---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Kindness tip #1: Never start a sentence…"
description: "\"“Kindness tip #1: Never start a sentence with the words- \"No offense, but...”\" — José N. Harris"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/767/jos-n-harris-929_kindness_kindness-tip-1-never-start-a-sentence-wi_2772513.jpg"
---

#  Kindness tip #1: Never start a sentence with the words…

![“Kindness tip #1: Never start a sentence with the words- &quot;No offense, but...” quote by José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/767/jos-n-harris-929_kindness_kindness-tip-1-never-start-a-sentence-wi_2772513.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/767/jos-n-harris-929_kindness_kindness-tip-1-never-start-a-sentence-wi_2772513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/767/jos-n-harris-929_kindness_kindness-tip-1-never-start-a-sentence-wi_2772513.jpg)

> ““Kindness tip #1: Never start a sentence with the words- "No offense, but...””

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Starting a sentence with “No offense, but…” preempts criticism and can undermine kindness.

**In simple terms:** Avoid prefacing statements with “No offense, but…”.

Key Takeaway

Speak kindly without excuses.

Themes

communication kindness social etiquette

Mood

thoughtful cautious

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily conversations
- written feedback
- public speaking
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

speech framing psychology of apology

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we use “No offense” as a shield?
- How can we express concerns without preemptive apologies?

A Different Perspective

People may still feel offended despite the preface.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/)

## Related quotes

> [Never start a sentence with the words 'No offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no-offense/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [“one Secret of Adulthood is “Never start a sentence with the words ‘No offense’”? “And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-secret-of-adulthood-is-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [“There are only two four letter words that are offense to men. The words don’t and stop . Well, unless they are used together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-zolendz/there-are-only-two-four-letter-words-that-are-offense-to-men-the/)

[Christine Zolendz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-zolendz/)

> [“Stop using victim language like, 'because I am a woman' and 'being a woman is hard because' at the start of every sentence about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-o-porter/stop-using-victim-language-like-because-i-am-a-woman-and-being-a/)

[Dawn O'Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-o-porter/)

> [The two words a girl loves to start a sentence with... 'My boyfriend.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-two-words-a-girl-loves-to-start-a-sentence-with-my-boyfriend/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I like to start every sentence with: 'So here's the deal.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-griffin/i-like-to-start-every-sentence-with-so-here-s-the-deal/)

[Forrest Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-griffin/)

> [“I had a chance to start a sentence with 'So, there I was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-roberts/i-had-a-chance-to-start-a-sentence-with-so-there-i-was/)

[Richard Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-roberts/)

> [“I wasn't sure how to answer. Could I tell him that one Secret of Adulthood is "Never start a sentence with the words 'No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-wasn-t-sure-how-to-answer-could-i-tell-him-that-one-secret-of/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [Anytime you start a sentence with 'I am,' you are creating what you are and what you want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/anytime-you-start-a-sentence-with-i-am-you-are-creating-what-you-are/)

[Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/)

> [Sometimes I'll start a sentence and I don't know where it's going. I just hope to find it somewhere along the way. Like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/sometimes-i-ll-start-a-sentence-and-i-don-t-know-where-it-s-going-i/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [People who start a sentence with personally ought to be thrown to the lions. It's a repulsive habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/people-who-start-a-sentence-with-personally-ought-to-be-thrown-to-the/)

[Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/)

> [Sometimes if I really want to get someone's attention, I'll start a sentence with something like, "I'm not racist, but..." I say, "I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/sometimes-if-i-really-want-to-get-someone-s-attention-i-ll-start-a/)

[Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/)

> [Sometimes I start a sentence and I don't know where I'm going with it and I just pray it'll find its way¦](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-start-a-sentence-and-i-don-t-know-where-i-m-going-with-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Just start the sentence...and see what happens. This is how we write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jincy-willett/just-start-the-sentence-and-see-what-happens-this-is-how-we-write/)

[Jincy Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jincy-willett/)

