--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: hold out your right hand, palm up…" description: "\"“hold out your right hand, palm up. Imagine a 2-inch-tall version of yourself in a military uniform, with a whip in one hand and a gun in the other, st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/martha-n-beck-17579_dictator_hold-out-your-right-hand-palm-up-imagine_2571707.jpg" --- # hold out your right hand, palm up. Imagine a 2-inch-tall… ![“hold out your right hand, palm up. Imagine a 2-inch-tall version of yourself in a military uniform, with a whip in one hand and a gun in the other, stomping around in your palm, shrieking deeply personal insults and commanding you to lose weight. This is the Dictator.” quote by Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/martha-n-beck-17579_dictator_hold-out-your-right-hand-palm-up-imagine_2571707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/martha-n-beck-17579_dictator_hold-out-your-right-hand-palm-up-imagine_2571707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fb/martha-n-beck-17579_dictator_hold-out-your-right-hand-palm-up-imagine_2571707.jpg) > ““hold out your right hand, palm up. Imagine a 2-inch-tall version of yourself in a military uniform, with a whip in one hand and a gun in the other, stomping around in your palm, shrieking deeply personal insults and commanding you to lose weight. This is the Dictator.”” [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imagines inner critic as a dictatorial figure, urging harsh self‑judgment and unrealistic standards. **In simple terms:** Your inner critic can dominate you. Key Takeaway Recognize and quiet the inner dictator. Themes self‑criticism mental health inner dialogue Mood empathetic thoughtful Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - weight loss - career pressure - social media use - personal development Key Concepts Psychology self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe self‑talk? - What strategies reduce internal pressure? A Different Perspective Overcoming the inner critic requires sustained self‑kindness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Military uniform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-uniform/) [Version Of Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/version-of-yourself/) ## Related quotes > [Digital Distribution and the Whip Hand: Don't Get iTunesed with your eBooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/digital-distribution-and-the-whip-hand-don-t-get-itunesed-with-your/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [Sad old blokes, I'm told, now dream of me with a whip in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robinson/sad-old-blokes-i-m-told-now-dream-of-me-with-a-whip-in-hand/) [Anne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robinson/) > [You can do TV and radio without the personal insults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-schultz/you-can-do-tv-and-radio-without-the-personal-insults/) [Ed Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-schultz/) > [Criticism and rejection are not personal insults, but your artistic component will not know that. It will quiver and wince and run to cover,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-brande/criticism-and-rejection-are-not-personal-insults-but-your-artistic/) [Dorothea Brande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-brande/) > [I don't mind personal insults, but when you insult the jokes that I tell you're insulting Fred Allen, Bob Hope, Burns and Allen, Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/i-don-t-mind-personal-insults-but-when-you-insult-the-jokes-that-i/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [I never respond to Donald Trump's personal insults about me. I could care less what he says about me. I'm going to respond when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-never-respond-to-donald-trump-s-personal-insults-about-me-i-could/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“Every monarch in the world, except the Emperor of China, wears a military uniform, and bestows the greatest rewards on the man who kills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/every-monarch-in-the-world-except-the-emperor-of-china-wears-a/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“turn to see a Gray woman my height, but built like a snub-nosed boxer with the physical dimensions of a concrete building block. Freckles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/turn-to-see-a-gray-woman-my-height-but-built-like-a-snub-nosed-boxer/) [Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/) > [Believe me that every man you see in a military uniform is not a hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-of-wellington/believe-me-that-every-man-you-see-in-a-military-uniform-is-not-a-hero/) [Duke of Wellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-of-wellington/) > [“The day before I stepped down as secretary, I sent a message to every man and woman wearing the American military uniform because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/the-day-before-i-stepped-down-as-secretary-i-sent-a-message-to-every/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [A few months ago, and again this week, bin Laden publicly vowed to publicly wage a terrorist war against America, saying, and I quote,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/a-few-months-ago-and-again-this-week-bin-laden-publicly-vowed-to/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [To demilitarize the country means to make a profound decision. It is not enough to change the name of the armed forces. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/to-demilitarize-the-country-means-to-make-a-profound-decision-it-is/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [Do not degrade me in the military uniform I wear for it represents the love I have for my country, and the sacrifices myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-david/do-not-degrade-me-in-the-military-uniform-i-wear-for-it-represents/) [Larry David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-david/) > [America has a long history of pride in the military uniform, and the Army has a 362-page directive on proper uniform wear. Included are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-mcsally/america-has-a-long-history-of-pride-in-the-military-uniform-and-the/) [Martha McSally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-mcsally/) > [“Um, Your Grace,” Margrit said. “Hm?” Cinderella asked, turning to look at more of her possessions scattered through the room. “What is it Margrit?