--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're going up the stairs and you…" description: "\"When you're going up the stairs and you take a step, kick the other leg up high behind you to keep people from following too close.\" — Jack Handey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/jack-handey-829_behind-you_when-you-re-going-up-the-stairs-and-you_2884364.jpg" --- # When you're going up the stairs and you take a step, kick… ![“When you're going up the stairs and you take a step, kick the other leg up high behind you to keep people from following too close.” quote by Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/jack-handey-829_behind-you_when-you-re-going-up-the-stairs-and-you_2884364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/jack-handey-829_behind-you_when-you-re-going-up-the-stairs-and-you_2884364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/jack-handey-829_behind-you_when-you-re-going-up-the-stairs-and-you_2884364.jpg) > “When you're going up the stairs and you take a step, kick the other leg up high behind you to keep people from following too close.” [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When ascending, a high leg kick creates distance, preventing others from following too closely. **In simple terms:** Use a physical cue to maintain personal space. Key Takeaway Create boundaries subtly. Themes social dynamics personal space boundaries humor Mood playful lighthearted Type advice humorous When to use this quote - crowded events - public transport - social gatherings Key Concepts non‑verbal signals spatial awareness Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to use such cues? - How do others perceive this action? A Different Perspective Physical tricks may be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deep thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-thought/) [Kicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kicks/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs... one step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-girard/the-elevator-to-success-is-out-of-order-you-ll-have-to-use-the-stairs/) [Joe Girard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-girard/) > [“Tis no good looking up the stairs, One step at a time and you will get there, Hop skip miss a step, You will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baytrees-bark/tis-no-good-looking-up-the-stairs-one-step-at-a-time-and-you-will-get/) Baytrees Bark > [If the elevator of success is out, use the stairs, one step at time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-the-stairs-one-step-at-time/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [“All of us are like stairs, one step after another, going up and down, but all going the same way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/all-of-us-are-like-stairs-one-step-after-another-going-up-and-down/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [I remember going to a theater once, and there was a stairway that wound its way out to the back. And I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/i-remember-going-to-a-theater-once-and-there-was-a-stairway-that/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [The most important thing for old guys is never start going down the stairs sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/the-most-important-thing-for-old-guys-is-never-start-going-down-the/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I was very good at kickball ... I was wonderful at ah doing that kick and your leg goes up and your shoe went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/i-was-very-good-at-kickball-i-was-wonderful-at-ah-doing-that-kick-and/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [It's kind of tough to get noticed. Sure, I can kick my leg over my head, but how do I get noticed?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-kostek/it-s-kind-of-tough-to-get-noticed-sure-i-can-kick-my-leg-over-my-head/) [Camille Kostek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-kostek/) > [Look at the attention the Godfather's getting! Kick my leg, J.R.; kick me in the leg!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lawler/look-at-the-attention-the-godfather-s-getting-kick-my-leg-j-r-kick-me/) [Jerry Lawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lawler/) > [Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed down-stairs one step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/habit-is-habit-and-not-to-be-flung-out-of-the-window-by-any-man-but-3/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Some of us are like stairs, one step after another, going up and down, but all going the same way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/some-of-us-are-like-stairs-one-step-after-another-going-up-and-down/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [The elevator to success is out of order. Youll have to use the stairs ¦ one step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/the-elevator-to-success-is-out-of-order-youll-have-to-use-the-stairs/) Patience > [If you push your brother down the stairs, he will become your step brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-you-push-your-brother-down-the-stairs-he-will-become-your-step/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window-it-must-be-coaxed-down-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Doing well in life is like going up and down stairs. Its easier to go down but harder to go up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimber-simchayof/doing-well-in-life-is-like-going-up-and-down-stairs-its-easier-to-go/) Kimber Simchayof ## More by Jack Handey > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I think the best Thanksgiving we ever had was one where we didn't even have a turkey. Mom and Dad sat us kids down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-the-best-thanksgiving-we-ever-had-was-one-where-we-didn-t/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [At first I thought, if I were Superman, a perfect secret identity would be "Clark Kent, Dentist," because you could save money on tooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/at-first-i-thought-if-i-were-superman-a-perfect-secret-identity-would/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Sometimes I wonder if I'm patriotic enough. Yes, I want to kill people, but on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-i-wonder-if-i-m-patriotic-enough-yes-i-want-to-kill-people/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I don't understand people who say life is a mystery, because what is it they want to know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-don-t-understand-people-who-say-life-is-a-mystery-because-what-is/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [It's probably not a good idea to be chewing on a toothpick if you're talking to the president, because what if he tells a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/it-s-probably-not-a-good-idea-to-be-chewing-on-a-toothpick-if-you-re/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Probably to a shark, about the funniest thing there is is a wounded seal, trying to swim to shore, because WHERE DOES HE THINK…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/probably-to-a-shark-about-the-funniest-thing-there-is-is-a-wounded/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I wish I lived back in the Old West days, because I'd save up my money for about twenty years so I could buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-wish-i-lived-back-in-the-old-west-days-because-i-d-save-up-my-money/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Why do there have to be rules for everything? 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Ask, and ask often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/when-you-go-to-a-party-at-somebody-s-house-don-t-automatically-assume/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [He was a cowboy, mister, and he loved the land. He loved it so much he made a woman out of dirt and married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/he-was-a-cowboy-mister-and-he-loved-the-land-he-loved-it-so-much-he/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [If you were a gladiator in olden days, I bet the inefficiency of how the gladiator fights were organized and scheduled would just drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/if-you-were-a-gladiator-in-olden-days-i-bet-the-inefficiency-of-how/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) [Explore all 358 Jack Handey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) ## More Behind you quotes > [Strong families use the word "we" a lot, but "I" is never forgotten. 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This is the liberty, the beautiful liberty of Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/be-sure-that-christ-is-not-behind-you-but-before-calling-and-drawing/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [When you become angry, you enter a tunnel, leaving the light behind you; when you get calm, you exit the tunnel, finding the light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-become-angry-you-enter-a-tunnel-leaving-the-light-behind-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I wish you were that birch rising from the clump behind you, and I the gray oak alongside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-hall/i-wish-you-were-that-birch-rising-from-the-clump-behind-you-and-i-the/) [Donald Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-hall/) > [What has happened has happened and it is now behind you. Take the best of it all as you move positively forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/what-has-happened-has-happened-and-it-is-now-behind-you-take-the-best/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [A cultivated style would be like a mask. Everybody knows it's a mask, and sooner or later you must show yourself -- or at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/a-cultivated-style-would-be-like-a-mask-everybody-knows-it-s-a-mask/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [I understand the opposite side of the camera. I have a profound respect for that. I have worked with people who, when you hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/i-understand-the-opposite-side-of-the-camera-i-have-a-profound/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to the animals, for they are without sin, while you, with all your greatness, you defile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/man-do-not-pride-yourself-on-your-superiority-to-the-animals-for-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The thing about 50 is that you've clearly reached a point where you have more of your life behind you than ahead of you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/the-thing-about-50-is-that-you-ve-clearly-reached-a-point-where-you/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Inwardly you are God, outwardly you are a person. 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