--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The old saying, “Don’t get mad. Just get…" description: "\"“The old saying, “Don’t get mad. Just get even” isn’t accurate. It’s far better to say, “Don’t get mad. Set a limit!” Myth”\" — Henry Cloud" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/henry-cloud-1322_limit_the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-ev_175865.png" --- # The old saying, “Don’t get mad. Just get even” isn’t… ![“The old saying, “Don’t get mad. Just get even” isn’t accurate. It’s far better to say, “Don’t get mad. Set a limit!” Myth” quote by Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/henry-cloud-1322_limit_the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-ev_175865.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/henry-cloud-1322_limit_the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-ev_175865.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/henry-cloud-1322_limit_the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-ev_175865.png) > ““The old saying, “Don’t get mad. Just get even” isn’t accurate. It’s far better to say, “Don’t get mad. Set a limit!” Myth”” [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) ## 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 challenges the idea of passive retaliation, urging proactive boundary setting instead of lingering anger. **In simple terms:** Set limits rather than staying angry. Key Takeaway Establish clear boundaries. Themes self‑control relationships conflict resolution Mood thoughtful assertive Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace disputes - online arguments Key Concepts emotional intelligence assertiveness Questions to Reflect On - How can you set a healthy limit without escalating conflict? - What boundaries protect your well‑being? A Different Perspective Limits can be hard to enforce without clear communication. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Limit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limit/) [Limit Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limit-myth-708385/) [Old saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-saying/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Set Limit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-limit-1892077/) ## Related quotes > [A limit is a myth created by those who are not willing to try new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-limit-is-a-myth-created-by-those-who-are-not-willing-to-try-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We set ourselves a limit and cut characters which weren't so vital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-de-laurentiis/we-set-ourselves-a-limit-and-cut-characters-which-weren-t-so-vital/) [Dino De Laurentiis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-de-laurentiis/) > [“Avoid mixed messages. Speaking too sweetly or smiling while you set a limit confuses kids. It unintentionally gives a green light to your toddler’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-karp/avoid-mixed-messages-speaking-too-sweetly-or-smiling-while-you-set-a/) [Harvey Karp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-karp/) > [Set your limit as giver because taker has no limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/set-your-limit-as-giver-because-taker-has-no-limit/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Give your time,and you'll have more time to give. Set no limit on your love and you'll give have more love for others than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/give-your-time-and-you-ll-have-more-time-to-give-set-no-limit-on-your/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) > [For each of us there is a set limit to our intellectual powers which we cannot pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/for-each-of-us-there-is-a-set-limit-to-our-intellectual-powers-which/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [Every one's got it in him, if he'll only make up his mind and stick at it. None of us is born with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/every-one-s-got-it-in-him-if-he-ll-only-make-up-his-mind-and-stick-at/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) > [Who shall set a limit to the influence of a human being?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/who-shall-set-a-limit-to-the-influence-of-a-human-being/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I don't set a limit for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-morgan/i-don-t-set-a-limit-for-myself/) [Liv Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-morgan/) > [At my age, if I make it up, it's still an old saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/at-my-age-if-i-make-it-up-it-s-still-an-old-saying/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“The old saying goes that no matter where you go, there you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/the-old-saying-goes-that-no-matter-where-you-go-there-you-are/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [Don't ever compare a girl to a bulldog. You may see the side you don't want to. Now if you compare her to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savannah-whalen/don-t-ever-compare-a-girl-to-a-bulldog-you-may-see-the-side-you-don-t/) [Savannah Whalen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savannah-whalen/) > [“There's the old saying "I felt bad because I didn't have a pair of shoes until I met a man who didn't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-the-old-saying-i-felt-bad-because-i-didn-t-have-a-pair-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Go ahead. Ask me who the father is.” He only smiled. “Do I look that stupid to you?” She pushed back her short hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/go-ahead-ask-me-who-the-father-is-he-only-smiled-do-i-look-that/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [The old saying is true: If you have only the Word, you dry up. If you have only the Spirit, you blow up. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/the-old-saying-is-true-if-you-have-only-the-word-you-dry-up-if-you/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) ## More by Henry Cloud > [The amount of truth a relationship can handle is proportional to the amount of perceived love that's present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/the-amount-of-truth-a-relationship-can-handle-is-proportional-to-the/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Are we paying attention to what is important, inhibiting the things that will not help or will hurt us, and keeping current?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/are-we-paying-attention-to-what-is-important-inhibiting-the-things/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Neglecting them leads to spiritual and emotional problems; having them met, however, frees us to meet the needs of others cheerfully and without resentment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/neglecting-them-leads-to-spiritual-and-emotional-problems-having-them/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“we need people to whom we can talk and who will understand without invalidating our feelings by saying the following: You shouldn’t feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/we-need-people-to-whom-we-can-talk-and-who-will-understand-without/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Leadership is not taken, it is given. People give leadership to those that they trust. They allow people that they trust to have influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/leadership-is-not-taken-it-is-given-people-give-leadership-to-those/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“What appear to be dangerous and even bad periods in some lives can actually bring them closer to the Lord, because these individuals