> [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

## More by José N. Harris

> [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“The best teacher is experience. Not by copying the answers off the kid sitting next to you...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/the-best-teacher-is-experience-not-by-copying-the-answers-off-the-kid/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“Fighting can be like champagne. It can go to the head of a coward as quickly as of a hero. Anyone has the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/fighting-can-be-like-champagne-it-can-go-to-the-head-of-a-coward-as/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“Amputees suffer itches, cramps and even severe pains in a leg that is no longer there. It can be the same with love...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/amputees-suffer-itches-cramps-and-even-severe-pains-in-a-leg-that-is/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“Make a wish, Open your eyes, Live your dream...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/make-a-wish-open-your-eyes-live-your-dream/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“Every woman is a living poem... Most men are limericks!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/every-woman-is-a-living-poem-most-men-are-limericks/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“I AM my Brother's Keeper!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/i-am-my-brother-s-keeper/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“Not all scars are visible. Regardless, they are usually painful when you first get them. But with time they might fade or they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/not-all-scars-are-visible-regardless-they-are-usually-painful-when/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“The fastest runners don't always win the race and the greatest heroes don't always win the battles. But just keep running and fighting if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/the-fastest-runners-don-t-always-win-the-race-and-the-greatest-heroes/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“With having a strong faith, no one can snuff out our hope. Shoot me in the head with a gun and my blood will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/with-having-a-strong-faith-no-one-can-snuff-out-our-hope-shoot-me-in/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“There are moments in life, when just the right words, can be as powerful as acts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/there-are-moments-in-life-when-just-the-right-words-can-be-as/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/and-the-king-will-say-i-tell-you-the-truth-when-you-did-it-to-one-of/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“Do not say I didn't loved you Do not say that I didn't give you, My love, body and soul. I gave my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/do-not-say-i-didn-t-loved-you-do-not-say-that-i-didn-t-give-you-my/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“Just when you think you know everything you can about a person... surprise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/just-when-you-think-you-know-everything-you-can-about-a-person/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

> [“To not share a struggle or challenge you overcame is to betray it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/to-not-share-a-struggle-or-challenge-you-overcame-is-to-betray-it/)

[José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

[Explore all 321 José N. Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/)

## More Kindness quotes

> [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/)

[Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/)

> [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [Kindness unlocks doors that were thought to be closed forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/kindness-unlocks-doors-that-were-thought-to-be-closed-forever/)

Unkown

> [“You are very kind and very intelligent and those elements are not always found together. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-very-kind-and-very-intelligent-and-those-elements-are-not/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/)

[Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/)

> [Praise will come to those whose kindness leaves you without debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-finn/praise-will-come-to-those-whose-kindness-leaves-you-without-debt/)

[Neil Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-finn/)

> [“A little bit of kindness goes a long way with women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/a-little-bit-of-kindness-goes-a-long-way-with-women/)

[Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/)

> [The smartest people are the ones who can bring a little bit of heaven to earth by using there kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isiahnunn/the-smartest-people-are-the-ones-who-can-bring-a-little-bit-of-heaven/)

IsiahNunn

> [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/)

Talib al Habib

> [“A man full of warm, speculative benevolence may wish his society otherwise constituted than he finds it; but a good patriot, and a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-man-full-of-warm-speculative-benevolence-may-wish-his-society/)

[Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/)

> [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 6,600 Kindness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Kindness tip #1: Never start a sentence with the words- \"No offense, but...”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "José N. Harris"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/kindness-tip-1-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no-offense-but/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Kindness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/kindness-tip-1-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no-offense-but/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/767/jos-n-harris-929_kindness_kindness-tip-1-never-start-a-sentence-wi_2772513.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/767/jos-n-harris-929_kindness_kindness-tip-1-never-start-a-sentence-wi_2772513.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/767/jos-n-harris-929_kindness_kindness-tip-1-never-start-a-sentence-wi_2772513.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Kindness tip #1: Never start a sentence with the words- \"No offense, but...” — José N. Harris",
                "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": "José N. Harris",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Kindness tip #1: Never start a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/kindness-tip-1-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no-offense-but/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/kindness-tip-1-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no-offense-but/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
