--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An insult is mean or unkind. Milton Berle…" description: "\"An insult is mean or unkind. Milton Berle called me the Sultan of Insult, and I was called the King of Insult. But the guy that gave me the best title ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/don-rickles-1705_best_an-insult-is-mean-or-unkind-milton-berle_895742.png" --- # An insult is mean or unkind. Milton Berle called me the… ![“An insult is mean or unkind. Milton Berle called me the Sultan of Insult, and I was called the King of Insult. But the guy that gave me the best title - and I use it to this day - was Johnny Carson. He called me Mr. Warmth.” quote by Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/don-rickles-1705_best_an-insult-is-mean-or-unkind-milton-berle_895742.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/don-rickles-1705_best_an-insult-is-mean-or-unkind-milton-berle_895742.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/don-rickles-1705_best_an-insult-is-mean-or-unkind-milton-berle_895742.png) > “An insult is mean or unkind. Milton Berle called me the Sultan of Insult, and I was called the King of Insult. But the guy that gave me the best title - and I use it to this day - was Johnny Carson. He called me Mr. Warmth.” [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote illustrates how comedic nicknames can evolve, reflecting both self‑deprecation and admiration, and how a single flattering moniker can outweigh harsher ones. **In simple terms:** Nicknames can shift from insulting to endearing, shaping identity. Key Takeaway Embrace positive labels that uplift you. Themes humor identity self‑esteem Mood lighthearted confident Type self‑deprecating insightful When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - public speaking - media interviews Key Concepts branding reputation language Questions to Reflect On - What nickname has shaped your public persona? - Do you prefer praise over criticism? A Different Perspective A nickname may not reflect true character. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Warmth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warmth/) ## Related quotes > [I never could tell a joke. I just started talking to the audience, and when the drunks would yell, "Hey, when do the broads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-never-could-tell-a-joke-i-just-started-talking-to-the-audience-and/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [That annoying moment when you insult a guy and they have the nerve to copy you back in a higher voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-annoying-moment-when-you-insult-a-guy-and-they-have-the-nerve-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You aren’t really a nigger-lover, then, are you?” “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody… I’m hard put, sometimes—baby, it’s never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee-to-kill-a-mockingbird/you-aren-t-really-a-nigger-lover-then-are-you-i-certainly-am-i-do-my/) Harper Lee To Kill A Mockingbird > [I wanted to see how much of an insult it was to be called an ignoramus. I didn't know what it meant; I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-carlson/i-wanted-to-see-how-much-of-an-insult-it-was-to-be-called-an/) [Gretchen Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-carlson/) > [“I do my best to love everybody...I'm hard put,sometimes- baby,its never an insult o be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-do-my-best-to-love-everybody-i-m-hard-put-sometimes-baby-its-never/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/it-s-never-an-insult-to-be-called-what-somebody-thinks-is-a-bad-name/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes - baby, it's never an insult to be called what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-certainly-am-i-do-my-best-to-love-everybody-i-m-hard-put-sometimes/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [Johnny Carson was king of the kings, in my opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/johnny-carson-was-king-of-the-kings-in-my-opinion/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [The man I adored, and miss him terribly, was Johnny Carson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/the-man-i-adored-and-miss-him-terribly-was-johnny-carson/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [Johnny Carson was a big influence on me - all of those shows I did with him over the years, like, 100 of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/johnny-carson-was-a-big-influence-on-me-all-of-those-shows-i-did-with/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [ I think they \[Martin Scorsese, Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra\] liked my honesty. 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