---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who allows himself to be insulted…"
description: "\"He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.\" — Pierre Corneille"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/pierre-corneille-2033_deserves_he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-des_37338.jpg"
---

#  He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.

![“He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.” quote by Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/pierre-corneille-2033_deserves_he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-des_37338.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/pierre-corneille-2033_deserves_he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-des_37338.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/pierre-corneille-2033_deserves_he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-des_37338.jpg)

> “He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.”

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

## 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 suggests that tolerating insults without response invites further disrespect, implying personal responsibility for one's treatment.

**In simple terms:** Accepting insults invites more disrespect.

Key Takeaway

Stand up for yourself.

Themes

self-respect personal responsibility social dynamics assertiveness power dynamics

Mood

defiant assertive reflective

Type

proverb advice

When to use this quote

- workplace conflict
- online harassment
- family disagreements
- bullying situations

Key Concepts

respect boundaries communication

Practical Applications

- conflict resolution training
- assertiveness workshops

Questions to Reflect On

- How does silence affect perceived strength?
- When is it appropriate to respond to an insult?

A Different Perspective

Some argue that silence can be a strategic choice, not necessarily a sign of weakness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be so; and insolence, if unpunished, increases! \[Lat., Qui se laisse outrager, merite qu'on l'outrage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-deserves-to-be-so-and-insolence/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [I'm a professional and I'll do anything - a poetry reading, television, cinema, anything that allows me to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-m-a-professional-and-i-ll-do-anything-a-poetry-reading-television/)

[Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/)

> [Reading allows you to go into a space that nothing else can take you to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/reading-allows-you-to-go-into-a-space-that-nothing-else-can-take-you/)

[Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/)

> [You call it a 'loophole' when the government still allows you some freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/you-call-it-a-loophole-when-the-government-still-allows-you-some/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [I think we've established a convention on the show that allows us to do pretty much anything we want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thayer-david/i-think-we-ve-established-a-convention-on-the-show-that-allows-us-to/)

[Thayer David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thayer-david/)

> [Truth allows no choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/truth-allows-no-choice/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [The Internet allows me to be more free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/the-internet-allows-me-to-be-more-free/)

[Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/)

> [Less money sometimes allows you to be more creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-ratner/less-money-sometimes-allows-you-to-be-more-creative/)

[Brett Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-ratner/)

> [Fantasy allows you to get past defenses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-moon/fantasy-allows-you-to-get-past-defenses/)

[Elizabeth Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-moon/)

> [Hunger allows no choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/hunger-allows-no-choice/)

[W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/)

> [We live in a country that allows you to be whoever you want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/we-live-in-a-country-that-allows-you-to-be-whoever-you-want-to-be/)

[Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/)

> [Fun is only possible if you have a mindset that allows it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/fun-is-only-possible-if-you-have-a-mindset-that-allows-it/)

[Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/)

> [“Allow” is a troubling word. “Allow” is about power. You will often hear members of the Nigerian chapter of the Society of Feminism Lite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/allow-is-a-troubling-word-allow-is-about-power-you-will-often-hear/)

[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/)

> [Someone who loves a neighbor allows him to be as he is, as he was, and as he will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-quoist/someone-who-loves-a-neighbor-allows-him-to-be-as-he-is-as-he-was-and/)

[Michel Quoist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-quoist/)

> [“It allows you to be yourself, good and bad. And it's a two-way street: you give and take equally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-franta/it-allows-you-to-be-yourself-good-and-bad-and-it-s-a-two-way-street/)

[Connor Franta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-franta/)

