--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your ultimatum is simple. It’s fair. And…" description: "\"“Your ultimatum is simple. It’s fair. And it’s stating your own intentions, not what you hope theirs will be.”\" — Cheryl Strayed" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/cheryl-strayed-605_intentions_your-ultimatum-is-simple-it-s-fair-and-i_108787.png" --- # Your ultimatum is simple. It’s fair. And it’s stating your… ![“Your ultimatum is simple. It’s fair. And it’s stating your own intentions, not what you hope theirs will be.” quote by Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/cheryl-strayed-605_intentions_your-ultimatum-is-simple-it-s-fair-and-i_108787.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/cheryl-strayed-605_intentions_your-ultimatum-is-simple-it-s-fair-and-i_108787.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/cheryl-strayed-605_intentions_your-ultimatum-is-simple-it-s-fair-and-i_108787.png) > ““Your ultimatum is simple. It’s fair. And it’s stating your own intentions, not what you hope theirs will be.”” [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fair ultimatum clearly states one’s own expectations, avoiding assumptions about the other’s intentions. **In simple terms:** State your own expectations directly. Key Takeaway Clarity prevents misinterpretation. Themes communication boundaries clarity Mood direct thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - relationship negotiations - workplace feedback - friendship disagreements Key Concepts assertiveness Practical Applications - write down your intent before speaking - use “I” statements Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure fairness while being direct? - When might flexibility be more productive? A Different Perspective May overlook the other person’s perspective, leading to rigidity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fair Stating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair-stating-1297915/) [Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions/) [Stating Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stating-intentions-1297916/) [Ultimatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimatum/) [Ultimatum Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimatum-simple-1297914/) ## Related quotes > [With parents, that's the only way sometimes that they can get across to their kids is by giving them an ultimatum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shum-jr/with-parents-that-s-the-only-way-sometimes-that-they-can-get-across/) [Harry Shum, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shum-jr/) > [“In the beginnings of that silence, he knew something. Clearly. Once you throw down that gauntlet of ultimatum, the “one more thing” will happen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/in-the-beginnings-of-that-silence-he-knew-something-clearly-once-you/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [I have been in business a long time. I never had a successful relationship or partnership with any entity by issuing an ultimatum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wasserman/i-have-been-in-business-a-long-time-i-never-had-a-successful/) [Casey Wasserman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wasserman/) > [ULTIMATUM, n. In diplomacy, a last demand before resorting to concessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ultimatum-n-in-diplomacy-a-last-demand-before-resorting-to-concessions/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Never give a golfer an ultimatum unless you're prepared to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-van-buren/never-give-a-golfer-an-ultimatum-unless-you-re-prepared-to-lose/) [Abigail Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-van-buren/) > [“Duck was a neutral party, so he brought the ultimatum to the cows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-cronin/duck-was-a-neutral-party-so-he-brought-the-ultimatum-to-the-cows/) [Doreen Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-cronin/) > [Never accept ultimatums, conventional wisdom, or absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/never-accept-ultimatums-conventional-wisdom-or-absolutes/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [“Your ultimatum didn’t sit well with me, so naturally, I voiced my opinion.” “Which was?” “That you should go copulate with a pig. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/your-ultimatum-didn-t-sit-well-with-me-so-naturally-i-voiced-my/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“When Ginny realized I wouldn’t ask Max for a divorce, her request became an ultimatum. One day she screamed, “Make up your mind, Simon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hahn/when-ginny-realized-i-wouldn-t-ask-max-for-a-divorce-her-request/) [Nick Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hahn/) > [“But Mari, I also need to be clear about something. If we do this, you won't be my friend with benefits." I held very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-chamberlain/but-mari-i-also-need-to-be-clear-about-something-if-we-do-this-you/) [Sarah Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-chamberlain/) > [When my husband gives me this ultimatum, "You either stop singing, or you move out," then it became very clear that what I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-marie/when-my-husband-gives-me-this-ultimatum-you-either-stop-singing-or/) [Rene Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-marie/) > [Jesus Christ.” The fury on Nick’s face was enough to send me reeling and he hit the table hard enough with his hand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-mccray/jesus-christ-the-fury-on-nick-s-face-was-enough-to-send-me-reeling/) [Cheyenne McCray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-mccray/) > [Decisions made in real time are never perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-strathairn/decisions-made-in-real-time-are-never-perfect/) [David Strathairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-strathairn/) > [The Gospel is not an alternative, it’s an ultimatum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/the-gospel-is-not-an-alternative-it-s-an-ultimatum/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [“First of all, I'm an adult. A human being. Not a fucking baton you can simply pass back to my family once the going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-timoti/first-of-all-i-m-an-adult-a-human-being-not-a-fucking-baton-you-can/) [Cynthia Timoti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-timoti/) ## More by Cheryl Strayed > [“She understands that attention is the first and final act of love, and that the ultimate dwindling resource in the human arrangement isn’t cheap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/she-understands-that-attention-is-the-first-and-final-act-of-love-and/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“The most terrible and beautiful and interesting things happen in life. For some of you, those things have already happened. Whatever happens to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/the-most-terrible-and-beautiful-and-interesting-things-happen-in-life/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [Of course you want someone special to love you. A majority of the people who write to me inquire about how they can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/of-course-you-want-someone-special-to-love-you-a-majority-of-the/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [It's