--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If people screw me, I screw back in spades." description: "\"If people screw me, I screw back in spades.\" — Donald Trump" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/donald-trump-18_explanation_if-people-screw-me-i-screw-back-in-spade_1479522.jpg" --- # If people screw me, I screw back in spades. ![“If people screw me, I screw back in spades.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/donald-trump-18_explanation_if-people-screw-me-i-screw-back-in-spade_1479522.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/donald-trump-18_explanation_if-people-screw-me-i-screw-back-in-spade_1479522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/donald-trump-18_explanation_if-people-screw-me-i-screw-back-in-spade_1479522.jpg) > “If people screw me, I screw back in spades.” [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## 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 declares a tit-for-tat retaliation, implying a harsh, proportional response to being wronged. **In simple terms:** He retaliates strongly when hurt. Key Takeaway Consider proportionality in responses. Themes revenge justice power Mood defensive critical Type political personal When to use this quote - personal disputes - political strategy - legal retaliation Key Concepts reciprocity conflict escalation Questions to Reflect On - Is retaliation always justified? - What are alternatives to revenge? A Different Perspective Escalation can worsen conflicts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Explanation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explanation/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Screw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-screw-2917744/) [Screw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screw/) [Screw Screw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screw-screw-2436694/) [Screw Spades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screw-spades-5389447/) [Screws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screws/) [Spades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spades/) ## Related quotes > [You might say what if I screw up? Then screw up big! Go for it! Do a big screw-up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/you-might-say-what-if-i-screw-up-then-screw-up-big-go-for-it-do-a-big/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [When people screw up, give them a second chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/when-people-screw-up-give-them-a-second-chance/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [You screw me, I screw you back. I'm a lady like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-diaz/you-screw-me-i-screw-you-back-i-m-a-lady-like-that/) [Cameron Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-diaz/) > [Being nice with people will always screw you over so don't ever take that as a option..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trilla/being-nice-with-people-will-always-screw-you-over-so-don-t-ever-take/) [Trilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trilla/) > [People screw up, you know. You shouldn't hold it against them. You shouldn't expect everyone to know everything you're thinking about or not getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dave/people-screw-up-you-know-you-shouldn-t-hold-it-against-them-you/) [Laura Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dave/) > [People screw me over with words, so I screw them over with songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greyson-chance/people-screw-me-over-with-words-so-i-screw-them-over-with-songs/) [Greyson Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greyson-chance/) > [Screw every known human culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-egan/screw-every-known-human-culture/) [Greg Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-egan/) > [What one wants to do with stories is screw them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/what-one-wants-to-do-with-stories-is-screw-them-up/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [Man, we’ve got something special. Don’t screw it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-webb/man-we-ve-got-something-special-don-t-screw-it-up/) [Maynard Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-webb/) > [Whenever you come across a screw-up this big, you know the government is behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/whenever-you-come-across-a-screw-up-this-big-you-know-the-government/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [If we screw it up, start over. Try something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/if-we-screw-it-up-start-over-try-something-else/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [I was so wrinkled I could screw my hats on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/i-was-so-wrinkled-i-could-screw-my-hats-on/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [I'm friggin' awesome! So screw the haters!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pearce/i-m-friggin-awesome-so-screw-the-haters/) [Jackson Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pearce/) > [Anyone who's not interested in model airplanes must have a screw loose somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-maccready/anyone-who-s-not-interested-in-model-airplanes-must-have-a-screw/) [Paul MacCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-maccready/) > [There is only so much I can understand and not screw up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krumholtz/there-is-only-so-much-i-can-understand-and-not-screw-up/) [David Krumholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krumholtz/) ## More by Donald Trump > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you'll love it up here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/change-your-attitude-and-gain-some-altitude-believe-me-you-ll-love-it/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In my former life I was in insider, as much as anybody else. And I knew what it's like, and I still know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-my-former-life-i-was-in-insider-as-much-as-anybody-else-and-i-knew/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [If you have a good idea you must explain it or you will fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-you-have-a-good-idea-you-must-explain-it-or-you-will-fail/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [You know, we can't beat ISIS. We can't do anything. We can't take care of our vets. We can't have good health care. "Obama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-know-we-can-t-beat-isis-we-can-t-do-anything-we-can-t-take-care/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I have my own opinions; you can have your own opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-have-my-own-opinions-you-can-have-your-own-opinions/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ David Cameron was wrong on this \[Brexit\]. He didn't get the mood of his country right. He was very surprised to see what happened. