--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've had a boss like that, where the…" description: "\"I've had a boss like that, where the things they're saying and doing are awful, but they say it and do it with a smile on their face, which is almost m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/janelle-james-6143_boss_i-ve-had-a-boss-like-that-where-the-thin_522285.jpg" --- # I've had a boss like that, where the things they're saying… ![“I've had a boss like that, where the things they're saying and doing are awful, but they say it and do it with a smile on their face, which is almost more damaging to you. Because then you think you're crazy!” quote by Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/janelle-james-6143_boss_i-ve-had-a-boss-like-that-where-the-thin_522285.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/janelle-james-6143_boss_i-ve-had-a-boss-like-that-where-the-thin_522285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/janelle-james-6143_boss_i-ve-had-a-boss-like-that-where-the-thin_522285.jpg) > “I've had a boss like that, where the things they're saying and doing are awful, but they say it and do it with a smile on their face, which is almost more damaging to you. Because then you think you're crazy!” [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A smiling, pleasant demeanor can mask harmful behavior, making it harder to recognize and causing self-doubt. **In simple terms:** Nice smiles can hide toxic actions, leading to confusion. Key Takeaway Question the intent behind a smile when actions harm. Themes trust perception psychology Mood cautious critical Type motivational advisory When to use this quote - workplace - relationships - customer service - mental health counseling Key Concepts cognitive dissonance emotional labor Questions to Reflect On - How do you address toxic behavior that appears friendly? - What strategies help maintain self‑confidence in such situations? A Different Perspective A smile may also be genuine, complicating judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) ## Related quotes > [I’m single, I’m enjoying life. Being a boss. Like all true bosses, one day you gotta give it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/i-m-single-i-m-enjoying-life-being-a-boss-like-all-true-bosses-one/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [Bigg Boss' is not like any other reality show, you don't know how comfortable you will be with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/bigg-boss-is-not-like-any-other-reality-show-you-don-t-know-how/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [“My boss is like an angry bear with a sore head and poison ivy up his ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/my-boss-is-like-an-angry-bear-with-a-sore-head-and-poison-ivy-up-his/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“reading yeah like a boss and i like it that way with reading”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremylam/reading-yeah-like-a-boss-and-i-like-it-that-way-with-reading/) JeremyLam > [“ZORBA: Damn it boss, I like you too much not to say it. You’ve got everything except one thing: madness! A man needs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-krznaric/zorba-damn-it-boss-i-like-you-too-much-not-to-say-it-you-ve-got/) [Roman Krznaric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-krznaric/) > [The three phrases that'll get you through life: 1: Cover for me. 2: Oh, good idea, Boss! 3: It was like that when I got here!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-three-phrases-that-ll-get-you-through-life-1-cover-for-me-2-oh/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Asking 'who ought to be the boss' is like asking 'who ought to be the tenor in the quartet?' Obviously, the man who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/asking-who-ought-to-be-the-boss-is-like-asking-who-ought-to-be-the/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [How can another man call another man boss? That's like calling another man 'Daddy.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-dash/how-can-another-man-call-another-man-boss-that-s-like-calling-another/) [Damon Dash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-dash/) > [A Boss is like a diaper... Always on your ass, and usually FULL of shit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-boss-is-like-a-diaper-always-on-your-ass-and-usually-full-of-shit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Yes sir boss. Like the drink, only not spelled the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yes-sir-boss-like-the-drink-only-not-spelled-the-same/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Not today. I was late getting in, and my boss is like an angry bear with a sore head and poison ivy up his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/not-today-i-was-late-getting-in-and-my-boss-is-like-an-angry-bear/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [I'm the type of manager who doesn't really like the word 'manage.' Nor do I really like the word 'boss.' I like to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/i-m-the-type-of-manager-who-doesn-t-really-like-the-word-manage-nor/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [As this VP discovered, being a boss is much like being a high-status primate in any group: the creatures beneath you in the pecking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-sutton/as-this-vp-discovered-being-a-boss-is-much-like-being-a-high-status/) Bob Sutton > [“I told the others which trees to chop, where to get the mud, even though I was not the official leader. My father used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haing-ngor/i-told-the-others-which-trees-to-chop-where-to-get-the-mud-even/) Haing Ngor > [Own his own throne the boss like King Koopa, on the microphone he floss the ring (supa), average MCs is like a TV blooper,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mf-doom/own-his-own-throne-the-boss-like-king-koopa-on-the-microphone-he/) [MF Doom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mf-doom/) ## More by Janelle James > [I'll only diet for a Marvel movie. I will give up bacon and waffles to be Storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-ll-only-diet-for-a-marvel-movie-i-will-give-up-bacon-and-waffles-to/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [He's done enough for me. He didn't make my career or anything. I was never close with Chris Rock. We went on tour together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/he-s-done-enough-for-me-he-didn-t-make-my-career-or-anything-i-was/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [If