--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't mock things, which makes me more…" description: "\"I don't mock things, which makes me more vulnerable to mockery myself. If you're cynical, you're protected from mockery. But I have to be nice. I don't..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/michel-gondry-6811_being-nice_i-don-t-mock-things-which-makes-me-more_1312594.jpg" --- # I don't mock things, which makes me more vulnerable to… ![“I don't mock things, which makes me more vulnerable to mockery myself. If you're cynical, you're protected from mockery. But I have to be nice. I don't think I have irony. A sense of humour, yes, but not irony.” quote by Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/michel-gondry-6811_being-nice_i-don-t-mock-things-which-makes-me-more_1312594.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/michel-gondry-6811_being-nice_i-don-t-mock-things-which-makes-me-more_1312594.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/michel-gondry-6811_being-nice_i-don-t-mock-things-which-makes-me-more_1312594.jpg) > “I don't mock things, which makes me more vulnerable to mockery myself. If you're cynical, you're protected from mockery. But I have to be nice. I don't think I have irony. A sense of humour, yes, but not irony.” [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being kind makes you vulnerable to ridicule; cynicism offers protection, but the speaker lacks irony despite humor. **In simple terms:** Kindness invites mockery; cynicism shields; humor without irony. Key Takeaway Balance kindness with self‑care and realistic humor. Themes vulnerability humor kindness Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal interactions - online communication - team environments - self‑esteem Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When does kindness become self‑sabotage? - How can you use humor protect without irony? A Different Perspective Excessive kindness can be exploited; cynicism may alienate others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-nice/) [Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Irony Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony-sense-4190634/) [Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mock/) [Mockery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mockery/) [Mockery Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mockery-cynical-4347413/) [Mockery Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mockery-nice-4347414/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Protected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protected/) [Sense of humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humour/) [Think Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-irony-782227/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vulnerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerable/) ## Related quotes > [“Irony is the sense of humor of fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twila-vernon/irony-is-the-sense-of-humor-of-fate/) [Twila Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twila-vernon/) > [“Irony is the sense of humor of fate. From "Just Go" by Twila Vernon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twila-vernon/irony-is-the-sense-of-humor-of-fate-from-just-go-by-twila-vernon/) [Twila Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twila-vernon/) > [“It can be so difficult to train up the peasants,” she said, pretending to commiserate, her voice heavy with irony. “They find it so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-crews/it-can-be-so-difficult-to-train-up-the-peasants-she-said-pretending/) [Caitlin Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-crews/) > [Isn't it the sweetest mockery to mock our enemies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/isn-t-it-the-sweetest-mockery-to-mock-our-enemies/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Mock mockers after that That would not lift a hand maybe To help good, wise or great To bar that foul storm out, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mock-mockers-after-that-that-would-not-lift-a-hand-maybe-to-help-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Keep away from people who always try to stop you from sharing your opinions with the entire world. Don't listen to people who mock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/keep-away-from-people-who-always-try-to-stop-you-from-sharing-your/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-beware-my-lord-of-jealousy-it-is-the-green-ey-d-monster-which-doth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“I had never yet done such a thing in life, but now I felt a desire to mock. ("In The Court Of The Dragon")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-chambers/i-had-never-yet-done-such-a-thing-in-life-but-now-i-felt-a-desire-to/) [Robert W. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-chambers/) > [There's not a lot of room for un-ironic emotion in contemporary culture. I think that irony is an important tool in dealing with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/there-s-not-a-lot-of-room-for-un-ironic-emotion-in-contemporary/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I think there is irony in the fact that the computer is both their chief venue of communication and propaganda and also the mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-potok/i-think-there-is-irony-in-the-fact-that-the-computer-is-both-their/) [Mark Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-potok/) > [People have different ideas, emotional ideas, of what certain words mean, and they think of irony as something that's more associated with being cynical-it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/people-have-different-ideas-emotional-ideas-of-what-certain-words/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [I don't think irony is about judgment; I think irony is something like, "Oh, that's interesting," because it's not something I think one starts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/i-don-t-think-irony-is-about-judgment-i-think-irony-is-something-like/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [My direction is very anti-contemplative. If you thought I was for commercial products, you'd think there was no irony. The irony isn't meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-lichtenstein/my-direction-is-very-anti-contemplative-if-you-thought-i-was-for/) [Roy Lichtenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-lichtenstein/) > [“You know what's kind of funny? Well, not funny, but ironic, maybe? She's been here nine months now, and it takes nine months to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/you-know-what-s-kind-of-funny-well-not-funny-but-ironic-maybe-she-s/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [“I don't think irony's meant to synergize with anything as heartfelt as sadness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/i-don-t-think-irony-s-meant-to-synergize-with-anything-as-heartfelt/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) ## More by Michel Gondry > [I learned to drive when I was 35. I'm driving like an