--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't argue. Never deign to deny. Meet…" description: "\"Don't argue. Never deign to deny. Meet insults with laughter.\" — Leigh Bardugo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/leigh-bardugo-252_argue_don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-ins_572860.png" --- # Don't argue. Never deign to deny. Meet insults with… ![“Don't argue. Never deign to deny. Meet insults with laughter.” quote by Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/leigh-bardugo-252_argue_don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-ins_572860.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/leigh-bardugo-252_argue_don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-ins_572860.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/leigh-bardugo-252_argue_don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-ins_572860.png) > “Don't argue. Never deign to deny. Meet insults with laughter.” [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Responding to insults with humor defuses tension and maintains dignity without escalating conflict. **In simple terms:** Use laughter, not anger, against insults. Key Takeaway Answer insults with humor. Themes humor conflict management dignity Mood lighthearted pragmatic Type advice practical When to use this quote - online harassment - workplace disputes - personal confrontations Key Concepts communication emotional regulation social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is humor an effective response? - What alternative strategies can you use? A Different Perspective Humor may not always be appropriate in serious situations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Insults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insults/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) ## Related quotes > [“I don't care if you think I'm a Saint or a fool or the Darkling's whore. If you want to remain at the Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-don-t-care-if-you-think-i-m-a-saint-or-a-fool-or-the-darkling-s/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“At Keramzin, I had a doll I made out of an old sock that I used to talk to whenever he was away hunting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/at-keramzin-i-had-a-doll-i-made-out-of-an-old-sock-that-i-used-to/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've seen what you truly are," said the Darkling, "and I've never turned away. I never will. Can he say the same?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-seen-what-you-truly-are-said-the-darkling-and-i-ve-never-turned/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Why won’t you leave me alone?” I whispered one night as he hovered behind me while I tried to work at my desk. Long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/why-won-t-you-leave-me-alone-i-whispered-one-night-as-he-hovered/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“No matter what I said, we both knew the hard truth. We do our best. We try. And usually, it makes no difference at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/no-matter-what-i-said-we-both-knew-the-hard-truth-we-do-our-best-we/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Mal shouted. I heard scuffling behind me and knew Tolya had taken hold of him. “Alina!” His voice was raw white wood, torn from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/mal-shouted-i-heard-scuffling-behind-me-and-knew-tolya-had-taken-hold/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“You come back to train with Botkin. I hit big girl same as little girl." "That's very egalitarian of you." I said, and hurried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-come-back-to-train-with-botkin-i-hit-big-girl-same-as-little-girl/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“David looked at me, then, the regret plain on his face. No matter what I said, we both knew the hard truth. We do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/david-looked-at-me-then-the-regret-plain-on-his-face-no-matter-what-i/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [If you speak insults you will hear them also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/if-you-speak-insults-you-will-hear-them-also/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Anyone who starts a sentence With all due respect...is about to insult you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anyone-who-starts-a-sentence-with-all-due-respect-is-about-to-insult/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Criticism is pointing the raw truth on how someone can make change or improve for the better. While an insult is using the negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fairy-thale/criticism-is-pointing-the-raw-truth-on-how-someone-can-make-change-or/) Fairy\_thale > [It takes a million compliments to build you up, but one insult to send it all crashing down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-a-million-compliments-to-build-you-up-but-one-insult-to-send/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Having no applicable skills, in any possible area whatsoever, effectively makes me the master of redundancy. But that info is obsolete, like my insults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/having-no-applicable-skills-in-any-possible-area-whatsoever/) Will Advise > [No one seems to have learned, or can remember, the magic words that calm people when they are frightened or threatened: "I'm sorry; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-tavris/no-one-seems-to-have-learned-or-can-remember-the-magic-words-that/) [Carol Tavris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-tavris/) > [If you take the the insults of your fellow human beings personally, you will be offended for the rest of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/if-you-take-the-the-insults-of-your-fellow-human-beings-personally/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) ## More by Leigh Bardugo > [“Aleksander." His eyes fluttered shut. "Don't let me be alone," he murmured. And then he was gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/aleksander-his-eyes-fluttered-shut-don-t-let-me-be-alone-he-murmured/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I don't care if you danced naked on the roof of the Little Palace with him. I love you, Alina, even the part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-don-t-care-if-you-danced-naked-on-the-roof-of-the-little-palace/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-frowned-i-thought-you-and-nina-chose-four-outbreak-sites-on-the/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I rolled my eyes. "For defending my honor, you dullard." He yanked me beneath a shadowed awning. I had a moment's panic when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-rolled-my-eyes-for-defending-my-honor-you-dullard-he-yanked-me/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've been waiting for you a long time, Alina" He said. "You and I are going to change the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-been-waiting-for-you-a-long-time-alina-he-said-you-and-i-are/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“They're all crazy, Oncat. Invisible armies, monster