you don't like your therapist, find another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/if-you-don-t-like-your-therapist-find-another/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [It always is easier to have someone listen to you if you disarm them with the laughter first. It seems like a 'duh' kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/it-always-is-easier-to-have-someone-listen-to-you-if-you-disarm-them/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [I've done everything I possibly can to make my phone think I'm 22. I haven't used capital letters in years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-ve-done-everything-i-possibly-can-to-make-my-phone-think-i-m-22-i/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [I'm never one to claim a celebrity as a friend unless I know their mama's name or something like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-m-never-one-to-claim-a-celebrity-as-a-friend-unless-i-know-their/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [Having someone else write for you is cake!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/having-someone-else-write-for-you-is-cake/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [I just like watching young women living for themselves and traveling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-just-like-watching-young-women-living-for-themselves-and-traveling/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [I suppose I'll do my dramatic turn that comedians do at some point, I'll do my 'Patch Adams' or what not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-suppose-i-ll-do-my-dramatic-turn-that-comedians-do-at-some-point-i/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [Your objective is to make people laugh and then sneak your thoughts in underneath the jokes. If your thoughts are on top, that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/your-objective-is-to-make-people-laugh-and-then-sneak-your-thoughts/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [I wait till everyone leaves a social media site before I go on. I wait till everyone says it's over and then I'm like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-wait-till-everyone-leaves-a-social-media-site-before-i-go-on-i-wait/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [I enjoy Chris Rock. Bill Burr. Wanda Sykes. I enjoy the legends. But no one is like Richard Pryor. Before I knew what a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-enjoy-chris-rock-bill-burr-wanda-sykes-i-enjoy-the-legends-but-no/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [That's hard to write something that makes you laugh out loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/that-s-hard-to-write-something-that-makes-you-laugh-out-loud/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [You never know where people come from or what they've been through, and you meet them in the middle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/you-never-know-where-people-come-from-or-what-they-ve-been-through/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [One thing I always say about my mom is we were so poor, but she always made sure that we got whatever we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/one-thing-i-always-say-about-my-mom-is-we-were-so-poor-but-she-always/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) [Explore all 99 Janelle James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) ## More Boss quotes > [ME AND SUMMER GUNNA BE MOVING IN TOGETHER HELL YA ITS GUNNA BE BOSS!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hawes/me-and-summer-gunna-be-moving-in-together-hell-ya-its-gunna-be-boss/) [Jon Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hawes/) > [“having sex with her boss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-henning/having-sex-with-her-boss/) Stephen Henning > [Once in a while there's wisdom in recognizing that the Boss is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/once-in-a-while-there-s-wisdom-in-recognizing-that-the-boss-is/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [It is reassuring for people to feel they have a boss, someone who knows the answers and has charted the course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/it-is-reassuring-for-people-to-feel-they-have-a-boss-someone-who/) [George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [ I remember Robin \[Williams\] walked up to me after the last take and said, "Thanks boss! We nailed it!" That will probably be one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-aguire/i-remember-robin-williams-walked-up-to-me-after-the-last-take-and/) Roberto Aguire > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Your manager is your boss and tells you what to do, what to wear and who to be, so our relationship changed. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcdonald/your-manager-is-your-boss-and-tells-you-what-to-do-what-to-wear-and/) [Jane McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcdonald/) > [When I get home, I'm not the boss like I am at work - I slip into a more feminine role. I take everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/when-i-get-home-i-m-not-the-boss-like-i-am-at-work-i-slip-into-a-more/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [I can't say it was challenging for me to shake the image of Frasier. I've been fortunate to have had a very interesting career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-can-t-say-it-was-challenging-for-me-to-shake-the-image-of-frasier-i/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-about-boldface-lying-but-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“Pizza as a reward at work, gotta love it. Personally, I'd rather have that than a raise. Give me a pizza, boss, and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/pizza-as-a-reward-at-work-gotta-love-it-personally-i-d-rather-have/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Let me spell it out: with the psychotic boss, nothing you do is ever quite right. They set traps, asking you to do things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-me-spell-it-out-with-the-psychotic-boss-nothing-you-do-is-ever/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) [Browse all 1,833 Boss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've had a boss like that, where the things they're saying and doing are awful, but they say it and do it with a smile on their face, which is almost more damaging to you. 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