--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I must be mean, I'm mean. When I can…" description: "\"When I must be mean, I'm mean. When I can be nice, I am nice.\" — Joanna Jedrzejczyk" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/joanna-jedrzejczyk-6976_be-nice_when-i-must-be-mean-i-m-mean-when-i-can_1693798.jpg" --- # When I must be mean, I'm mean. When I can be nice, I am… ![“When I must be mean, I'm mean. When I can be nice, I am nice.” quote by Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/joanna-jedrzejczyk-6976_be-nice_when-i-must-be-mean-i-m-mean-when-i-can_1693798.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/joanna-jedrzejczyk-6976_be-nice_when-i-must-be-mean-i-m-mean-when-i-can_1693798.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/joanna-jedrzejczyk-6976_be-nice_when-i-must-be-mean-i-m-mean-when-i-can_1693798.jpg) > “When I must be mean, I'm mean. When I can be nice, I am nice.” [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Behavior should match intention: be harsh when necessary, kind when possible, without pretense. **In simple terms:** Be harsh only when needed, otherwise be kind. Key Takeaway Act according to context. Themes integrity authenticity behavior Mood direct ethical Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - workplace - personal relationships - conflict resolution Key Concepts moral choice personal conduct situational ethics Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to be harsh? - How do you ensure kindness feels genuine? A Different Perspective May be perceived as inconsistent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Your mean to me I'm mean to you, your nice with me I'm fine with you. ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teady/your-mean-to-me-i-m-mean-to-you-your-nice-with-me-i-m-fine-with-you/) $Teady > [When you're nice to me, I'm nice to you; but when you are not nice, I'm even worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/when-you-re-nice-to-me-i-m-nice-to-you-but-when-you-are-not-nice-i-m/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [“ITS nice to be NICE.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaikh-mustafa/its-nice-to-be-nice/) [shaikh mustafa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaikh-mustafa/) > [“Nice?” he said fiercely. “Nice is a lemonade stand.” He withdrew and thrust deep. “Nice is a picnic on the lawn. This is not—…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruthie-knox/nice-he-said-fiercely-nice-is-a-lemonade-stand-he-withdrew-and-thrust/) [Ruthie Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruthie-knox/) > [We be nice to them, if they be nice to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gollum-from-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers/we-be-nice-to-them-if-they-be-nice-to-us/) Gollum From Lord Of The Rings The Two Towers > [“She's nice when it suits her. That doesn't mean she's nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/she-s-nice-when-it-suits-her-that-doesn-t-mean-she-s-nice/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“I love you. When you're mean and when you're nice and when you're everything in between.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-rocha/i-love-you-when-you-re-mean-and-when-you-re-nice-and-when-you-re/) [Kit Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-rocha/) > [I'm not mean. I'm a nice guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-mclaughlin/i-m-not-mean-i-m-a-nice-guy/) [Jake McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-mclaughlin/) > [Just because I act the way I do doesn't mean I'm not a nice person in the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-danis/just-because-i-act-the-way-i-do-doesn-t-mean-i-m-not-a-nice-person-in/) [Dillon Danis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-danis/) > [I move mean! Even when I'm nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-measy/i-move-mean-even-when-i-m-nice/) Mac Measy > [This world is cruel and mean. And nice people are forced to live here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-world-is-cruel-and-mean-and-nice-people-are-forced-to-live-here/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The one's who were mean to me are now nice to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/the-one-s-who-were-mean-to-me-are-now-nice-to-me/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [Giving honest and well-intended feedback is often confused with being mean. It's not mean; it's nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/giving-honest-and-well-intended-feedback-is-often-confused-with-being/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“Been nice does not mean more than been nice”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammar-al-rantisi/been-nice-does-not-mean-more-than-been-nice/) Ammar Al-Rantisi > [Every day there are many opportunities to be nice---or not so nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-lee/every-day-there-are-many-opportunities-to-be-nice-or-not-so-nice/) Rex Lee ## More by Joanna Jedrzejczyk > [We all are different. Our lives are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/we-all-are-different-our-lives-are-different/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I can easily cut 10 to 15 pounds without feeling like I'm killing myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-can-easily-cut-10-to-15-pounds-without-feeling-like-i-m-killing/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I have almost 100 Muay Thai fights, so I used to train and fight with really tough kickers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-have-almost-100-muay-thai-fights-so-i-used-to-train-and-fight-with/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I was 16, I just wanted to do something in my life. I wanted to be healthy, I wanted to lose some weight and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-was-16-i-just-wanted-to-do-something-in-my-life-i-wanted-to-be/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I want to be the best. I have my goals, my dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-want-to-be-the-best-i-have-my-goals-my-dreams/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I like to break the records, break the limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-like-to-break-the-records-break-the-limits/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [You can have the perfect plan through the first punch but then you have to take the fight second by