old lady and very close to the wheel. I don't take many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-learned-to-drive-when-i-was-35-i-m-driving-like-an-old-lady-and/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I'm just thinking of 2001, which I think is the most expensive independent film ever made - which is great, someday I hope I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-m-just-thinking-of-2001-which-i-think-is-the-most-expensive/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I try to learn from both, from features and documentaries. In both cases you have to find a way to make the camera as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-try-to-learn-from-both-from-features-and-documentaries-in-both/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I'm attracted to working with comedians because they don't have that stars' idea of what a hero should be. The downside is they're always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-m-attracted-to-working-with-comedians-because-they-don-t-have-that/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [There is an amount of abstraction in my movies, and sometimes they don't really understand it until the film is finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/there-is-an-amount-of-abstraction-in-my-movies-and-sometimes-they-don/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I shoot people in a way that makes the audience feel equal to them. And it's hard to express and it's hard to execute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-shoot-people-in-a-way-that-makes-the-audience-feel-equal-to-them/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [In my opinion, it's more interesting to see magic happening in a world that feels grounded. If the world is already crazy, then anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/in-my-opinion-it-s-more-interesting-to-see-magic-happening-in-a-world/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [All these gadgets, the phone and the computer, they expose the inside of your brain in a way that's bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/all-these-gadgets-the-phone-and-the-computer-they-expose-the-inside/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [Michael Jackson will always be my favorite pop musician; he was for years and years until his death, which was horrible to me. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/michael-jackson-will-always-be-my-favorite-pop-musician-he-was-for/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I find it particularly shocking that people work all week long, and then on the weekend they give their money to another big corporation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-find-it-particularly-shocking-that-people-work-all-week-long-and/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [ I like collaboration, I like to incorporate other people's ideas \[and\] that's what happens when you do a big movie. Unless you're called Stanley… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-like-collaboration-i-like-to-incorporate-other-people-s-ideas-and/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [If people don't like the trailer, then blame it on the people who made the trailer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/if-people-don-t-like-the-trailer-then-blame-it-on-the-people-who-made/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I like actors who just are who they are, with a little bit of qualification to adapt to their character. But mostly they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-like-actors-who-just-are-who-they-are-with-a-little-bit-of/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I had a lot of encouragement and tolerance from my parents, but I also have many friends who didn't get that from their parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-had-a-lot-of-encouragement-and-tolerance-from-my-parents-but-i-also/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [When people are very original, sometimes they are original as a way to resist the mainstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/when-people-are-very-original-sometimes-they-are-original-as-a-way-to/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) [Explore all 97 Michel Gondry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) ## More Being nice quotes > [Business school graduates from the best schools earn large salaries and frequently rise to positions of great power. It would be nice if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/business-school-graduates-from-the-best-schools-earn-large-salaries/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [What is needed, however, isn't just that people working together be nice to each other. It is discipline. Discipline is hard--harder than trustworthiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/what-is-needed-however-isn-t-just-that-people-working-together-be/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [I think there's a lot of scope in broadening the way videogames approach depictions of masculinity, which is still extremely narrow in scope. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-druckmann/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-scope-in-broadening-the-way-videogames/) [Neil Druckmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-druckmann/) > [He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?” She sighed. “I suppose.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-put-his-arms-around-her-well-in-my-defense-then-whatever-i-did/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Somewhere where people aren't so mad would be nice, but I don't know if there is anywhere like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/somewhere-where-people-aren-t-so-mad-would-be-nice-but-i-don-t-know/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [Most of the people I know who were raised to be accommodating or were raised to just be nice and put everybody's needs ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/most-of-the-people-i-know-who-were-raised-to-be-accommodating-or-were/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“When we are nice to others, we generally lose all claim to their respect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/when-we-are-nice-to-others-we-generally-lose-all-claim-to-their/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Being nice from now on, leaving the old BS where it's at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-from-now-on-leaving-the-old-bs-where-it-s-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can see that I imagine all kinds of rejection that never happens. 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King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) [Browse all 659 Being nice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-nice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't mock things, which makes me more vulnerable to mockery myself. If you're cynical, you're protected from mockery. But I have to be nice. I don't think I have irony. 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