--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of course,” said Mik, without missing a…" description: "\"“Of course,” said Mik, without missing a beat. “However, as cool a word as samurai is, I don’t think it’s what we really mean. We just want to be able ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/laini-taylor-258_kick-ass_of-course-said-mik-without-missing-a-bea_1987148.png" --- # Of course,” said Mik, without missing a beat. “However, as… ![“Of course,” said Mik, without missing a beat. “However, as cool a word as samurai is, I don’t think it’s what we really mean. We just want to be able to kick ass, right?” “Well, definitely don’t phrase it that way. We’d probably just become highly skilled at kicking people in the ass. Don’t turn…” quote by Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/laini-taylor-258_kick-ass_of-course-said-mik-without-missing-a-bea_1987148.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/laini-taylor-258_kick-ass_of-course-said-mik-without-missing-a-bea_1987148.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/laini-taylor-258_kick-ass_of-course-said-mik-without-missing-a-bea_1987148.png) > ““Of course,” said Mik, without missing a beat. “However, as cool a word as samurai is, I don’t think it’s what we really mean. We just want to be able to kick ass, right?” “Well, definitely don’t phrase it that way. We’d probably just become highly skilled at kicking people in the ass. Don’t turn your back on them,” she intoned. “They never miss.”” [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote humorously critiques using “samurai” as a metaphor for competence, urging direct skill and loyalty instead of flashy labels. **In simple terms:** Skip the hype; focus on real skill and loyalty. Key Takeaway Prioritize genuine ability over image. Themes skill loyalty authenticity Mood playful critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team building - leadership training - creative projects - conflict resolution Key Concepts metaphor culture communication Questions to Reflect On - What labels mask true ability? - How can you show loyalty without clichés? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on image may distract from substance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kick ass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kick-ass/) [Kicking People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kicking-people-265470/) [Said Mik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-mik-3425285/) [Samurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/samurai/) [Samurai Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/samurai-don-3425286/) [Word Samurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-samurai-3425284/) ## Related quotes > [“Sorry,” said Mik. “I think you neutralized our capacity for surprise. You should have started with that, and \*then\* told us you raise the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/sorry-said-mik-i-think-you-neutralized-our-capacity-for-surprise-you/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [I collaborate a little bit with different aspects of my own mind. I kick my own ass instead of kicking other people's asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-collaborate-a-little-bit-with-different-aspects-of-my-own-mind-i/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [“Corporal Nobbs,” he rasped, “why are you kicking people when they’re down?” “Safest way, sir,” said Nobby. Nobby had long ago been told about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/corporal-nobbs-he-rasped-why-are-you-kicking-people-when-they-re-down/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I forgot how it feel like to have the top of my foot hurt so bad from kicking people on the face...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-orton/i-forgot-how-it-feel-like-to-have-the-top-of-my-foot-hurt-so-bad-from/) [Randy Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-orton/) > [You know, kicking people's butts with round-edged boots is good, but with pointy shoes, it's even better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-marois/you-know-kicking-people-s-butts-with-round-edged-boots-is-good-but/) [Pauline Marois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-marois/) > [Nowadays you don't go around on the street kicking people, punching people - because if you do (makes gun shape with hand), well that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/nowadays-you-don-t-go-around-on-the-street-kicking-people-punching/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [“Be a Samurai. Because you just never know what's behind the freaking sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/be-a-samurai-because-you-just-never-know-what-s-behind-the-freaking/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [The reviews on it, and the new novel, Honky Tonk Samurai have been awesome, though I'm of the school if you believe the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/the-reviews-on-it-and-the-new-novel-honky-tonk-samurai-have-been/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [The way of the Samurai is found in death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/the-way-of-the-samurai-is-found-in-death/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [“And when the moment came, even then Genji would be fortunate. He would die without fear, drenched in his own heart's blood, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-matsuoka/and-when-the-moment-came-even-then-genji-would-be-fortunate-he-would/) [Takashi Matsuoka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-matsuoka/) > [My mentality is like a samurai they used to train every day, work on their technique to make themselves better, almost perfect, perfection is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/my-mentality-is-like-a-samurai-they-used-to-train-every-day-work-on/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [You must concentrate upon and consecrate yourself wholly to each day, as though a fire were raging in your hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/you-must-concentrate-upon-and-consecrate-yourself-wholly-to-each-day/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [When one has made a decision to kill a person, even if it will be very difficult to succeed by advancing straight ahead, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/when-one-has-made-a-decision-to-kill-a-person-even-if-it-will-be-very/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [I look at the Samurai because they were the artists of their time. What I think struck me when I read Bushido is compassion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-look-at-the-samurai-because-they-were-the-artists-of-their-time/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [“«Like a fossil tree From which we gather no flowers Sad has been my life Fated no fruit to produce.» Death poem composed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-turnbull/like-a-fossil-tree-from-which-we-gather-no-flowers-sad-has-been-my/) [Stephen Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-turnbull/) ## More by Laini Taylor > [“Word spread quickly: The visitor wished to address the scholars. 