--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is just as much an offense to take…" description: "\"It is just as much an offense to take offense as it is to give offense.\" — Ken Kesey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/ken-kesey-1034_giving_it-is-just-as-much-an-offense-to-take-of_503362.png" --- # It is just as much an offense to take offense as it is to… ![“It is just as much an offense to take offense as it is to give offense.” quote by Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/ken-kesey-1034_giving_it-is-just-as-much-an-offense-to-take-of_503362.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/ken-kesey-1034_giving_it-is-just-as-much-an-offense-to-take-of_503362.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/ken-kesey-1034_giving_it-is-just-as-much-an-offense-to-take-of_503362.png) > “It is just as much an offense to take offense as it is to give offense.” [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Both giving and taking offense are equally harmful; avoid both. **In simple terms:** Offense is a two‑way street. Key Takeaway Avoid offense altogether. Themes respect communication empathy Mood thoughtful balanced Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - workplace meetings - family gatherings - online discussions Key Concepts social dynamics psychology Questions to Reflect On - When is offense justified? - How can you address harm without offense? A Different Perspective Sometimes confronting injustice requires offense. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Just Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-offense-3602982/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Offended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offended/) [Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense/) [Offense Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense-offense-4282193/) ## Related quotes > [You make yourself and others suffer just as much when you take offense as when you give offense Ken Keys, JR The more you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-sherman/you-make-yourself-and-others-suffer-just-as-much-when-you-take/) [Harold Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-sherman/) > [To take offense is to give offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-schucman/to-take-offense-is-to-give-offense/) [Helen Schucman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-schucman/) > [The longer the life the more the offense, the more the offense the more the pain, the more the pain the less the defense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wyatt/the-longer-the-life-the-more-the-offense-the-more-the-offense-the/) [Thomas Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wyatt/) > [You add to the suffering in the world when you take offense, just as much as you do when you give offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-keyes-jr/you-add-to-the-suffering-in-the-world-when-you-take-offense-just-as/) [Ken Keyes Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-keyes-jr/) > [It's football. The game hasn't changed. There's not tons of new concepts every year that go in. Offense is offense; it's our job to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-allen/it-s-football-the-game-hasn-t-changed-there-s-not-tons-of-new/) [Josh Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-allen/) > [“When people do not respect us we are sharply offended; yet deep down in his private heart no man much respects himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-people-do-not-respect-us-we-are-sharply-offended-yet-deep-down/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [People who wish to be offended will always find some occasion for taking offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/people-who-wish-to-be-offended-will-always-find-some-occasion-for/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [God's wrath is not an implacable, blind rage. However emotional it may be, it is an entirely reasonable and willed response to offenses against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/god-s-wrath-is-not-an-implacable-blind-rage-however-emotional-it-may/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Offense is what people take when they can't take argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/offense-is-what-people-take-when-they-can-t-take-argument/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [None are as offended as those who contrive offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hanks/none-are-as-offended-as-those-who-contrive-offense/) [Kurt Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hanks/) > [“Some people take offense like it's a limited time offer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/some-people-take-offense-like-it-s-a-limited-time-offer/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) > [“She re-read his email four times, feeling offended and breathless, like he had casually grabbed her head and stuffed it into a pile of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringle/she-re-read-his-email-four-times-feeling-offended-and-breathless-like/) [Molly Ringle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringle/) > [“You know, one of these days, I'm actually going to take offense if people keep throwing out these slurs. And then things are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/you-know-one-of-these-days-i-m-actually-going-to-take-offense-if/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [I can understand that the man you told me about has offended you, and I am very annoyed that he forgot himself like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-can-understand-that-the-man-you-told-me-about-has-offended-you-and/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## More by Ken Kesey > [“Time overlaps itself. A breath breathed from a passing breeze is not the whole wind, neither is it just the last of what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/time-overlaps-itself-a-breath-breathed-from-a-passing-breeze-is-not/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [The Grateful Dead are faster than light drive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-grateful-dead-are-faster-than-light-drive/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“Okay, stand outa the way. Sometimes when I go to exertin' myself I use up all the air nearby and grown men faint from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/okay-stand-outa-the-way-sometimes-when-i-go-to-exertin-myself-i-use/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [The frontiers we broke into in the '60s are still largely unexplored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-frontiers-we-broke-into-in-the-60s-are-still-largely-unexplored/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [There's something about taking a plow and breaking new ground. It gives you energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/there-s-something-about-taking-a-plow-and-breaking-new-ground-it/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [The best of all possible cages.' Ben stepped back to regard the job with a sad smile. 'What more can one ask?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-best-of-all-possible-cages-ben-stepped-back-to-regard-the-job/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [Your trouble is, you keep trying to unscrew the unscrutable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/your-trouble-is-you-keep-trying-to-unscrew-the-unscrutable/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [That ain't me, that ain't my face. It wasn't even me when I was trying to be that face. I wasn't even really me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/that-ain-t-me-that-ain-t-my-face-it-wasn-t-even-me-when-i-was-trying/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [But if the strength ain't real, I recall thinking the very last thing that day, before I finally passed out, then the weakness sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/but-if-the-strength-ain-t-real-i-recall-thinking-the-very-last-thing/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“They think they know the book by its cover, but the book knows what it is. Now he knew better; if the book never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/they-think-they-know-the-book-by-its-cover-but-the-book-knows-what-it/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [More was revealed in a human face than a human being can bear face to face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/more-was-revealed-in-a-human-face-than-a-human-being-can-bear-face-to/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [If this glorious birth to death hassle is the only hassle we are ever to have ..if our grand exhilarating fight of life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/if-this-glorious-birth-to-death-hassle-is-the-only-hassle-we-are-ever/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“It's gonna burn me just that way, finally telling about all this, about the hospital, and her, and the guys- and about McMurphy. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/it-s-gonna-burn-me-just-that-way-finally-telling-about-all-this-about/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [When Shakespeare was writing, he wasn't writing for stuff to lie on the page; it was supposed to get up and move around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/when-shakespeare-was-writing-he-wasn-t-writing-for-stuff-to-lie-on/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“And then some guy wandering as lost as you would all of a sudden be right before your eyes, his face bigger and clearer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/and-then-some-guy-wandering-as-lost-as-you-would-all-of-a-sudden-be/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) [Explore all 295 Ken Kesey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is just as much an offense to take offense as it is to give offense.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ken Kesey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/it-is-just-as-much-an-offense-to-take-offense-as-it-is-to-give-offense/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/it-is-just-as-much-an-offense-to-take-offense-as-it-is-to-give-offense/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/ken-kesey-1034_giving_it-is-just-as-much-an-offense-to-take-of_503362.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/ken-kesey-1034_giving_it-is-just-as-much-an-offense-to-take-of_503362.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/ken-kesey-1034_giving_it-is-just-as-much-an-offense-to-take-of_503362.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is just as much an offense to take offense as it is to give offense.” — Ken Kesey", "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": "Ken Kesey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is just as much an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/it-is-just-as-much-an-offense-to-take-offense-as-it-is-to-give-offense/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/it-is-just-as-much-an-offense-to-take-offense-as-it-is-to-give-offense/#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 } } ] } ```