--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By God, I can’t sort out whether you’re…" description: "\"“By God, I can’t sort out whether you’re insolent as brass or missing a brain between your ears.” “If I’m forced to choose from solely those two option..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/christi-caldwell-28459_choice_by-god-i-can-t-sort-out-whether-you-re-i_1946355.jpg" --- # By God, I can’t sort out whether you’re insolent as brass… ![“By God, I can’t sort out whether you’re insolent as brass or missing a brain between your ears.” “If I’m forced to choose from solely those two options? The former.” quote by Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/christi-caldwell-28459_choice_by-god-i-can-t-sort-out-whether-you-re-i_1946355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/christi-caldwell-28459_choice_by-god-i-can-t-sort-out-whether-you-re-i_1946355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/christi-caldwell-28459_choice_by-god-i-can-t-sort-out-whether-you-re-i_1946355.jpg) > ““By God, I can’t sort out whether you’re insolent as brass or missing a brain between your ears.” “If I’m forced to choose from solely those two options? The former.”” [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) ## 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 chooses to label someone as insolent rather than unintelligent, reflecting a preference for moral judgment over intellectual assessment. **In simple terms:** Choosing to call someone rude instead of stupid. Key Takeaway Recognize the impact of language on perception. Themes communication judgment language Mood thoughtful reflective Type interpersonal philosophical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - team feedback - personal introspection Key Concepts psychology sociolinguistics character analysis Questions to Reflect On - What does calling someone insolent reveal about your values? - How might alternative phrasing change the outcome? A Different Perspective Words can shape relationships positively or negatively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-ears-3131665/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Ears Forced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears-forced-3131664/) [Forced Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forced-choose-1657282/) [Missing Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missing-brain-843971/) ## Related quotes > [When stepping into the mind of a psychopath, you realize that there is something missing in their brain that they do not understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-toussaint/when-stepping-into-the-mind-of-a-psychopath-you-realize-that-there-is/) [Lorraine Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-toussaint/) > [“My father was missing some very important meeting, and my stepmother from Oz? I'm sure she was missing her brain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/my-father-was-missing-some-very-important-meeting-and-my-stepmother/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) > [“Don't mind her; she's missing that part in her brain that tells her to shut up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinn-loftis/don-t-mind-her-she-s-missing-that-part-in-her-brain-that-tells-her-to/) [Quinn Loftis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinn-loftis/) > [I'm sort of missing that part of my brain where I look at anything as a challenge. I always have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krysten-ritter/i-m-sort-of-missing-that-part-of-my-brain-where-i-look-at-anything-as/) [Krysten Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krysten-ritter/) > [As women, and as people, we're often forced to choose between pop culture and tearing down celebrities or a show about politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iliza-shlesinger/as-women-and-as-people-we-re-often-forced-to-choose-between-pop/) [Iliza Shlesinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iliza-shlesinger/) > [“A man must be forced to choose. It is only when you are forced to choose that you know what is important to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/a-man-must-be-forced-to-choose-it-is-only-when-you-are-forced-to/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [“The intellect of man is forced to choose Perfection of the life, or of the work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/the-intellect-of-man-is-forced-to-choose-perfection-of-the-life-or-of-2/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [When you have choices, you are forced to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/when-you-have-choices-you-are-forced-to-choose/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [When forced to choose, I will not trade even a night's sleep for the chance of extra profits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/when-forced-to-choose-i-will-not-trade-even-a-night-s-sleep-for-the/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“It pains me, my dear,” I said with a distinct emotional warble in my throat, “to be forced to choose between you and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/it-pains-me-my-dear-i-said-with-a-distinct-emotional-warble-in-my/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“Despite all of my moaning and groaning about the romantic disasters that continued to befall me, I knew if I were ever forced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-elbert/despite-all-of-my-moaning-and-groaning-about-the-romantic-disasters/) [Joyce Elbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-elbert/) > [“When choice is complicated and difficult, people might greatly appreciate a sensible default. It is hardly clear that they should be forced to choose. ==========”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-choice-is-complicated-and-difficult-people-might-greatly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are forced to choose, for the processes we have initiated in our lifetime cannot continue in the lifetime of our children. Whatever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ervin-laszlo/we-are-forced-to-choose-for-the-processes-we-have-initiated-in-our/) [Ervin Laszlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ervin-laszlo/) > [The intellect