--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been treating you with courtesy and…" description: "\"“I've been treating you with courtesy and respect because that's the way I choose to treat everyone. But never, ever mistake kindness with weakness.”\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/918/louise-penny-1059_courtesy_i-ve-been-treating-you-with-courtesy-and_300655.png" --- # I've been treating you with courtesy and respect because… ![“I've been treating you with courtesy and respect because that's the way I choose to treat everyone. But never, ever mistake kindness with weakness.” quote by Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/918/louise-penny-1059_courtesy_i-ve-been-treating-you-with-courtesy-and_300655.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/918/louise-penny-1059_courtesy_i-ve-been-treating-you-with-courtesy-and_300655.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/918/louise-penny-1059_courtesy_i-ve-been-treating-you-with-courtesy-and_300655.png) > ““I've been treating you with courtesy and respect because that's the way I choose to treat everyone. But never, ever mistake kindness with weakness.”” [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kindness should not be confused with being easily manipulated; strength lies in firm compassion. **In simple terms:** Kindness isn’t weakness. Key Takeaway Set boundaries while staying kind. Themes kindness strength boundaries Mood thoughtful assertive Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - Workplace - personal relationships - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts Compassion assertiveness respect Questions to Reflect On - When have you mistaken kindness for weakness? - How can you assert without aggression? A Different Perspective Kindness can be exploited if not paired with assertiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [“Things we carry from home shows where we hail from ~ courtesy, respect, and gratitude”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupali-desai/things-we-carry-from-home-shows-where-we-hail-from-courtesy-respect/) Rupali Desai > [“With your lunch box, do not forget to carry courtesy, respect, and gratitude from home!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupali-desai/with-your-lunch-box-do-not-forget-to-carry-courtesy-respect-and/) Rupali Desai > [“But never, ever mistake kindness for weakness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/but-never-ever-mistake-kindness-for-weakness/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [I'm a very nice guy, but don't mistake my kindness for weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herjavec/i-m-a-very-nice-guy-but-don-t-mistake-my-kindness-for-weakness/) [Robert Herjavec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herjavec/) > [Dont mistake my kindness for weakness.Ill choke you with the same hands I fed you off with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-mistake-my-kindness-for-weakness-ill-choke-you-with-the-same/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As leader of the House, I seek to do exactly that, treating all members of Parliament with courtesy and respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-leadsom/as-leader-of-the-house-i-seek-to-do-exactly-that-treating-all-members/) [Andrea Leadsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-leadsom/) > [“Not only the footwear, wear also the courtesy, respect, and gratitude in your heart while stepping out of home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupali-desai/not-only-the-footwear-wear-also-the-courtesy-respect-and-gratitude-in/) Rupali Desai > [“By speaking with courtesy and respect, you are offering a wonderful gift to yourself, a useful embarrassment to the unkind, and a good example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/by-speaking-with-courtesy-and-respect-you-are-offering-a-wonderful/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [We are working hard to ensure every child fulfils their potential and goes on to seize all the opportunities life can offer them. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/we-are-working-hard-to-ensure-every-child-fulfils-their-potential-and/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [“person is entitled to be acknowledged and respected. I urge you to live this lesson throughout your time as a candidate and office-holder. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-walsh/person-is-entitled-to-be-acknowledged-and-respected-i-urge-you-to/) [Marian Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-walsh/) > [Don't mistake kindness for weakness, inside some kind souls may lay a sleeping tiger who is much bigger than you are. - Gideon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-smith/don-t-mistake-kindness-for-weakness-inside-some-kind-souls-may-lay-a/) Gideon Smith > [Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. Im nice to everyone but if you keep knocking on the devils door he's bound to answer someday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-mistake-my-kindness-for-weakness-im-nice-to-everyone-but-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dont mistake my kindness for my weakness...I just hold it together in a civil way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-mistake-my-kindness-for-my-weakness-i-just-hold-it-together-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never pretend to be something you do not intend to be, and never drop a bomb if you can not handle the blast, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/never-pretend-to-be-something-you-do-not-intend-to-be-and-never-drop/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Don't mistake my silence for ignorance;don't mistake my calmness for acceptance.And most of all,don't mistake my kindness for WEAKNESS..