--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by…" description: "\"No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it. There can be no appeasement with ruthlessness. There can be no reasoning with an incendiary bomb...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_appeasement_no-man-can-tame-a-tiger-into-a-kitten-by_1613434.jpg" --- # No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it… ![“No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it. There can be no appeasement with ruthlessness. There can be no reasoning with an incendiary bomb.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_appeasement_no-man-can-tame-a-tiger-into-a-kitten-by_1613434.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_appeasement_no-man-can-tame-a-tiger-into-a-kitten-by_1613434.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_appeasement_no-man-can-tame-a-tiger-into-a-kitten-by_1613434.jpg) > “No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it. There can be no appeasement with ruthlessness. There can be no reasoning with an incendiary bomb.” [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forceful or violent entities cannot be pacified through gentle means; aggression requires firm resistance. **In simple terms:** You can't tame a tiger with gentle strokes; you must confront forcefully. Key Takeaway Confront aggression with strength, not appeasement. Themes power conflict assertion strategy resilience Mood cautious serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - negotiations - law enforcement - personal safety - activism Key Concepts political theory psychology military tactics Questions to Reflect On - When is force justified? - What alternatives exist to violent confrontation? A Different Perspective Overly forceful responses can escalate conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appeasement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appeasement/) [Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs/) [Kitten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitten/) [Lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lion/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pearl harbor day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pearl-harbor-day/) [Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning/) [Ruthlessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruthlessness/) [Tiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tiger/) [Tigers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tigers/) ## Related quotes > [No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/no-man-can-tame-a-tiger-into-a-kitten-by-stroking-it/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [We must be the great arsenal of democracy. For us this is an emergency as serious as war itself. We must apply ourselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/we-must-be-the-great-arsenal-of-democracy-for-us-this-is-an-emergency/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [We must be the great arsenal of Democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/we-must-be-the-great-arsenal-of-democracy/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [December 7, 1941. A date which will live in infamy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/december-7-1941-a-date-which-will-live-in-infamy/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The American People in their Righteous Might will win through to Absolute Victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-american-people-in-their-righteous-might-will-win-through-to/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/dec-7-1941-a-date-which-will-live-in-infamy-no-matter-how-long-it-may/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Some days you tame the tiger, and some days the tiger has you for lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tug-mcgraw/some-days-you-tame-the-tiger-and-some-days-the-tiger-has-you-for-lunch/) [Tug McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tug-mcgraw/) > [“Some things are unchangeably wild, others are stolidly tame. The tiger is wild, and the coyote, and the owl. I am tame, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/some-things-are-unchangeably-wild-others-are-stolidly-tame-the-tiger/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“No man can tame a predator by acting like prey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/no-man-can-tame-a-predator-by-acting-like-prey/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [Man...is a tame or civilized animal; never the less, he requires proper instruction and a fortunate nature, and then of all animals he becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/man-is-a-tame-or-civilized-animal-never-the-less-he-requires-proper/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Man, I was tame compared to what they do now. Are you kidding? I didn't do anything but just jiggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/man-i-was-tame-compared-to-what-they-do-now-are-you-kidding-i-didn-t/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [Man, I was tame compared to what they do now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/man-i-was-tame-compared-to-what-they-do-now/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > ["Appeasement" is the policy of feeding your friends to a crocodile, one at a time, in hopes that the crocodile will eat you last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/appeasement-is-the-policy-of-feeding-your-friends-to-a-crocodile-one/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Chamberlain's visit to Hitler today may bring things to a head or may result in a temporary postponement of what looks to me likean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/chamberlain-s-visit-to-hitler-today-may-bring-things-to-a-head-or-may/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Our policy is to give all possible material aid to the nations that still resist aggression across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. And we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/our-policy-is-to-give-all-possible-material-aid-to-the-nations-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## More by Franklin D. Roosevelt > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Inquisitiveness is the most useful talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/inquisitiveness-is-the-most-useful-talent/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > ['Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-democracy-must-cling-to-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war ... I hate war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-hate-war/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/all-of-our-people-all-over-the-country-except-the-pure-blooded/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels. They have made the planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/they-have-given-their-sons-to-the-military-services-they-have-stoked/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [On the European Front the most important development of the past year has been the crushing offensive of the Great Armies of Russia...