of man is forced to choose Perfection of the life, or of the work And if it take the second must refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/the-intellect-of-man-is-forced-to-choose-perfection-of-the-life-or-of/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [No one should ever be forced to choose between food and education, or medicine and shelter when they don't have the resources. It's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-brosnahan/no-one-should-ever-be-forced-to-choose-between-food-and-education-or/) [Rachel Brosnahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-brosnahan/) ## More by Christi Caldwell > [“If he so much as mentioned the absence of any trunks or material possessions that constituted things she could attend to, by God, she'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/if-he-so-much-as-mentioned-the-absence-of-any-trunks-or-material/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“Not since life taught him the perils of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/not-since-life-taught-him-the-perils-of-love/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“He thinned his eyes into razor slits and took a step toward Constance Brandley. “Let us be clear, madam. ‘Company’ implies one who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/he-thinned-his-eyes-into-razor-slits-and-took-a-step-toward-constance/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“Why would the blasted organ splinter apart if she weren't in love with him?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/why-would-the-blasted-organ-splinter-apart-if-she-weren-t-in-love/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“Life is horrible and unfair and terrifying. But those are not reasons to stop living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/life-is-horrible-and-unfair-and-terrifying-but-those-are-not-reasons/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“I’ve learned it is best to simply look at a person not as a title or category they might fit in to, but rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/i-ve-learned-it-is-best-to-simply-look-at-a-person-not-as-a-title-or/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“I'd not wed you if you were the last creature in the kingdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/i-d-not-wed-you-if-you-were-the-last-creature-in-the-kingdom/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“Are you calling into question my honor, ma’am?” he demanded in terse ducal tones his grandfather would have been impressed by. The woman snorted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/are-you-calling-into-question-my-honor-ma-am-he-demanded-in-terse/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“I was trying so hard, and I was so frustrated, that I could not see anything beyond the pressure I placed on myself.” Ryker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/i-was-trying-so-hard-and-i-was-so-frustrated-that-i-could-not-see/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“You thought me incapable of loving you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/you-thought-me-incapable-of-loving-you/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“Sometimes honesty and cruelty go hand in hand, do they not?” she asked softly and released the curtain. It fluttered into place. “Sometimes honesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/sometimes-honesty-and-cruelty-go-hand-in-hand-do-they-not-she-asked/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I was conducting research, determining whether I’d be truly content as a spinster.” “You wouldn’t be,” her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/it-wasn-t-supposed-to-be-this-way-i-was-conducting-research/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“Marry me knowing that there may be struggles and sadness, and that we, with each other’s love, will find strength and joy in one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/marry-me-knowing-that-there-may-be-struggles-and-sadness-and-that-we/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“Oh God, why did her heart crack in the manner it did?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/oh-god-why-did-her-heart-crack-in-the-manner-it-did/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) > [“I can give you the love I feel that was slowly kindled and cultivated, just like the flowers you tend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/i-can-give-you-the-love-i-feel-that-was-slowly-kindled-and-cultivated/) [Christi Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) [Explore all 18 Christi Caldwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“By God, I can’t sort out whether you’re insolent as brass or missing a brain between your ears.” “If I’m forced to choose from solely those two options? The former.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christi Caldwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/by-god-i-can-t-sort-out-whether-you-re-insolent-as-brass-or-missing-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/by-god-i-can-t-sort-out-whether-you-re-insolent-as-brass-or-missing-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/christi-caldwell-28459_choice_by-god-i-can-t-sort-out-whether-you-re-i_1946355.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/christi-caldwell-28459_choice_by-god-i-can-t-sort-out-whether-you-re-i_1946355.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/christi-caldwell-28459_choice_by-god-i-can-t-sort-out-whether-you-re-i_1946355.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By God, I can’t sort out whether you’re insolent as brass or missing a brain between your ears.” “If I’m…” — Christi Caldwell", "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": "Christi Caldwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christi-caldwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“By God, I can’t sort out...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/by-god-i-can-t-sort-out-whether-you-re-insolent-as-brass-or-missing-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christi-caldwell/by-god-i-can-t-sort-out-whether-you-re-insolent-as-brass-or-missing-a/#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 } } ] } ```