [All the pictures on the walls, they all white as lilies and smiling like alligators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/all-the-pictures-on-the-walls-they-all-white-as-lilies-and-smiling/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Te quiero -dijo- Nada de lo que hagas o digas podrá cambiarlo. Si me pidieras que enterrase un cadáver, o que me cargase a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/te-quiero-dijo-nada-de-lo-que-hagas-o-digas-podr-cambiarlo-si-me/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [You think that it’s not magic that keeps you alive? Just ‘cause you understand the mechanics of how something works, doesn’t make it any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/you-think-that-it-s-not-magic-that-keeps-you-alive-just-cause-you/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Suddenly the blood tasted good, salty, the stuff of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/suddenly-the-blood-tasted-good-salty-the-stuff-of-life/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Sookie: "Eric, when I'm back to being myself, I'm going to nail your ass for putting me in this position of being pledged to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/sookie-eric-when-i-m-back-to-being-myself-i-m-going-to-nail-your-ass/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“For a moment they all looked at Dermot incredulously, as if he'd just announced he was going to birth a kangaroo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/for-a-moment-they-all-looked-at-dermot-incredulously-as-if-he-d-just/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [There’s no way you can kill someone and get to the other side of the experience unchanged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/there-s-no-way-you-can-kill-someone-and-get-to-the-other-side-of-the/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [Pam said, "Sookie, I brought you something, too. I never thought I'd want to spend time with a human, but you're more tolerable than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/pam-said-sookie-i-brought-you-something-too-i-never-thought-i-d-want/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [You know I love you more when you're cold and heartless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/you-know-i-love-you-more-when-you-re-cold-and-heartless/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [For any writers at all, read everything you can and then put your butt in the chair and write. That's all there is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/for-any-writers-at-all-read-everything-you-can-and-then-put-your-butt/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“There were toes. Those toes wouldn’t be happy piggies. But they didn’t have any right to be in the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/there-were-toes-those-toes-wouldn-t-be-happy-piggies-but-they-didn-t/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [My gran had always told me that a woman--any woman worth her salt--could do whatever she had to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/my-gran-had-always-told-me-that-a-woman-any-woman-worth-her-salt/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [ “\[..\] red high-heeled screw-me shoes.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/red-high-heeled-screw-me-shoes/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) [Explore all 480 Charlaine Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) ## More Blackmail quotes > [“Either you want to try and blackmail me or you're hitting on me. Which is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-tushmore/either-you-want-to-try-and-blackmail-me-or-you-re-hitting-on-me-which/) Melanie Tushmore > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“I’m afraid I don’t suffer petty bureaucrats gladly. A very bad habit, but one I find hard to break. Nevertheless, you will find, Dr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-preston-lincoln-child-2/i-m-afraid-i-don-t-suffer-petty-bureaucrats-gladly-a-very-bad-habit/) Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child > [“He is a brilliant man, said Miss Doggett. She helped him a good deal in his work, I think. Mrs. Bonner says that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pym/he-is-a-brilliant-man-said-miss-doggett-she-helped-him-a-good-deal-in/) [Barbara Pym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-pym/) > [Being nice to people gets you nowhere. Being arrogant gets you nowhere. Blackmail, now that's a thing that will get you everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-to-people-gets-you-nowhere-being-arrogant-gets-you-nowhere/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The bonds of friendship dwindle with age, Oliver. But a little blackmail lasts forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hunt/the-bonds-of-friendship-dwindle-with-age-oliver-but-a-little/) [Stephen Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hunt/) > [“You don’t get to say it’s not a big thing. This is a big fucking thing, okay? This was supposed to be—this is mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/you-don-t-get-to-say-it-s-not-a-big-thing-this-is-a-big-fucking-thing/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [I'm constantly lying to my dog. He only responds to manipulation and blackmail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riley-keough/i-m-constantly-lying-to-my-dog-he-only-responds-to-manipulation-and/) [Riley Keough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riley-keough/) > [If the minority is able to successfully undo the Affordable Care Act by blackmail, it will be the undoing of the democratic nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerrold-nadler/if-the-minority-is-able-to-successfully-undo-the-affordable-care-act/) [Jerrold Nadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerrold-nadler/) > [“Ah, shit. She’s been crying. This is not good. I swear to God, a girl crying is fucking blackmail. It just makes you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-mcclean/ah-shit-she-s-been-crying-this-is-not-good-i-swear-to-god-a-girl/) [J.C. McClean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-mcclean/) > [Neither the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina nor the international community will accept such blackmail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-petritsch/neither-the-citizens-of-bosnia-and-herzegovina-nor-the-international/) Wolfgang Petritsch > [Russia has shown it's not above the temptation of using some bargaining power or blackmail. It shows that if there is a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gros/russia-has-shown-it-s-not-above-the-temptation-of-using-some/) Daniel Gros > [You know, it's hard to say this, but I suspect that Obama is afraid either of blackmail potential or even worse. And he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-know-it-s-hard-to-say-this-but-i-suspect-that-obama-is-afraid/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [“When that bastard calls back, you tell him he’s won this round. I’ll marry him. But I don’t take well to being blackmailed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/when-that-bastard-calls-back-you-tell-him-he-s-won-this-round-i-ll/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [The police had a practice of entrapping people. This was done all over the country, but we had a particularly vicious group here in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hay/the-police-had-a-practice-of-entrapping-people-this-was-done-all-over/) [Harry Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hay/) Browse all 157 Blackmail quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You can't use blackmail on someone who doesn't know anything about the hold you have on them.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlaine Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/you-can-t-use-blackmail-on-someone-who-doesn-t-know-anything-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blackmail" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/you-can-t-use-blackmail-on-someone-who-doesn-t-know-anything-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/charlaine-harris-542_blackmail_you-can-t-use-blackmail-on-someone-who-d_897064.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/charlaine-harris-542_blackmail_you-can-t-use-blackmail-on-someone-who-d_897064.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/charlaine-harris-542_blackmail_you-can-t-use-blackmail-on-someone-who-d_897064.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't use blackmail on someone who doesn't know anything about the hold you have on them.” — Charlaine Harris", "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": "Charlaine Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You can't use blackmail on someone...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/you-can-t-use-blackmail-on-someone-who-doesn-t-know-anything-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/you-can-t-use-blackmail-on-someone-who-doesn-t-know-anything-about/#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 } } ] } ```