---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, my problem is I cant say no to…"
description: "\"You know, my problem is I cant say no to people, especially people who want to write me checks to do things.\" — Dan Savage"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/dan-savage-2880_cant_you-know-my-problem-is-i-cant-say-no-to_1104053.jpg"
---

#  You know, my problem is I cant say no to people…

![“You know, my problem is I cant say no to people, especially people who want to write me checks to do things.” quote by Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/dan-savage-2880_cant_you-know-my-problem-is-i-cant-say-no-to_1104053.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/dan-savage-2880_cant_you-know-my-problem-is-i-cant-say-no-to_1104053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/dan-savage-2880_cant_you-know-my-problem-is-i-cant-say-no-to_1104053.jpg)

> “You know, my problem is I cant say no to people, especially people who want to write me checks to do things.”

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

## 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 admits a difficulty in refusing requests, especially when financial incentives are involved, highlighting a conflict between generosity and self‑interest.

**In simple terms:** He can’t say no to money‑linked favors.

Key Takeaway

Set clear boundaries for requests.

Themes

self‑interest generosity boundaries money conflict

Mood

thoughtful self‑critical

Type

advice personal

When to use this quote

- workplace
- friendship
- charity
- financial offers

Key Concepts

behavioral economics assertiveness

Questions to Reflect On

- What limits your ability to decline?
- How does money affect your decisions?

A Different Perspective

May ignore deeper motivations beyond money.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cant/) [Checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-want/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-say-546977/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-write/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-checks-667500/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [“Don’t let your mouth write checks that your rear end can’t cash. —The gospel according to Elmer Stillman”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-force/don-t-let-your-mouth-write-checks-that-your-rear-end-can-t-cash-the/)

[Marie Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-force/)

> [When you're rich you don't write checks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/when-you-re-rich-you-don-t-write-checks/)

[Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/)

> [Writing checks to the IRS that include strings of zeros does not bother me ... Overall, we feel extraordinarily lucky to have been dealt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/writing-checks-to-the-irs-that-include-strings-of-zeros-does-not/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [When you're rich, you don't write checks. Straight cash, homey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/when-you-re-rich-you-don-t-write-checks-straight-cash-homey/)

[Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/)

> [Your mouth should never write checks your ass can't cash!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-estes/your-mouth-should-never-write-checks-your-ass-can-t-cash/)

[Tracy Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-estes/)

> [“Music lets you write your own checks. Don't ever forget that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-jack-miller/music-lets-you-write-your-own-checks-don-t-ever-forget-that/)

[Jason Jack Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-jack-miller/)

> [“Don't let your ego write checks your character can't cash. another from the world of tweets”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-glasser/don-t-let-your-ego-write-checks-your-character-can-t-cash-another/)

[Robin Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-glasser/)

> [I want you to hear from God. God already spoke to me what I'm going to write out. You're going to write your checks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/i-want-you-to-hear-from-god-god-already-spoke-to-me-what-i-m-going-to/)

[Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/)

> [I used to steal pens at the store. Back in the day when you would write checks, I would write a check and use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-fulcher/i-used-to-steal-pens-at-the-store-back-in-the-day-when-you-would/)

[Rich Fulcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-fulcher/)

> [I don't let nobody sign for my money. Me and my wife write our own checks. So, if there's some money missing, we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/i-don-t-let-nobody-sign-for-my-money-me-and-my-wife-write-our-own/)

[Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/)

> [“He wants your search to be complete and thorough, because you are discerning and will not settle for second best. If you are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/he-wants-your-search-to-be-complete-and-thorough-because-you-are/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [When people reflexively write checks to institutions that have billions of dollars in the bank, they are essentially committing a moral crime. Your money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/when-people-reflexively-write-checks-to-institutions-that-have/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [In addition to comedy, I'm a writer. I write checks. They're not very good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-liebman/in-addition-to-comedy-i-m-a-writer-i-write-checks-they-re-not-very/)

[Wendy Liebman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-liebman/)

> [Don't say to God I have a big problem, say to the problem I have A Big God!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/don-t-say-to-god-i-have-a-big-problem-say-to-the-problem-i-have-a-big/)

[Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/)

> [I hate labels; the problem is that if you say you're one thing, it's hard for people to imagine you as something else. Music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-frisell/i-hate-labels-the-problem-is-that-if-you-say-you-re-one-thing-it-s/)

[Bill Frisell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-frisell/)