still true that literary works by women, gays, and writers of color are often framed as specific, rather than universal, small rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/it-s-still-true-that-literary-works-by-women-gays-and-writers-of/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [My whole life sort of ended when my mom died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/my-whole-life-sort-of-ended-when-my-mom-died/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“And you have to do it no matter what is true. No matter what is hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/and-you-have-to-do-it-no-matter-what-is-true-no-matter-what-is-hard/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“Don’t listen to those people who suggest you should be “over” your daughter’s death by now. The people who squawk the loudest about such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/don-t-listen-to-those-people-who-suggest-you-should-be-over-your/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“. . . there was the actual doing it, quickly followed by the grim realization of what it meant to do it, followed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/there-was-the-actual-doing-it-quickly-followed-by-the-grim/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“The sky didn't wonder where it was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/the-sky-didn-t-wonder-where-it-was/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [He was the most ordinary man in all the world, and yet in her memory he'd become luminous, like the prince in a fairy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/he-was-the-most-ordinary-man-in-all-the-world-and-yet-in-her-memory/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [Love is our essential nutrient. Without it, life has little meaning. It's the best thing we have to give and the most valuable thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/love-is-our-essential-nutrient-without-it-life-has-little-meaning-it/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“I never believed the boys were angry. I believed they were hurt and anger was the safest manifestation of their sorrow. It was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/i-never-believed-the-boys-were-angry-i-believed-they-were-hurt-and/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“It’s wrong that this is required of you. It’s wrong that your son died. It will always be wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/it-s-wrong-that-this-is-required-of-you-it-s-wrong-that-your-son-died/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“We aren't poor," my mother said, again and again. "Because we're rich in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/we-aren-t-poor-my-mother-said-again-and-again-because-we-re-rich-in/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“Oh, the dream. The goddamned man + baby dream. Written by the High Commission on Heterosexual Love and Sexual Reproduction and practiced by couples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/oh-the-dream-the-goddamned-man-baby-dream-written-by-the-high/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) [Explore all 450 Cheryl Strayed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) ## More Intentions quotes > [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [A man's intentions should be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/a-man-s-intentions-should-be-allowed-in-some-respects-to-plead-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“Our best intentions are the most impactful when they are formed by the actual needs and desires of our community.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-docusen/our-best-intentions-are-the-most-impactful-when-they-are-formed-by/) [David Docusen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-docusen/) > [I've taken my knocks here and there, but I believe my intentions are good. Doesn't mean everything I do is perfectly executed or I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-ve-taken-my-knocks-here-and-there-but-i-believe-my-intentions-are/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [“You're back where you swore yourself you wouldn't be The familiar shackles you can't tell from your own skin Your head's under water when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/you-re-back-where-you-swore-yourself-you-wouldn-t-be-the-familiar/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [My intentions with love are eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-maelane/my-intentions-with-love-are-eternal/) [Joseph Maelane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-maelane/) > [“Intentions are worthless to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-davis/intentions-are-worthless-to-me/) [Fiona Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-davis/) > [Sometimes our intention is much pure than raindrops , but it it contaminated by others intentions !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mly-ab/sometimes-our-intention-is-much-pure-than-raindrops-but-it-it/) [MLY AB](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mly-ab/) > [Good intentions do not guarantee good results. Somehow Andrew Keates turns works of merit into evenings of entertainment. Don't call him a dramaturge, call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gambaccini/good-intentions-do-not-guarantee-good-results-somehow-andrew-keates/) [Paul Gambaccini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gambaccini/) > [We are a people as all other peoples; we do not have any intentions to be better than the rest We do not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ze-ev-jabotinsky/we-are-a-people-as-all-other-peoples-we-do-not-have-any-intentions-to/) [Ze'ev Jabotinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ze-ev-jabotinsky/) > [Mr. Chamberlain desires to avert the threat to England's peace by making England, in alliance with Germany, stronger than her rivals and so to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/mr-chamberlain-desires-to-avert-the-threat-to-england-s-peace-by/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [“If God had good intentions, he would have rewarded the sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-god-had-good-intentions-he-would-have-rewarded-the-sex/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Dashed hopes and good intentions. Good, better, best, bested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/dashed-hopes-and-good-intentions-good-better-best-bested/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [You have to see if the batsman is coming out, if he is staying back, what his grip is like, to gauge his intentions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/you-have-to-see-if-the-batsman-is-coming-out-if-he-is-staying-back/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [A man who lives with intentions is bound to feel frustration. A man who lives with expectations is bound to feel frustrated because existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/a-man-who-lives-with-intentions-is-bound-to-feel-frustration-a-man/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) [Browse all 651 Intentions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Your ultimatum is simple. It’s fair. 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