--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you ask someone to pass the salt…" description: "\"“When you ask someone to pass the salt, you are also giving them an order; by attaching the word \"please\", you are saying that it is not an order. But,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/david-graeber-4667_pass-salt_when-you-ask-someone-to-pass-the-salt-yo_2526520.jpg" --- # When you ask someone to pass the salt, you are also giving… ![“When you ask someone to pass the salt, you are also giving them an order; by attaching the word "please", you are saying that it is not an order. But, in fact, it is.” quote by David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/david-graeber-4667_pass-salt_when-you-ask-someone-to-pass-the-salt-yo_2526520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/david-graeber-4667_pass-salt_when-you-ask-someone-to-pass-the-salt-yo_2526520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/david-graeber-4667_pass-salt_when-you-ask-someone-to-pass-the-salt-yo_2526520.jpg) > ““When you ask someone to pass the salt, you are also giving them an order; by attaching the word "please", you are saying that it is not an order. But, in fact, it is.”” [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politeness masks power dynamics; adding “please” softens an order but the underlying request remains. **In simple terms:** Politeness hides the fact that requests are commands. Key Takeaway Recognize the power in everyday requests. Themes power language social norms Mood thoughtful analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - workplace - family gatherings - customer service - public speaking Key Concepts sociolinguistics politics etiquette Questions to Reflect On - How does “please” affect compliance? - When do you feel a request is truly neutral? A Different Perspective Politeness can also be genuine, not just a mask. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“And oh, Claudia, Claudilla, ask me to do something -something that I can do. Do not ask me to forget you or to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/and-oh-claudia-claudilla-ask-me-to-do-something-something-that-i-can/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [“His voice deepened. "Sign them. We´re in the bedroom and i´m giving you an order.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurann-dohner/his-voice-deepened-sign-them-we-re-in-the-bedroom-and-i-m-giving-you/) [Laurann Dohner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurann-dohner/) > [In the military, as in any organization, giving the order might be the easiest part. Execution is the real game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russel-honore/in-the-military-as-in-any-organization-giving-the-order-might-be-the/) [Russel Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russel-honore/) > [“It sure is a pleasure not having Flume around in the mess hall any more. No more of that 'Pass the salt, Walt.'" 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"Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/it-sure-is-a-pleasure-not-having-flume-around-in-the-mess-hall-any/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) Browse all 9 Pass Salt quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When you ask someone to pass the salt, you are also giving them an order; by attaching the word \"please\", you are saying that it is not an order. 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