second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/you-can-have-the-perfect-plan-through-the-first-punch-but-then-you/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [If the UFC wants me to fight in Glasgow, I will do this in Glasgow. If they want me to fight in Africa, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/if-the-ufc-wants-me-to-fight-in-glasgow-i-will-do-this-in-glasgow-if/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I'm Joanna Champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-m-joanna-champion/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I want people to talk about me in five, 10 years, 20 years, that I was one of the best female MMA fighters, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-want-people-to-talk-about-me-in-five-10-years-20-years-that-i-was/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I'm very open to fight Valentina Shevchenko. I always want to fight the best fighters and I think that she is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-m-very-open-to-fight-valentina-shevchenko-i-always-want-to-fight/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [My parents, they gave me everything. They taught me how to work hard. They taught me how to be a good Catholic. They taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/my-parents-they-gave-me-everything-they-taught-me-how-to-work-hard/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I'm happy to be part of the UFC and I'm happy to be the first Polish champion and the first European women's champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-m-happy-to-be-part-of-the-ufc-and-i-m-happy-to-be-the-first-polish/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I never take fights personal and I'm not emotional when I'm fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-never-take-fights-personal-and-i-m-not-emotional-when-i-m-fighting/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [You can build your legacy and your legacy can be big, but even after you slip or fall, you learn, and your legacy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/you-can-build-your-legacy-and-your-legacy-can-be-big-but-even-after/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) [Explore all 96 Joanna Jedrzejczyk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) ## More Be nice quotes > [I don't think they need to be nice to reporters, but the White House seems to imagine that releasing information is like a tap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/i-don-t-think-they-need-to-be-nice-to-reporters-but-the-white-house/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [People have said to me, 'It must be nice to prove so many people wrong,' but I've never really cared about proving anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bryan/people-have-said-to-me-it-must-be-nice-to-prove-so-many-people-wrong/) [Daniel Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bryan/) > [I seem to find different material every four to six months and I frequently forget it which is a shame because it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-kottke/i-seem-to-find-different-material-every-four-to-six-months-and-i/) [Leo Kottke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-kottke/) > [Obama can't change his cool disposition, though it would be nice if he lost the vaguely grudging air he gives off that problems of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/obama-can-t-change-his-cool-disposition-though-it-would-be-nice-if-he/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [I know if I'm nervous or excited to do something before I'm doing it that there's gonna be nice energy there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/i-know-if-i-m-nervous-or-excited-to-do-something-before-i-m-doing-it/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [I do have to take care of myself, not only because I'm in the movies, just for mental health reasons. I exercise for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-do-have-to-take-care-of-myself-not-only-because-i-m-in-the-movies/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [Sometimes I feel it would be nice to have a bit more privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-sugg/sometimes-i-feel-it-would-be-nice-to-have-a-bit-more-privacy/) [Zoe Sugg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-sugg/) > [I really miss having a routine because now I've been on the road constantly for several months. I like routines, so it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-really-miss-having-a-routine-because-now-i-ve-been-on-the-road/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [Grand Slam losses are hard. I treat myself after losses though, I usually go to McDonald's and I have a hamburger and you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/grand-slam-losses-are-hard-i-treat-myself-after-losses-though-i/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [The injunction to be nice is used to deflect criticism and stifle the legitimate anger of dissent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-injunction-to-be-nice-is-used-to-deflect-criticism-and-stifle-the/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [You have to create characters - certainly in series TV - who people engage with. They don't have to be nice; you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/you-have-to-create-characters-certainly-in-series-tv-who-people/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [I've won the British title and although it would be nice to win it outright, I want to push on to the next level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-fielding/i-ve-won-the-british-title-and-although-it-would-be-nice-to-win-it/) [Rocky Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-fielding/) > [My best parenting advice would be not to take the job too seriously. Teach your kids to be nice, and everything else falls into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-falcone/my-best-parenting-advice-would-be-not-to-take-the-job-too-seriously/) [Ben Falcone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-falcone/) > [It is a good thing to be nice but to get to a certain level you have to have that bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/it-is-a-good-thing-to-be-nice-but-to-get-to-a-certain-level-you-have/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) Browse all 274 Be nice quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I must be mean, I'm mean. 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