--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People who bite the hand that feeds them…" description: "\"People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them.\" — Eric Hoffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/eric-hoffer-343_bite_people-who-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-them_2740339.jpg" --- # People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the… ![“People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/eric-hoffer-343_bite_people-who-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-them_2740339.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/eric-hoffer-343_bite_people-who-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-them_2740339.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/eric-hoffer-343_bite_people-who-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-them_2740339.jpg) > “People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those who betray their supporters often suffer further consequences from the same source. **In simple terms:** Betrayal leads to more harm. Key Takeaway Treat supporters with respect. Themes betrayal reciprocity consequence Mood cautionary reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - workplace - politics - personal relationships Key Concepts social contract power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you rebuild trust? - Can forgiveness break the cycle? A Different Perspective Not all betrayals result in retaliation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bite/) [Bite Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bite-hand-777470/) [Lick Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lick-boot-3023114/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Bite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-bite-1191808/) [Usually Lick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usually-lick-3023115/) ## Related quotes > [I draw like other people bite their nails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/i-draw-like-other-people-bite-their-nails/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Good night sleep tight dont let the black people bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levita-charin/good-night-sleep-tight-dont-let-the-black-people-bite/) [Levita Charin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levita-charin/) > [Never bite the hand that feeds you. You just might need that hand to pick you back up when you fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-you-just-might-need-that-hand-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You must bite the hand that feeds you. You are perhaps always told the opposite of this. The opposite of this is often said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/you-must-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-you-are-perhaps-always-told-the/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“Don't bite the hand that feeds you - especially if you're dining alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/don-t-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-especially-if-you-re-dining-alone/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [Don't bite the hand that feeds you for the one who's petting you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-for-the-one-who-s-petting-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You never want to bite the hand that feeds you, but you also do not want to be aiding and abetting problematic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lindsay/you-never-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-but-you-also-do-not/) [Rachel Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lindsay/) > [Once in a while you have to bite the hand that reads you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/once-in-a-while-you-have-to-bite-the-hand-that-reads-you/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [An artist should always bite the hand that feeds him - but not too hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nam-june-paik/an-artist-should-always-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-him-but-not-too-hard/) [Nam June Paik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nam-june-paik/) > [Never bite the hand that feeds you, especially never turn your back on those who love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-especially-never-turn-your-back-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Tomorrow we bite The hand that feeds us today Either way, we'll eat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-dahlen/tomorrow-we-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-us-today-either-way-we-ll-eat/) [Chris Dahlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-dahlen/) > [I wanna bite the hand that feeds me. I wanna bite that hand so badly. I want to make them wish they'd never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-wanna-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me-i-wanna-bite-that-hand-so-badly-i/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Dont bite the hand that feeds you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I may be an old lion, but I can still bite someone's hand off if he puts it in my mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bite-someone-s-hand-off-if-he/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Don't bite the hand that feeds u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-u/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-creative-mind-is-the-playful-mind-philosophy-is-the-play-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-best-part-of-the-art-of-living-is-to-know-how-to-grow-old/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Bite quotes > [In every country dogges bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/in-every-country-dogges-bite/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [I don't bite you know ... unless it's called for,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-don-t-bite-you-know-unless-it-s-called-for/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I didn't respond to people thrusting microphones at me and asking me questions that were unanswerable in a sound bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/i-didn-t-respond-to-people-thrusting-microphones-at-me-and-asking-me/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [“The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-nakoneczny-high-school-track-coach/the-best-way-to-eat-an-elephant-is-one-bite-at-a-time/) [Wayne Nakoneczny high school track coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-nakoneczny-high-school-track-coach/) > [“A werewolf bite turned me gay?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tielle-st-clare/a-werewolf-bite-turned-me-gay/) [Tielle St. Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tielle-st-clare/) > [“All the better to bite you, my dear!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mari-mancusi/all-the-better-to-bite-you-my-dear/) [Mari Mancusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mari-mancusi/) > [If the first bite is with the eye and the second with the nose, some people will never take that third, actual bite if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/if-the-first-bite-is-with-the-eye-and-the-second-with-the-nose-some/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [“What animal would do this?"he said harshly. "No, little one, animals might scratch you, or bite you, or even rip you apart in hunger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-animal-would-do-this-he-said-harshly-no-little-one-animals-might/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've been known not to bite my tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-gibbs/i-ve-been-known-not-to-bite-my-tongue/) [Freddie Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-gibbs/) > [“Bite your tongue. Don't let anyone bite it off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/bite-your-tongue-don-t-let-anyone-bite-it-off/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [“Hold me like you hold the hand of a little kid who needs you in loneliness, bite my fingers like you bite a giggling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/hold-me-like-you-hold-the-hand-of-a-little-kid-who-needs-you-in/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [“He pulled away from me and held his hands in the air like he was weighing something. “Keep Sophie safe or let Sophie die.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/he-pulled-away-from-me-and-held-his-hands-in-the-air-like-he-was/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [“Once the hand that feeds you fails, you are free to bite away!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/once-the-hand-that-feeds-you-fails-you-are-free-to-bite-away/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [If you live among dogs, keep a stick. After all, this is what a hound has teeth for-to bite when he feels like it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/if-you-live-among-dogs-keep-a-stick-after-all-this-is-what-a-hound/) [Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/) [Browse all 516 Bite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bite/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Hoffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/people-who-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-them-usually-lick-the-boot-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bite" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/people-who-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-them-usually-lick-the-boot-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/eric-hoffer-343_bite_people-who-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-them_2740339.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/eric-hoffer-343_bite_people-who-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-them_2740339.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/eric-hoffer-343_bite_people-who-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-them_2740339.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them.” — Eric Hoffer", "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": "Eric Hoffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People who bite the hand that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/people-who-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-them-usually-lick-the-boot-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/people-who-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-them-usually-lick-the-boot-that/#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 } } ] } ```