--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My temper is not spoilt. I am absolutely…" description: "\"My temper is not spoilt. I am absolutely non-homicidal. Nor do I ever attack unless I have been attacked first, and then Heaven have mercy upon the att..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/edith-sitwell-8023_cat_my-temper-is-not-spoilt-i-am-absolutely_711885.png" --- # My temper is not spoilt. I am absolutely non-homicidal… ![“My temper is not spoilt. I am absolutely non-homicidal. Nor do I ever attack unless I have been attacked first, and then Heaven have mercy upon the attacker, because I don't! I just sharpen my wits on a wooden head as a cat sharpens its claws on the wood legs of a table.” quote by Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/edith-sitwell-8023_cat_my-temper-is-not-spoilt-i-am-absolutely_711885.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/edith-sitwell-8023_cat_my-temper-is-not-spoilt-i-am-absolutely_711885.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/edith-sitwell-8023_cat_my-temper-is-not-spoilt-i-am-absolutely_711885.png) > “My temper is not spoilt. I am absolutely non-homicidal. Nor do I ever attack unless I have been attacked first, and then Heaven have mercy upon the attacker, because I don't! I just sharpen my wits on a wooden head as a cat sharpens its claws on the wood legs of a table.” [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) ## 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 claims restraint, only retaliating when provoked, and uses a metaphor of a cat sharpening claws on wood to illustrate controlled aggression. **In simple terms:** Only act when attacked, otherwise stay calm. Key Takeaway Respond calmly, reserve aggression. Themes restraint self‑control metaphor Mood calm reflective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal boundaries - stress management Key Concepts non‑violence defensive aggression Practical Applications - Even defensive actions can become harmful if not checked. A Different Perspective When have you felt provoked to react?;How can you channel irritation product? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Claws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claws/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Homicidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homicidal/) [Homicidal Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homicidal-attack-5612974/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Non Homicidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-homicidal-5612972/) [Spoilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoilt/) [Tables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tables/) [Temper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temper/) [Temper Spoilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temper-spoilt-5612973/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woods/) ## Related quotes > [Nick looked vaguely homicidal, but that was sort of his default expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/nick-looked-vaguely-homicidal-but-that-was-sort-of-his-default/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [My second husband and I were going through a bitter divorce, and I didn't have the money for a fancy-pants attorney. I didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/my-second-husband-and-i-were-going-through-a-bitter-divorce-and-i/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [“For the past month and a half, it's been inanely hot every single day. Someone's bound to feel a little homicidal now and then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenna-yovanoff/for-the-past-month-and-a-half-it-s-been-inanely-hot-every-single-day/) [Brenna Yovanoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenna-yovanoff/) > [“Emotionally, it's better to be homicidal than suicidal. When you're upset with a guy, at least know which way to point the gun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-gruenenfelder/emotionally-it-s-better-to-be-homicidal-than-suicidal-when-you-re/) [Kim Gruenenfelder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-gruenenfelder/) > [If the time comes when our culture tires of the endless homicidal feuds, despairs of the use of force and war as a means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/if-the-time-comes-when-our-culture-tires-of-the-endless-homicidal/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [For the poor of this world, two major ways of expiring are available: either by the absolute indifference of your fellow-men in peace-time, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/for-the-poor-of-this-world-two-major-ways-of-expiring-are-available/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [Knowledge is an attitude, a passion, actually an illicit attitude. For the compulsion to know is like dipsomania, erotomania, and homicidal mania, in producing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/knowledge-is-an-attitude-a-passion-actually-an-illicit-attitude-for/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“Her last boyfriend had been homicidal and her current one was oblivious to the fact that she was a vampire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/her-last-boyfriend-had-been-homicidal-and-her-current-one-was/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [when the German propaganda tries to be winsome it is like a clown with homicidal mania - ludicrous and terrifying both at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/when-the-german-propaganda-tries-to-be-winsome-it-is-like-a-clown/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [“Please don't' ask me how I feel about it. If I had to pick a word, I'd say homicidal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-adams/please-don-t-ask-me-how-i-feel-about-it-if-i-had-to-pick-a-word-i-d/) [Alex Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-adams/) > [“She'd worry about it later. For now, she had an appointment with a homicidal godlet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-pharaoh-francis/she-d-worry-about-it-later-for-now-she-had-an-appointment-with-a/) [Diana Pharaoh Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-pharaoh-francis/) > [God bless the homicidal maniacs. They make life worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/god-bless-the-homicidal-maniacs-they-make-life-worthwhile/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [This is no time to be precious about locating the exact individuals directly involved in this particular terrorist attack… We know who the homicidal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/this-is-no-time-to-be-precious-about-locating-the-exact-individuals/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“Elend smiled. "Oh, come on. You have to admit that you're unusual, Vin. You're like some strange mixture of a noblewoman, a street urchin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/elend-smiled-oh-come-on-you-have-to-admit-that-you-re-unusual-vin-you/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [When feminist discourse is unable to discriminate the drunken fraternity brother from the homicidal maniac, women are in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/when-feminist-discourse-is-unable-to-discriminate-the-drunken/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) ## More by Edith Sitwell > [The reason why Matthew Arnold, to my feeling, fails entirely as a poet (though no doubt his ideas were good - at least, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/the-reason-why-matthew-arnold-to-my-feeling-fails-entirely-as-a-poet/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [The great sins and fires break out of me like the terrible leaves from the bough in the violent spring. I am a walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/the-great-sins-and-fires-break-out-of-me-like-the-terrible-leaves/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [“Eccentricity is not, as dull people would have us believe, a form of madness. It is often a kind of innocent pride, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/eccentricity-is-not-as-dull-people-would-have-us-believe-a-form-of/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [I am not eccentric. It's just that I am more alive than most people. 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It is, I think, the power of looking forward, the firm belief that the future holds something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/what-is-the-special-privilege-of-youth-it-is-i-think-the-power-of/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [Rhythm is one of the principal translators between dream and reality. Rhythm might be described as, to the world of sound, what light is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/rhythm-is-one-of-the-principal-translators-between-dream-and-reality/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/winter-is-the-time-for-comfort-for-good-food-and-warmth-for-the-touch/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [Hot water is my native element. I was in it as a baby, and I have never seemed to get out of it ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/hot-water-is-my-native-element-i-was-in-it-as-a-baby-and-i-have-never/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [The aim of flattery is to soothe and encourage us by assuring us of the truth of an opinion we have already formed about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/the-aim-of-flattery-is-to-soothe-and-encourage-us-by-assuring-us-of/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [A great many people now reading and writing would be better employed keeping rabbits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/a-great-many-people-now-reading-and-writing-would-be-better-employed/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) [Explore all 85 Edith Sitwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) ## More Cat quotes > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-man-no-more-than-this-consider-him-well-thou-ow-st-the-worm-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. 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