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/um-your-grace-margrit-said-hm-cinderella-asked-turning-to-look-at/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) ## More by Martha N. Beck > [“it becomes a problem when we mistake the stories in our minds for The Truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/it-becomes-a-problem-when-we-mistake-the-stories-in-our-minds-for-the/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“Paradoxes haunt the lives of born wayfinders, driving them to seek resolutions to the apparent contradictions in their lives, enticing them into the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/paradoxes-haunt-the-lives-of-born-wayfinders-driving-them-to-seek/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“Research has shown that focusing on appreciation and gratitude has all kinds of positive health effects, lowering indicators of disease-causing stress and increasing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/research-has-shown-that-focusing-on-appreciation-and-gratitude-has/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“In any situation where our brains perceive extreme threat, the neocortex (the most recently evolved layer of the brain, which performs logical calculation) may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/in-any-situation-where-our-brains-perceive-extreme-threat-the/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“The only way to get out of this suicidal pattern is to leave the battlefield by going to the Watcher’s place of peace. EXERCISE:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/the-only-way-to-get-out-of-this-suicidal-pattern-is-to-leave-the/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“In this chapter, we’ll picture these rule-making and rule-breaking parts of you as humans. Tiny humans. We’ll call them the Dictator and the Wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/in-this-chapter-we-ll-picture-these-rule-making-and-rule-breaking/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“Career miracles happen when you’re so in love with your life that pushing yourself is actually easier than stopping, when you “do without doing.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/career-miracles-happen-when-you-re-so-in-love-with-your-life-that/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“Emotions are virtually always responses to thoughts. That’s great news, because while it’s impossible to control an emotion once a thought has triggered it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/emotions-are-virtually-always-responses-to-thoughts-that-s-great-news/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“It’s been said that the entire philosophical foundation of Zen is contained in three small words: “Not always so.” If you want to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/it-s-been-said-that-the-entire-philosophical-foundation-of-zen-is/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“The good news is that you can step off the battlefield any time. You do this by aligning yourself with the Watcher part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/the-good-news-is-that-you-can-step-off-the-battlefield-any-time-you/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“The urge to find the real facts is destructive only to people or systems (friendships, family dynamics, political dynasties) that are based on lies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/the-urge-to-find-the-real-facts-is-destructive-only-to-people-or/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“research on meditation does indicate that staying in a compassionate mode toward one’s self removes brain activity from zones that trigger flight, fight, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/research-on-meditation-does-indicate-that-staying-in-a-compassionate/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“according to some medical psychologists, it’s physiologically impossible for your mind to stay locked in a war of control when you’re engaging its ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/according-to-some-medical-psychologists-it-s-physiologically/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“As any good Buddhist will tell you, the only way to find permanent joy is by embracing the fact that nothing is permanent. Chapters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/as-any-good-buddhist-will-tell-you-the-only-way-to-find-permanent-joy/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) > [“When you find yourself stressed, tense, and veering toward anxiety eating, take a time-out for just three breaths. Long, deep breaths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-n-beck/when-you-find-yourself-stressed-tense-and-veering-toward-anxiety/) [Martha N. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) [Explore all 36 Martha N. Beck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-n-beck/) ## More Dictator quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [When you stop a dictator, there are always risks. But there are greater risks in not stopping a dictator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/when-you-stop-a-dictator-there-are-always-risks-but-there-are-greater/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Joe Paterno was a dictator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-erickson/joe-paterno-was-a-dictator/) [Rodney Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-erickson/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The problem was Le Corbusier was a genius and an enormous artist, but he tried to resolve problems to which there is no solution.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-krier/the-problem-was-le-corbusier-was-a-genius-and-an-enormous-artist-but/) [Leon Krier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-krier/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [You know Kim Jong Un, the evil dictator of North Korea? Apparently, a guy in his inner circle used his ashtray while smoking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/you-know-kim-jong-un-the-evil-dictator-of-north-korea-apparently-a/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [ We have the ability to take him \[President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez\] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/we-have-the-ability-to-take-him-president-of-venezuela-hugo-chavez/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [The only peace that can be made with a dictator is once that must be based on deterrence. For today, the dictator may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/the-only-peace-that-can-be-made-with-a-dictator-is-once-that-must-be/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [I'm the type of actor that believes the director has to be in charge. I've been on sets where the actor's ego was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-m-the-type-of-actor-that-believes-the-director-has-to-be-in-charge/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [The Globe reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il raises money by selling fake Viagra pills. What it is about this guy? None of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-globe-reports-that-north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-il-raises-money/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I started understanding that my strength is my gentleness. A leader isn't a dictator, a leader is a servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/i-started-understanding-that-my-strength-is-my-gentleness-a-leader/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) [Browse all 771 Dictator quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“hold out your right hand, palm up. Imagine a 2-inch-tall version of yourself in a military uniform, with a whip in one hand and a gun in the other, stomping around in your palm, shrieking deeply personal insults and commanding you to lose weight. This is the Dictator.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martha N. 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