--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes,' he said. 'That's it. They'd kick…" description: "\"“Yes,' he said. 'That's it. They'd kick him and beat him with a switch. Then if the youngster was really bad, they'd put him in a sack and take him bac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/david-sedaris-333_middle-of-the-night_yes-he-said-that-s-it-they-d-kick-him-an_1828756.png" --- # Yes,' he said. 'That's it. They'd kick him and beat him… ![“Yes,' he said. 'That's it. They'd kick him and beat him with a switch. Then if the youngster was really bad, they'd put him in a sack and take him back to Spain.' 'Saint Nicholas would kick you?' 'Well, not anymore,' Oscar said. 'Now he just pretends to kick you.' He considered this to be…” quote by David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/david-sedaris-333_middle-of-the-night_yes-he-said-that-s-it-they-d-kick-him-an_1828756.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/david-sedaris-333_middle-of-the-night_yes-he-said-that-s-it-they-d-kick-him-an_1828756.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/david-sedaris-333_middle-of-the-night_yes-he-said-that-s-it-they-d-kick-him-an_1828756.png) > ““Yes,' he said. 'That's it. They'd kick him and beat him with a switch. Then if the youngster was really bad, they'd put him in a sack and take him back to Spain.' 'Saint Nicholas would kick you?' 'Well, not anymore,' Oscar said. 'Now he just pretends to kick you.' He considered this to be progressive, but in a way I think it's almost more preverse than the original punishment.'I'm going to hurt you but not really.' How many times have we fallen for that line? The fake slap invariably makes contact, adding the elements of shock and betrayal to what had previously been plain old-fashioned fear. What kind of a Santa spends his time pretending to kick people before stuffing them into a canvas sack? Then, of course, you've got the six to eight former slaves who could potentially go off at any moment. This, I think, is the greatest difference between us and the Dutch. While a certain segment of our population might be perfectly happy with the arrangement, if you told the average white American that six to eight nameless black men would be sneaking into his house in the middle of the night, he would barricade the doors and arm himself with whatever he could get his hands on. 'Six to eight, did you say?”” [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the unsettling nature of staged threats that mimic real violence, exposing how people are drawn to deceptive intimidation. **In simple terms:** Fake threats feel real and unsettling. Key Takeaway Beware of deceptive intimidation tactics. Themes psychology trust deception violence Mood critical thoughtful Type analysis commentary When to use this quote - media portrayals - personal interactions - political rhetoric Key Concepts social manipulation fear conditioning Questions to Reflect On - Why do people respond strongly to simulated threats? - How does deception affect trust? A Different Perspective May overlook context of satire or humor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Middle of the night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-of-the-night/) ## Related quotes > [The fake slap invariably makes contact, adding the elements of shock and betrayal to what had previously been plain old-fashioned fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/the-fake-slap-invariably-makes-contact-adding-the-elements-of-shock/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“So you know what your punishment is going to be, sweetheart? I'm going to make love to you. Slowly. Hell, it might take me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-bailey/so-you-know-what-your-punishment-is-going-to-be-sweetheart-i-m-going/) [Tessa Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-bailey/) > [“The notion that Saint Nicholas—a.k.a. Kris Kringle or Santa Claus—lives at the North Pole seems to have a much more recent vintage. 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Then if the youngster was really bad, they'd put him in a sack and take him back to Spain.' 'Saint Nicholas would kick you?' 'Well, not anymore,' Oscar said. 'Now he just pretends to kick you.' He considered this to be progressive, but in a way I think it's almost more preverse than the original punishment.'I'm going to hurt you but not really.' How many times have we fallen for that line? The fake slap invariably makes contact, adding the elements of shock and betrayal to what had previously been plain old-fashioned fear. What kind of a Santa spends his time pretending to kick people before stuffing them into a canvas sack? Then, of course, you've got the six to eight former slaves who could potentially go off at any moment. This, I think, is the greatest difference between us and the Dutch. While a certain segment of our population might be perfectly happy with the arrangement, if you told the average white American that six to eight nameless black men would be sneaking into his house in the middle of the night, he would barricade the doors and arm himself with whatever he could get his hands on. 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