Asshole Quote by Dan Savage
“Don't mistake being an asshole for being a man.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Kid: What Happened to My Boyfriend, by Dan Savage, 1999
Being rude or aggressive does not define masculinity; true manhood is about respect and responsibility.
In simple terms: Rudeness isn’t masculinity.
Key Takeaway
Act with respect, not aggression.
Themes
masculinity
respect
behavior
Mood
reflective
challenging
Type
advice
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- relationships
- workplace
- online interactions
- friendship
Key Concepts
gender norms
ethical conduct
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you define manhood beyond behavior?
- What steps can you take to show respect in tough situations?
A Different Perspective
Aggression can be a coping mechanism for insecurity, not a true measure of manhood.
![“And that really captures the difference for the bullied straight kid versus the bullied gay kid, is that the bullied straight kid goes home to a shoulder to cry on and support and can talk freely about his experience at school and why he's being bullied. [...] And I couldn't go home and open up to…” quote by Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f23/dan-savage-2880_being-bullied_and-that-really-captures-the-difference_58927.jpg)
![“I'm one of those gay people who's constantly reminded of how fortunate I am to live now and not to be Ennis and Jack [from Brokeback Mountain] or whatever - not that I'd mind being Ennis for half an hour. But it's been so much worse recently. It still is terrible. In Iran, they're hanging gay…” quote by Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/31f/dan-savage-2880_addict_i-m-one-of-those-gay-people-who-s-consta_100210.jpg)