honestly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/what-appear-to-be-dangerous-and-even-bad-periods-in-some-lives-can/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“We are drawn to Jesus because “he learned obedience from what he suffered” (Heb. 5:8). People who are growing up are also drawn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/we-are-drawn-to-jesus-because-he-learned-obedience-from-what-he/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [If you want to become healthy, you have to surround yourself with a group of people that are getting healthy, and you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/if-you-want-to-become-healthy-you-have-to-surround-yourself-with-a/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Dont use all-or-nothing thinking. Take each day as its own day, and dont worry about it if you mess up one day. The most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/dont-use-all-or-nothing-thinking-take-each-day-as-its-own-day-and/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Faith goes beyond reason. It goes beyond what you can see. But it is as real as anything you can touch or feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/faith-goes-beyond-reason-it-goes-beyond-what-you-can-see-but-it-is-as/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Boundaries are basically about providing structure, and structure is essential in building anything that thrives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/boundaries-are-basically-about-providing-structure-and-structure-is/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Forgiveness and opening up to more abuse are not the same thing. Forgiveness has to do with the past. Reconciliation and boundaries have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/forgiveness-and-opening-up-to-more-abuse-are-not-the-same-thing/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“When we fail to express our needs, we remain islands unto ourselves—detached, alone, arrogant, and proud. But when we expose our needs, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/when-we-fail-to-express-our-needs-we-remain-islands-unto-ourselves/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Receiving forgiveness when we know we’ve truly blown it is a humbling and growth-producing experience. It’s the only thing better than forgiving someone else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/receiving-forgiveness-when-we-know-we-ve-truly-blown-it-is-a-humbling/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Don’t let life pass you by as you shrink back. Don’t let passivity create a mummylike, survival-type existence for you. Find people who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/don-t-let-life-pass-you-by-as-you-shrink-back-don-t-let-passivity/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) [Explore all 251 Henry Cloud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) ## More Limit quotes > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [Is there a speed limit on love?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loesje/is-there-a-speed-limit-on-love/) [Loesje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loesje/) > [“I am a firm believer in the ‘Power of Persuasion.’ Insomuch as, whatever you believe are your limitations, will become your limitation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonny-k-brown/i-am-a-firm-believer-in-the-power-of-persuasion-insomuch-as-whatever/) [Tonny K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonny-k-brown/) > [The stars are not the limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/the-stars-are-not-the-limit/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [Reach for it. Push yourself as far as you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christa-mcauliffe/reach-for-it-push-yourself-as-far-as-you-can/) [Christa McAuliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christa-mcauliffe/) > [There is a limit to political and public tolerance for sacrifice on behalf of wildlife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-rinella/there-is-a-limit-to-political-and-public-tolerance-for-sacrifice-on/) [Steven Rinella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-rinella/) > [It doesn't matter if you're 4 or 84; there's no age limit to what you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsai-martin/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-re-4-or-84-there-s-no-age-limit-to-what-you/) [Marsai Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsai-martin/) > [There's no limit to what you can accomplish, but there's always someone one step ahead of you, so it's a constant uphill battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mary-stewart/there-s-no-limit-to-what-you-can-accomplish-but-there-s-always/) [Catherine Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mary-stewart/) > [My size should not define who I am and nor can it limit me to achieve my goals. I am limitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-adeniyi/my-size-should-not-define-who-i-am-and-nor-can-it-limit-me-to-achieve/) [Faith Adeniyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-adeniyi/) > [The original sin is to limit the Is. Don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-original-sin-is-to-limit-the-is-don-t/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Every time someone tried to explain to me there are limits to what one man can do, I pointed to the boundless sky and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaiprakash-gaur/every-time-someone-tried-to-explain-to-me-there-are-limits-to-what/) [Jaiprakash Gaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaiprakash-gaur/) > [“If you are HUMAN, then the limit of what you can do, what you learn, what you can experience HAS NOT YET BEEN REACHED.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvia-hartmann/if-you-are-human-then-the-limit-of-what-you-can-do-what-you-learn/) [Silvia Hartmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvia-hartmann/) > [“There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-are-no-limitations-to-the-mind-except-those-that-we-acknowledge/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A limit is a myth created by those who are not willing to try new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-limit-is-a-myth-created-by-those-who-are-not-willing-to-try-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 974 Limit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The old saying, “Don’t get mad. Just get even” isn’t accurate. It’s far better to say, “Don’t get mad. Set a limit!” Myth”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Cloud" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-even-isn-t-accurate-it-s-far/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Limit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-even-isn-t-accurate-it-s-far/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/henry-cloud-1322_limit_the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-ev_175865.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/henry-cloud-1322_limit_the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-ev_175865.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/henry-cloud-1322_limit_the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-ev_175865.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The old saying, “Don’t get mad. Just get even” isn’t accurate. It’s far better to say, “Don’t get mad. Set a…” — Henry Cloud", "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": "Henry Cloud", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The old saying, “Don’t get mad....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-even-isn-t-accurate-it-s-far/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-even-isn-t-accurate-it-s-far/#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 } } ] } ```