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-mistake-my-silence-for-ignorance-don-t-mistake-my-calmness-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Louise Penny > [“Whale oil beef hooked,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/whale-oil-beef-hooked/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“I am tired,” Gamache murmured as he walked into the gentle little village. “But I am at peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/i-am-tired-gamache-murmured-as-he-walked-into-the-gentle-little/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“The reason “belonging” was so potent, so attractive, so much a part of the human yearning, was that it also meant safety, and loyalty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/the-reason-belonging-was-so-potent-so-attractive-so-much-a-part-of/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“She picked up her book and tried to read but it was heavy in her hands. She struggled to hold it, wanting to finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/she-picked-up-her-book-and-tried-to-read-but-it-was-heavy-in-her/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“We’re used to the film versions of psychopaths. The clearly crazies. But most psychopaths are clever. They have to be. They know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/we-re-used-to-the-film-versions-of-psychopaths-the-clearly-crazies/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Instead he stood erect, the snow insinuating itself down his collar and up his sleeves, plastering against his face and into his unblinking eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/instead-he-stood-erect-the-snow-insinuating-itself-down-his-collar/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“He was an emotional communist. Everyone counted equally, but none too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/he-was-an-emotional-communist-everyone-counted-equally-but-none-too/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [I turned down all the requests for the rights to the books, for years, mostly because they wanted the rights to the characters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/i-turned-down-all-the-requests-for-the-rights-to-the-books-for-years/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Chief Superintendent Arnot might hold power, but Armand Gamache was the more powerful man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/chief-superintendent-arnot-might-hold-power-but-armand-gamache-was/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Henri kept everything important in his heart. He mostly kept cookies in his head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/henri-kept-everything-important-in-his-heart-he-mostly-kept-cookies/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [A good journalist, as you know, is a great listener. And so's a good writer. And I got to listen to people for almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/a-good-journalist-as-you-know-is-a-great-listener-and-so-s-a-good/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [The question that haunted every investigation was 'why'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/the-question-that-haunted-every-investigation-was-why/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [But, like peace, comfort didn't come from hiding away or running away. Comfort first demanded courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/but-like-peace-comfort-didn-t-come-from-hiding-away-or-running-away/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“He did not suggest that she sit quietly and get to know herself so she could be all the company she needed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/he-did-not-suggest-that-she-sit-quietly-and-get-to-know-herself-so/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Come hither, all ye empty things,/Ye bubbles raised by breath of kings;/Who float upon the tide of state,/Come hither, and behold your fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/come-hither-all-ye-empty-things-ye-bubbles-raised-by-breath-of-kings/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) [Explore all 295 Louise Penny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) ## More Courtesy quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Less of your courtesy and more of your purse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/less-of-your-courtesy-and-more-of-your-purse/) Proverb > [Dullness is a courteous fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-mustafa/dullness-is-a-courteous-fear/) [Mohammad MUSTAFA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-mustafa/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) Miguel Cervantes > [“I would court you, with all the grace and courtesy that you deserve,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-would-court-you-with-all-the-grace-and-courtesy-that-you-deserve/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [The greater the man the greater the courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/the-greater-the-man-the-greater-the-courtesy/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) > [“Out of all its squalor and human decay, its eruptions of butchery, India produced so many people of grace and beauty, ruled by elaborate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-all-its-squalor-and-human-decay-its-eruptions-of-butchery/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Show some mercy to this chair which has stretched out its arms to you for so long; please satisfy its desire to embrace you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/show-some-mercy-to-this-chair-which-has-stretched-out-its-arms-to-you/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/manners-are-a-sensitive-awareness-of-the-feelings-of-others/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [They who sow courtesy reap friendship, and they who plant kindness gather love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/they-who-sow-courtesy-reap-friendship-and-they-who-plant-kindness/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [“If a lady offers you a kindness, you absolutely have to accept”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-wallingford/if-a-lady-offers-you-a-kindness-you-absolutely-have-to-accept/) Maria Wallingford > [though I be but the prince of Wales, yet I am king of courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-i-be-but-the-prince-of-wales-yet-i-am-king-of-courtesy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Princes of courtesy, merciful, proud and strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-newbolt/princes-of-courtesy-merciful-proud-and-strong/) [Henry Newbolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-newbolt/) [Browse all 527 Courtesy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I've been treating you with courtesy and respect because that's the way I choose to treat everyone. 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