'What can he want?' they wondered, streaming into the Royal Theater. Attendance was voluntary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/word-spread-quickly-the-visitor-wished-to-address-the-scholars-what/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“The past and the future were just blinders we wore so that infinity wouldn’t drive us mad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/the-past-and-the-future-were-just-blinders-we-wore-so-that-infinity/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“I love books. Not just for what they contain. I love them as objects too, as ever-present reminders of what they contain, and because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/i-love-books-not-just-for-what-they-contain-i-love-them-as-objects/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“To the naked eye, he’s decent kissing height if I wear platforms, though of course a live test will be required before official certification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/to-the-naked-eye-he-s-decent-kissing-height-if-i-wear-platforms/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [You almost hold up your piece of paper and say, ‘The girl I like just gave me a treasure map to herself.’ But you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/you-almost-hold-up-your-piece-of-paper-and-say-the-girl-i-like-just/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“...You are not just going to vanish like this, Karou. This isn't some goddamn Narnia book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/you-are-not-just-going-to-vanish-like-this-karou-this-isn-t-some/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/have-you-ever-asked-yourself-do-monsters-make-war-or-does-war-make/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“She told Mik, "You have perfect violin-playing muscles." "And you, with your mighty puppeteer arms. We put the chimaera to shame." She stopped fanning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/she-told-mik-you-have-perfect-violin-playing-muscles-and-you-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [As far back as she could remember, a phantom life had mocked her with its impenetrable “something else,” but now it was the opposite.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/as-far-back-as-she-could-remember-a-phantom-life-had-mocked-her-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“By the time the plan's wheels touched down on a desolate stretch of desert runway, the sun had cleared a ridge of mountains and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/by-the-time-the-plan-s-wheels-touched-down-on-a-desolate-stretch-of/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“It was hard to imagine feeling that magical tingling sensation in the pit of her belly anytime soon. Best not to worry about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/it-was-hard-to-imagine-feeling-that-magical-tingling-sensation-in-the/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Staring at her face, she began to fancy her outer layer had begun to melt away while she wasn't paying attention, and something --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/staring-at-her-face-she-began-to-fancy-her-outer-layer-had-begun-to/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“He listened like a cactus drinks the rain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/he-listened-like-a-cactus-drinks-the-rain/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Around Mik, my powers desert me. I lose basic motor function, like my brain focuses all neural activity on my lips and shifts into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/around-mik-my-powers-desert-me-i-lose-basic-motor-function-like-my/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Everything lined up. It has been easy, as if it were meant-" "Meant!" she said, amazed. She spun to face him, which, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/everything-lined-up-it-has-been-easy-as-if-it-were-meant-meant-she/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) [Explore all 715 Laini Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## More Kick ass quotes > [A Woman Never Say: Bar food again? Kick ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/a-woman-never-say-bar-food-again-kick-ass/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Writing is the art of applying the ass to the seat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/writing-is-the-art-of-applying-the-ass-to-the-seat/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [You don't actually do a project; you can only do action steps related to it. When enough of the right action steps have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-don-t-actually-do-a-project-you-can-only-do-action-steps-related/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“Oh, i'm going to kick his ass, and when i'm done, i'm going to squeeze his balls blue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/oh-i-m-going-to-kick-his-ass-and-when-i-m-done-i-m-going-to-squeeze/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [There is no waste in the world that equals the waste from needless, ill-directed, and ineffective motions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bunker-gilbreth-sr/there-is-no-waste-in-the-world-that-equals-the-waste-from-needless/) [Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bunker-gilbreth-sr/) > [We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/we-need-to-reshape-our-own-perception-of-how-we-view-ourselves-we/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“You'd better be careful, they are going to revoke your vampire license if you get any more romantic and mushy." "Don't worry," Burnett said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-hunter/you-d-better-be-careful-they-are-going-to-revoke-your-vampire-license/) [C.C. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-hunter/) > [It's sad that as crushed Millennials we live in the shadow of our parents, our fathers. We aren't willing to murder our government. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-wilson/it-s-sad-that-as-crushed-millennials-we-live-in-the-shadow-of-our/) [Cody Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-wilson/) > [“You kick ass with a microwave, baby. Don’t sell yourself short.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-salsbury/you-kick-ass-with-a-microwave-baby-don-t-sell-yourself-short/) [J.B. Salsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-salsbury/) > [“Do you want me to kick his ass? Because I can do that now. As your boyfriend, it's one of my jobs to kick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-everhart/do-you-want-me-to-kick-his-ass-because-i-can-do-that-now-as-your/) [Allie Everhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-everhart/) > [Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/life-s-a-bitch-you-ve-got-to-go-out-and-kick-ass/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Look. I will not be told what size to be. I do not care about anyone else’s judgment about my body. I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/look-i-will-not-be-told-what-size-to-be-i-do-not-care-about-anyone/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [“I can’t do this anymore if it’s not with you. 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