## More by Dan Savage

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [Bisexuals need to recognize that their being closeted is a huge contributing factor to the hostility they face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/bisexuals-need-to-recognize-that-their-being-closeted-is-a-huge/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [Really, when it comes to gay rights, there's two wars going on. The first war is political. But the culture war is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/really-when-it-comes-to-gay-rights-there-s-two-wars-going-on-the/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [I get letters every year from women who think Valentine's Day is an empty exercise, but are ironically pretty exercised when their boyfriends neglect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/i-get-letters-every-year-from-women-who-think-valentine-s-day-is-an/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [I'm allergic to dogs, so I couldn't even adopt what gay men typically adopt when they have that maternal gene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/i-m-allergic-to-dogs-so-i-couldn-t-even-adopt-what-gay-men-typically/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [And that really captures the difference for the bullied straight kid versus the bullied gay kid, is that the bullied straight kid goes home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/and-that-really-captures-the-difference-for-the-bullied-straight-kid/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/i-m-one-of-those-gay-people-who-s-constantly-reminded-of-how/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [I think the best thing for you to do is just live your life. Live a life that's worth living, one where you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/i-think-the-best-thing-for-you-to-do-is-just-live-your-life-live-a/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [the Bible is only as good and decent as the person reading it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/the-bible-is-only-as-good-and-decent-as-the-person-reading-it/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [There's a big mistake the left has made with talking to religious people, which is attempting to talk them out of their interpretations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/there-s-a-big-mistake-the-left-has-made-with-talking-to-religious/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [The mistake that straight people made was imposing the monogamous expectation on men. Men were never expected to be monogamous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/the-mistake-that-straight-people-made-was-imposing-the-monogamous/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [I got picked on a lot, even by teachers too. I liked to listen to musicals and bake, and my homeroom teacher found out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/i-got-picked-on-a-lot-even-by-teachers-too-i-liked-to-listen-to/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [“Either way... you've got to tell him--in no uncertain terms--to knock it the fuck off already. Don't be measured, don't wrap it up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/either-way-you-ve-got-to-tell-him-in-no-uncertain-terms-to-knock-it/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [I wanted to be a priest when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/i-wanted-to-be-a-priest-when-i-was-a-kid/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [When you're young and queer and closeted, you can end up in this place where you regard your straight peers as the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/when-you-re-young-and-queer-and-closeted-you-can-end-up-in-this-place/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

[Explore all 147 Dan Savage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

## More Cant quotes

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/)

[Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/)

> [Be comfortable; be you. Whats most important is to understand what suits your body type and personality. Stick to that, and you cant go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/be-comfortable-be-you-whats-most-important-is-to-understand-what/)

[Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/)

> [I would go to different production houses everyday for auditions and they would reject me saying you cant talk, smile, dance, or act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-tamboli/i-would-go-to-different-production-houses-everyday-for-auditions-and/)

[Nikki Tamboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-tamboli/)

> [Those with a gift for action, for their part, often express contempt for those whose gifts are more reflective. Men of action like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/those-with-a-gift-for-action-for-their-part-often-express-contempt/)

[Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/)

> [We can all agree that government cant solve the obesity crisis alone. Its an ongoing issue that will require a collaborative effort across private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/we-can-all-agree-that-government-cant-solve-the-obesity-crisis-alone/)

[Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/)

> [There is nothing of permanent value (putting aside a few human affections) nothing that satisfies quiet reflection--except the sense of having worked according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/there-is-nothing-of-permanent-value-putting-aside-a-few-human/)

[Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/)

> [When your house is on fire, you cant be bothered with the neighbors. Or, as we say in Chess, if your King is under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/when-your-house-is-on-fire-you-cant-be-bothered-with-the-neighbors-or/)

[Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/)

> [The first sentence cant be written until the final sentence is written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-first-sentence-cant-be-written-until-the-final-sentence-is-written/)

[Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/)

> [There are people I would like to work with. Its a bit harder, because I live out in the sticks anyway, and plus being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/there-are-people-i-would-like-to-work-with-its-a-bit-harder-because-i/)

[Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/)

> [One thing that I think never goes out of style is just purity. Niceness and purity. And the Muppets have never lost that. Kermit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-segel/one-thing-that-i-think-never-goes-out-of-style-is-just-purity/)

[Jason Segel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-segel/)

> [ “My dear friend, clear your mind of cant \[excessive thought\]. You may talk as other people do: you may say to a man, "Sir,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/my-dear-friend-clear-your-mind-of-cant-excessive-thought-you-may-talk/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [Life is full of censorship. I cant spit in your eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/life-is-full-of-censorship-i-cant-spit-in-your-eye/)

[Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/)

> [To me, there is nothing more soothing than the song of a mosquito that can't get through the mesh to bite you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-smartt-bell/to-me-there-is-nothing-more-soothing-than-the-song-of-a-mosquito-that/)

[Madison Smartt Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-smartt-bell/)

> [The App Store has democratized the creation of content. As a 12-year-old kid, I was able to put my application on the store. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-d-aloisio/the-app-store-has-democratized-the-creation-of-content-as-a-12-year/)

[Nick D'Aloisio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-d-aloisio/)

[Browse all 390 Cant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cant/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You know, my problem is I cant say no to people, especially people who want to write me checks to do things.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dan Savage"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/you-know-my-problem-is-i-cant-say-no-to-people-especially-people-who/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cant"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/you-know-my-problem-is-i-cant-say-no-to-people-especially-people-who/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/dan-savage-2880_cant_you-know-my-problem-is-i-cant-say-no-to_1104053.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/dan-savage-2880_cant_you-know-my-problem-is-i-cant-say-no-to_1104053.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/dan-savage-2880_cant_you-know-my-problem-is-i-cant-say-no-to_1104053.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You know, my problem is I cant say no to people, especially people who want to write me checks to do things.” — Dan Savage",
                "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": "Dan Savage",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You know, my problem is I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/you-know-my-problem-is-i-cant-say-no-to-people-especially-people-who/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/you-know-my-problem-is-i-cant-say-no-to-people-especially-people-who/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