## More by Pierre Corneille

> [Sir, what does it matter whom I serve, so long as I am right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/sir-what-does-it-matter-whom-i-serve-so-long-as-i-am-right/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [Flee an enemy who knows your weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/flee-an-enemy-who-knows-your-weakness/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [Such is the caprice of Romans... who reject kings in name but not in practice, and accept an Emperor mightier than a hundred kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/such-is-the-caprice-of-romans-who-reject-kings-in-name-but-not-in/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [To take revenge halfheartedly is to court disaster; either condemn or crown your hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/to-take-revenge-halfheartedly-is-to-court-disaster-either-condemn-or/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [They who overcome their desires once can overcome them always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/they-who-overcome-their-desires-once-can-overcome-them-always/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [ By speaking of our misfortunes we often relieve them. \[Fr., A raconter ses maux souvent on les soulage.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/by-speaking-of-our-misfortunes-we-often-relieve-them-fr-a-raconter/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [Self-love is the source of all our other loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/self-love-is-the-source-of-all-our-other-loves/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [As our self-interests differ, so do our feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/as-our-self-interests-differ-so-do-our-feelings/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [I don't know how to defend myself: surprised innocence cannot imagine being under suspicion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/i-don-t-know-how-to-defend-myself-surprised-innocence-cannot-imagine/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [He who allows me to rule is in fact my master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-me-to-rule-is-in-fact-my-master/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [All great virtues become great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/all-great-virtues-become-great-men/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [He who forgives readily only invites offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-forgives-readily-only-invites-offense/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [For souls nobly born, valor doesn't await the passing of years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/for-souls-nobly-born-valor-doesn-t-await-the-passing-of-years/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [It is the gift of heaven and not of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/it-is-the-gift-of-heaven-and-not-of-reason/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [He who can live in infamy is unworthy of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-can-live-in-infamy-is-unworthy-of-life/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

[Explore all 181 Pierre Corneille quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

## More Deserves quotes

> [If you're a top 10 guy you should pay a top 10 guy or even a top 5 guy what he deserves, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aljamain-sterling/if-you-re-a-top-10-guy-you-should-pay-a-top-10-guy-or-even-a-top-5/)

[Aljamain Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aljamain-sterling/)

> [“The name does not deserve the poem, but the poem deserves the name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/the-name-does-not-deserve-the-poem-but-the-poem-deserves-the-name/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

> [Loving myself only because no one else deserves it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/loving-myself-only-because-no-one-else-deserves-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Every dog deserves a place to live. Every dog deserves a place in your heart. Every dog deserves a place to walk. Every dog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-duncan/every-dog-deserves-a-place-to-live-every-dog-deserves-a-place-in-your/)

John Duncan

> [We can take her. Besides, he deserves someone who doesn't shop at Gap Kids. -Rose to Lissa on Mia and Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/we-can-take-her-besides-he-deserves-someone-who-doesn-t-shop-at-gap/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [A person who deserves my loyalty receives it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-maynard/a-person-who-deserves-my-loyalty-receives-it/)

[Joyce Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-maynard/)

> [Maybe you're not good enough for everybody, but you'll always be the best for the one who deserves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shruti/maybe-you-re-not-good-enough-for-everybody-but-you-ll-always-be-the/)

[Shruti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shruti/)

> [Here, I am looking for a document issued by a public attorney. I don't find. He is accused by the political leaders of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-verges/here-i-am-looking-for-a-document-issued-by-a-public-attorney-i-don-t/)

[Jacques Verges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-verges/)

> [No one deserves anything more than anybody else. Because of that fact, you treat everyone the exact same way as best as you can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-segall/no-one-deserves-anything-more-than-anybody-else-because-of-that-fact/)

[Ty Segall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-segall/)

> [Whoever allows himself to be whipped, deserves to be whipped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/whoever-allows-himself-to-be-whipped-deserves-to-be-whipped/)

[Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/)

> [Everyone deserves to have clean water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyjah-huston/everyone-deserves-to-have-clean-water/)

[Nyjah Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyjah-huston/)

> [Everyone deserves compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/everyone-deserves-compassion/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [I don't think anybody deserves anything than what they already have because I believe everyone gets what they deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-owens/i-don-t-think-anybody-deserves-anything-than-what-they-already-have/)

[Kevin Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-owens/)

> [“One should be selfish bt only getting things which he deserves not what he likes or suits him,,,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kish/one-should-be-selfish-bt-only-getting-things-which-he-deserves-not/)

Kish

> [Every girl deserves a guy that can make her forget that her heart was ever broken!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-mahone/every-girl-deserves-a-guy-that-can-make-her-forget-that-her-heart-was/)

[Austin Mahone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-mahone/)

Browse all 429 Deserves quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pierre Corneille"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-deserves-to-be/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Deserves"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-deserves-to-be/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/pierre-corneille-2033_deserves_he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-des_37338.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/pierre-corneille-2033_deserves_he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-des_37338.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/pierre-corneille-2033_deserves_he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-des_37338.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.” — Pierre Corneille",
                "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": "Pierre Corneille",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "He who allows himself to be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-deserves-to-be/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-deserves-to-be/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