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/on-the-european-front-the-most-important-development-of-the-past-year/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The core of our defense is the faith we have in the institutions we defend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-core-of-our-defense-is-the-faith-we-have-in-the-institutions-we/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [War is a contagion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/war-is-a-contagion/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Too often in recent history liberal governments have been wrecked on rocks of loose fiscal policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/too-often-in-recent-history-liberal-governments-have-been-wrecked-on/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The frontier of America is on the Rhine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-frontier-of-america-is-on-the-rhine/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/repetition-does-not-transform-a-lie-into-a-truth/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The future lies with those wise political leaders who realize that the great public is interested more in Government than in politics. The growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-future-lies-with-those-wise-political-leaders-who-realize-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) [Explore all 521 Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## More Appeasement quotes > [If it's to be a bloodbath, let it be now. Appeasement is not the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/if-it-s-to-be-a-bloodbath-let-it-be-now-appeasement-is-not-the-answer/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Appeasement, said Winston Churchill, consists of being nice to a crocodile in the hope that he will eat you last. At the moment, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naughton/appeasement-said-winston-churchill-consists-of-being-nice-to-a/) [John Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naughton/) > [(I)t is simply wrong to confuse cowardice with appeasement. Cowardice is a failing of character. Appeasement is a failure of policy. Stalin appeased Hitler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/i-t-is-simply-wrong-to-confuse-cowardice-with-appeasement-cowardice/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [It is time to change our policy of appeasement toward the Palestinians, to strengthen our ties with the nation of Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/it-is-time-to-change-our-policy-of-appeasement-toward-the/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/no-man-can-tame-a-tiger-into-a-kitten-by-stroking-it/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are some who, for varying reasons, would appease Red China. They are blind to history's clear lesson, for history teaches with unmistakable emphasis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/there-are-some-who-for-varying-reasons-would-appease-red-china-they/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [The incentive to peacemaking is love, but it degenerates into appeasement whenever justice is ignored. To forgive and to ask for forgiveness are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-incentive-to-peacemaking-is-love-but-it-degenerates-into/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [May I just single out for salutations, on the "anti-war" side: Pop Stars For Appeasement, Dancers Against Democracy, Actors For Apathy, Fashionistas For Fascism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/may-i-just-single-out-for-salutations-on-the-anti-war-side-pop-stars/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [Ask Osama bin Laden and the 22-out-of-30 top al-Qaida leaders who've been taken off the field whether I engage in appeasement. Or whoever is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/ask-osama-bin-laden-and-the-22-out-of-30-top-al-qaida-leaders-who-ve/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Appeasement is a vote to live in the present tense, to hold the comforts of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/appeasement-is-a-vote-to-live-in-the-present-tense-to-hold-the/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [You may gain temporary appeasement by a policy of concession to violence, but you do not gain lasting peace that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-eden/you-may-gain-temporary-appeasement-by-a-policy-of-concession-to/) [Anthony Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-eden/) > [If history teaches us anything, it teaches that simple-minded appeasement or wishful thinking about our adversaries is folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/if-history-teaches-us-anything-it-teaches-that-simple-minded/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Now, the United States' response, the western response to this is a continuation of the appeasement that was started back in the '50s with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peikoff/now-the-united-states-response-the-western-response-to-this-is-a/) [Leonard Peikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peikoff/) > [Modern man has been in search of a new language of form to satisfy new longings and aspirations - longings for mental appeasement, aspirations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/modern-man-has-been-in-search-of-a-new-language-of-form-to-satisfy/) [Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/) > [Art is either a complaint or appeasement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/art-is-either-a-complaint-or-appeasement/) [Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/) [Browse all 72 Appeasement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appeasement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it. 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