princes. Let's go set fire to something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/they-re-all-crazy-oncat-invisible-armies-monster-princes-let-s-go-set/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Saints!" I swore. "I forgot how often I want to stab you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/saints-i-swore-i-forgot-how-often-i-want-to-stab-you/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej knew the moment Kaz entered the Slat. His presence reverberated through the cramped rooms and crooked hallways as every thug, thief, dealer, con…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-knew-the-moment-kaz-entered-the-slat-his-presence-reverberated/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've risked my life for you. I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I'd do it again and again and again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-risked-my-life-for-you-i-ve-walked-half-the-length-of-ravka-for/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“You never know," said Nikolai. "I've been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet." "Please tell me you plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-never-know-said-nikolai-i-ve-been-busy-i-might-have-some/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Sure we do," said Theo, swatting at a branch. "We get to the spring, Alia gets cured. We argue over the best choice for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/sure-we-do-said-theo-swatting-at-a-branch-we-get-to-the-spring-alia/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“But I pushed down my confused tears and did as she asked, still hoping that whatever I’d broken might be repaired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/but-i-pushed-down-my-confused-tears-and-did-as-she-asked-still-hoping/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“There, she wrote fantastical tales that charmed children, and under another name, she penned rather more lurid works that kept her in nougat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/there-she-wrote-fantastical-tales-that-charmed-children-and-under/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Short on friends, your highness?" "And long on enemies," replied Nikolai.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/short-on-friends-your-highness-and-long-on-enemies-replied-nikolai/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. “Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/jesper-knocked-his-head-against-the-hull-and-cast-his-eyes-heavenward/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) [Explore all 782 Leigh Bardugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## More Argue quotes > [I'd rather argue with you than kiss someone else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fad-ibra/i-d-rather-argue-with-you-than-kiss-someone-else/) [Fad Ibra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fad-ibra/) > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“But that is not true for all folk. Some folk are meant to argue with fate. And win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/but-that-is-not-true-for-all-folk-some-folk-are-meant-to-argue-with/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/argue-for-your-limitations-and-sure-enough-they-re-yours/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [I like the fact that we argue but in the end we come together again realising how much we each need the other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine/i-like-the-fact-that-we-argue-but-in-the-end-we-come-together-again/) [Josephine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Has learned that sometimes it is just easier to agree with someone, than to argue a stupid point they think they have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/has-learned-that-sometimes-it-is-just-easier-to-agree-with-someone/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [If you dont know, please ask. If you dont agree, argue. If you dont like it, please say it. But don't sit there quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-dont-know-please-ask-if-you-dont-agree-argue-if-you-dont-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America gave the world the notion of the melting pot - an alchemical cooking device wherein diverse ethnic and religious groups voluntarily mix together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-krastev/america-gave-the-world-the-notion-of-the-melting-pot-an-alchemical/) [Ivan Krastev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-krastev/) > [Don't worry when I argue with you. Worry when I stop because it means there's nothing left to fight for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-worry-when-i-argue-with-you-worry-when-i-stop-because-it-means/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“Be quick to resolve conflicts before they mature to become wars. The energetic crocodile was once a delicate egg!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/be-quick-to-resolve-conflicts-before-they-mature-to-become-wars-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I taught my executive team how to argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/i-taught-my-executive-team-how-to-argue/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [“People argue between Pele or Maradona. Di Stéfano is the best, much more complete.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/people-argue-between-pele-or-maradona-di-st-fano-is-the-best-much/) [Pelé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [“The more women argue, loudly, against feminism, the more they both prove it exists and that they enjoy its hard-won privileges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/the-more-women-argue-loudly-against-feminism-the-more-they-both-prove/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) Browse all 642 Argue quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't argue. Never deign to deny. Meet insults with laughter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leigh Bardugo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-insults-with-laughter/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Argue" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-insults-with-laughter/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/leigh-bardugo-252_argue_don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-ins_572860.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/leigh-bardugo-252_argue_don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-ins_572860.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/leigh-bardugo-252_argue_don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-ins_572860.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't argue. Never deign to deny. Meet insults with laughter.” — Leigh Bardugo", "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": "Leigh Bardugo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't argue. Never deign to deny....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-insults-with-laughter/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/don-t-argue-never-deign-to-deny-meet-insults-with-laughter/#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 } } ] } ```