--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first person who says anything…" description: "\"“The first person who says anything unpleasant will get a swift kick in the ass. ”\" — John Knowles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/john-knowles-4729_first-person_the-first-person-who-says-anything-unple_2086968.png" --- # The first person who says anything unpleasant will get a… ![“The first person who says anything unpleasant will get a swift kick in the ass.” quote by John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/john-knowles-4729_first-person_the-first-person-who-says-anything-unple_2086968.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/john-knowles-4729_first-person_the-first-person-who-says-anything-unple_2086968.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/john-knowles-4729_first-person_the-first-person-who-says-anything-unple_2086968.png) > ““The first person who says anything unpleasant will get a swift kick in the ass. ”” [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A warning that the first complainer will face immediate retaliation. **In simple terms:** First complainer gets a swift kick. Key Takeaway Think before speaking harshly. Themes communication conflict power dynamics retribution social norms Mood cautious critical Type ethical social commentary When to use this quote - In a team meeting - on social media - in classroom discussions Key Concepts Authority group behavior bullying discipline Questions to Reflect On - Is it better to address issues calmly? - How does fear of punishment affect honesty? A Different Perspective Retaliation may silence legitimate concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-person/) ## Related quotes > [If someone says something unpleasant, I can't say it doesn't smart a bit. It always does. 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May…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/you-can-live-without-the-person-who-says-you-are-mine-but-you-can/) [Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/) > [Any person that says, "Of course I wouldn't do \_\_\_\_\_\_" doesn't know their own heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrin-patrick/any-person-that-says-of-course-i-wouldn-t-do-doesn-t-know-their-own/) [Darrin Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrin-patrick/) > [“making excuses takes away your opportunity to see what could have been. 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And obviously, that person has never won…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-newton/a-person-that-says-losing-is-not-difficult-i-don-t-even-want-to-be/) [Cam Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-newton/) ## More by John Knowles > [“Why talk about something you can't do anything about?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/why-talk-about-something-you-can-t-do-anything-about/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [There are special, strange gifted people in the world and they have to be treated with understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/there-are-special-strange-gifted-people-in-the-world-and-they-have-to/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [It seemed clear that wars were not made by generations and their special stupidities, but that wars were made instead by something ignorant in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/it-seemed-clear-that-wars-were-not-made-by-generations-and-their/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [“I saw on the pad not an operator's number from my home town, but one which seemed to interrupt the beating of my heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/i-saw-on-the-pad-not-an-operator-s-number-from-my-home-town-but-one/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [“Sixteen is the key and crucial and natural age for a human being to be, and people of all other ages are ranged in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/sixteen-is-the-key-and-crucial-and-natural-age-for-a-human-being-to/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [the scornful force of his tone turned the word into a curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/the-scornful-force-of-his-tone-turned-the-word-into-a-curse/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [There was no harm in taking aim, even if the target was a dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/there-was-no-harm-in-taking-aim-even-if-the-target-was-a-dream/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [We are all born equally far from the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/we-are-all-born-equally-far-from-the-sun/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [Stranded in this mill town railroad yard while the whole world was converging elsewhere, we seemed to be nothing but children playing among heroic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/stranded-in-this-mill-town-railroad-yard-while-the-whole-world-was/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [Sarcasm is the protest of the weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/sarcasm-is-the-protest-of-the-weak/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [My father was in the coal business in West Virginia. 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Not even death by violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/nothing-endures-not-a-tree-not-love-not-even-death-by-violence/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [“He was nodding his head, his jaw tightening and his eyes closed on the tears. “I believe you. It’s okay because I understand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/he-was-nodding-his-head-his-jaw-tightening-and-his-eyes-closed-on-the/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) [Explore all 107 John Knowles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) ## More First person quotes > [I'm all about evolution. 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