--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can say what we need to say. We can…" description: "\"We can say what we need to say. We can gently, but assertively, speak our mind. We do not need to be judgmental, tactless, blaming or cruel when we spe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/melody-beattie-1895_blame_we-can-say-what-we-need-to-say-we-can-ge_2433216.jpg" --- # We can say what we need to say. We can gently, but… ![“We can say what we need to say. We can gently, but assertively, speak our mind. We do not need to be judgmental, tactless, blaming or cruel when we speak our truths.” quote by Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/melody-beattie-1895_blame_we-can-say-what-we-need-to-say-we-can-ge_2433216.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/melody-beattie-1895_blame_we-can-say-what-we-need-to-say-we-can-ge_2433216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/melody-beattie-1895_blame_we-can-say-what-we-need-to-say-we-can-ge_2433216.jpg) > “We can say what we need to say. We can gently, but assertively, speak our mind. We do not need to be judgmental, tactless, blaming or cruel when we speak our truths.” [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) ## 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 advises speaking truthfully yet kindly, avoiding judgment, tactlessness, blame, or cruelty. **In simple terms:** Speak truth with kindness, avoid harshness. Key Takeaway Practice gentle assertiveness. Themes communication empathy assertiveness truthfulness relationships Mood empathetic balanced Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal relationships - team meetings - public speaking Key Concepts non‑violent communication emotional intelligence mindful speech Questions to Reflect On - When is bluntness necessary? - How can you stay kind while firm? A Different Perspective Balancing honesty and kindness can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assertively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertively-284089/) [Assertively Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertively-speak-307152/) [Blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame/) [Gently Assertively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gently-assertively-307154/) [Judgmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgmental/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-mind/) [Speak Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-truths-307153/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [It is naive to think that self-assertiveness is easy. To live self-assertively--which means to live authentically--is an act of high courage. That is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/it-is-naive-to-think-that-self-assertiveness-is-easy-to-live-self/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [The German mind, may it live! Almost invisible as a mind, it finally manifests itself assertively as a conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-german-mind-may-it-live-almost-invisible-as-a-mind-it-finally/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“When positioning a brand, aggressively avoid becoming a "me too" by assertively being a "who else?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-black-davis/when-positioning-a-brand-aggressively-avoid-becoming-a-me-too-by/) [Crystal Black Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-black-davis/) > [“You must assertively hold yourself to a standard in which you keep yourself in line but don't tear others down. Holding yourself to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-evan-johnson/you-must-assertively-hold-yourself-to-a-standard-in-which-you-keep/) [J. Evan Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-evan-johnson/) > [“and, if anything, are more likely to respond assertively. (1999:106) In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierangelo-isernia/and-if-anything-are-more-likely-to-respond-assertively-1999-106-in/) [Pierangelo Isernia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierangelo-isernia/) > [It is not always good to be passive and defenseless. There times when we need to act assertively, even if we continue to explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/it-is-not-always-good-to-be-passive-and-defenseless-there-times-when/) [Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/) > [There are truths, that are beyond us, transcendent truths, about beauty, truth, honor, etc. There are truths that man knows exist, but they cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/there-are-truths-that-are-beyond-us-transcendent-truths-about-beauty/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Don't be fooled by a sweet talker. Believe someone who's actions and mouth speak the same truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/don-t-be-fooled-by-a-sweet-talker-believe-someone-who-s-actions-and/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Stories are amazing and powerful because they can resonate with people depending on their needs and experiences and speak truths we need to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/stories-are-amazing-and-powerful-because-they-can-resonate-with/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [“Your eyes speak truths you don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/your-eyes-speak-truths-you-don-t/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [We all have--to put it as nicely as I can--our lower centres and our higher centres. Our lower centres act: they act with terriblepower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/we-all-have-to-put-it-as-nicely-as-i-can-our-lower-centres-and-our/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you. But for every real word spoken, for every attempt I had ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/my-silences-had-not-protected-me-your-silence-will-not-protect-you/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [“result, he’s firmly persuaded that the Catholic Church must always speak its truths to the surrounding culture, without adjusting those teachings to make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-barron/result-he-s-firmly-persuaded-that-the-catholic-church-must-always/) [Robert E. Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-barron/) > [I speak my mind too much, and the UFC probably don't really like that. But I really don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-lewis/i-speak-my-mind-too-much-and-the-ufc-probably-don-t-really-like-that/) [Derrick Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-lewis/) > [I speak my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-malley/i-speak-my-mind/) [Sean O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-malley/) ## More by Melody Beattie > [Remember to be kind. Remember to be loving. Remember to feel all your feelings and to take care of yourself. But most of all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/remember-to-be-kind-remember-to-be-loving-remember-to-feel-all-your/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [“Frequently, when I suggest to people that they detach from a person or problem, they recoil in horror. “Oh, no!” they say. “I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/frequently-when-i-suggest-to-people-that-they-detach-from-a-person-or/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [...the plan will happen in spite of us, not because of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/the-plan-will-happen-in-spite-of-us-not-because-of-us/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Goals give us direction. They put a powerful force into play on a universal, conscious, and subconscious level. Goals give our life direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/goals-give-us-direction-they-put-a-powerful-force-into-play-on-a/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [“Once they have been affected---once "it" sets in---codependency takes on a life of its own. It is similar to catching pneumonia or picking up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/once-they-have-been-affected-once-it-sets-in-codependency-takes-on-a/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Prayer changes things. Prayer changes us. Prayer changes life. Sometimes an event has been manifested that needs to be stopped, midair. Don't pray just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/prayer-changes-things-prayer-changes-us-prayer-changes-life-sometimes/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [It's not what we don't know that hurts us, people say. It's what we believe is true that isn't that does the damage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/it-s-not-what-we-don-t-know-that-hurts-us-people-say-it-s-what-we/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [“We don’t have to be so afraid of people. They are just people like us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/we-don-t-have-to-be-so-afraid-of-people-they-are-just-people-like-us/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Whatever we try to control does have control over us and our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/whatever-we-try-to-control-does-have-control-over-us-and-our-life/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [“I want to thank each person who has the courage to push through and past the set of coping behaviors we’ve come to label…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/i-want-to-thank-each-person-who-has-the-courage-to-push-through-and/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Acceptance is the magic that makes change possible. It is not forever, it is for the present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/acceptance-is-the-magic-that-makes-change-possible-it-is-not-forever/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Don't violate your own code of values and ethics, but don't waste energy trying to make other people violate theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/don-t-violate-your-own-code-of-values-and-ethics-but-don-t-waste/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [It's our job to first make ourselves feel better and then make ourselves feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/it-s-our-job-to-first-make-ourselves-feel-better-and-then-make/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Panic, not the task, is the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/panic-not-the-task-is-the-enemy/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Today I will tell myself that I'm lovable. Just because some people haven't been able to love me, it doesn't mean that I'm unlovable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/today-i-will-tell-myself-that-i-m-lovable-just-because-some-people/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) [Explore all 200 Melody Beattie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) ## More Blame quotes > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Me mum used to always have the radio on - even now she has it on in every room. Me girlfriend sort of blames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/me-mum-used-to-always-have-the-radio-on-even-now-she-has-it-on-in/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-the-great/i-like-to-praise-and-reward-loudly-to-blame-quietly/) [Catherine the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-the-great/) > [Some of the things that I said I hated to say, but blame yourself mother fucker you made it this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedi-mind-tricks/some-of-the-things-that-i-said-i-hated-to-say-but-blame-yourself/) [Jedi Mind Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedi-mind-tricks/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In places where government priorities and market imperatives create a world so capricious that to help a neighbor is to risk your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/in-places-where-government-priorities-and-market-imperatives-create-a/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [“Stop Blaming Others For Your Own Actions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/stop-blaming-others-for-your-own-actions/) [Alexis G. 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