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/david-cameron-was-wrong-on-this-brexit-he-didn-t-get-the-mood-of-his/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The interesting thing is that everyone in golf is just nice. You learn a lot about people playing golf: their integrity, how they play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-interesting-thing-is-that-everyone-in-golf-is-just-nice-you-learn/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [So in our shared mission to make America great again, I support and endorse our Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/so-in-our-shared-mission-to-make-america-great-again-i-support-and/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I would've easily won the popular vote, much easier, in my opinion, than winning the electoral college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-would-ve-easily-won-the-popular-vote-much-easier-in-my-opinion-than/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I didn't do anything for Russia. I've done nothing for Russia. Hillary Clinton gave them 20% of our uranium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-didn-t-do-anything-for-russia-i-ve-done-nothing-for-russia-hillary/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I want regulation. I want to protect our environment. I want regulations for safety. I want all of the regulations that we need, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-want-regulation-i-want-to-protect-our-environment-i-want/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Explore all 3,556 Donald Trump quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More Explanation quotes > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Yesterday's truth is today's bullshit. Even yesterday's liberating insight is today's jail of stale explanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-blanton/yesterday-s-truth-is-today-s-bullshit-even-yesterday-s-liberating/) [Brad Blanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-blanton/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [To prevent discussion of any other explanations of human origins is hardly what I would expect from open-minded educators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/to-prevent-discussion-of-any-other-explanations-of-human-origins-is/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [ They \[scientists of centuries past\] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-on-god-only-from-the-lonely/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [What most needs explanation is not why some people are criminals, but why most people are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-q-wilson/what-most-needs-explanation-is-not-why-some-people-are-criminals-but/) [James Q. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-q-wilson/) > [In his anti-Darwinian book... (and eponymously named The Neck of the Giraffe ), Francis Hitching tells the story... "The need to survive by reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/in-his-anti-darwinian-book-and-eponymously-named-the-neck-of-the/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“But let the wise be warned against too great readiness at explanation: it multiplies the sources of mistake, lengthening the sum for reckoners sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-let-the-wise-be-warned-against-too-great-readiness-at-explanation/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [ \[Barack Obama\] will spend long periods of time explaining to people why he won't use it. At the end of the explanation, nobody knows… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/barack-obama-will-spend-long-periods-of-time-explaining-to-people-why/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Being a moral realist I see normative ethics as a search of the truth about our obligations and a search of explanation; the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/being-a-moral-realist-i-see-normative-ethics-as-a-search-of-the-truth/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [Take the story of Cain and Abel. Why were we given that story? Scientifically, you may have an explanation for it, but I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-why-were-we-given-that-story/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [It is amazing how soon one becomes accustomed to the sound of ones voice, when forced to repeat a speech five or six times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/it-is-amazing-how-soon-one-becomes-accustomed-to-the-sound-of-ones/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [I don't listen to music. I know it's weird, and I have no explanation for that. But I never do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/i-don-t-listen-to-music-i-know-it-s-weird-and-i-have-no-explanation/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [There are situations when all answers and explanations fade. When you fully accept that you do not know, you give up struggling to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/there-are-situations-when-all-answers-and-explanations-fade-when-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) [Browse all 1,440 Explanation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explanation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If people screw me, I screw back in spades.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donald Trump" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-people-screw-me-i-screw-back-in-spades/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Explanation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-people-screw-me-i-screw-back-in-spades/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/donald-trump-18_explanation_if-people-screw-me-i-screw-back-in-spade_1479522.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/donald-trump-18_explanation_if-people-screw-me-i-screw-back-in-spade_1479522.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fed/donald-trump-18_explanation_if-people-screw-me-i-screw-back-in-spade_1479522.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If people screw me, I screw back in spades.” — Donald Trump", "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": "Donald Trump", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If people screw me, I screw...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-people-screw-me-i-screw-back-in-spades/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-people-screw-me-i-screw-back-in-spades/#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 } } ] } ```