--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But he’ll just say a bunch of smart-ass…" description: "\"“But he’ll just say a bunch of smart-ass stuff before maybe telling you anything real. That’s what he does.” Standing, I said, “I think I can hold my o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/rachel-hawkins-379_mirror_but-he-ll-just-say-a-bunch-of-smart-ass_593218.jpg" --- # But he’ll just say a bunch of smart-ass stuff before maybe… ![“But he’ll just say a bunch of smart-ass stuff before maybe telling you anything real. That’s what he does.” Standing, I said, “I think I can hold my own in smart-assery.” I jogged up the basement steps, determined to go have a little word with Mirror Boy.” quote by Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/rachel-hawkins-379_mirror_but-he-ll-just-say-a-bunch-of-smart-ass_593218.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/rachel-hawkins-379_mirror_but-he-ll-just-say-a-bunch-of-smart-ass_593218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/rachel-hawkins-379_mirror_but-he-ll-just-say-a-bunch-of-smart-ass_593218.jpg) > ““But he’ll just say a bunch of smart-ass stuff before maybe telling you anything real. That’s what he does.” Standing, I said, “I think I can hold my own in smart-assery.” I jogged up the basement steps, determined to go have a little word with Mirror Boy.”” [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sarcastic exchange highlighting someone’s tendency to mask honesty with smart‑ass comments, and a challenge to match that wit. **In simple terms:** Smart‑ass remarks hide truth. Key Takeaway Respond with wit, seek honesty. Themes communication wit authenticity Mood playful defensive Type conversational inspirational When to use this quote - use humor to defuse tension - ask direct questions - set boundaries Key Concepts sarcasm defensiveness self‑assertion Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance humor and sincerity? - When is sarcasm counterproductive? A Different Perspective Wit may obscure genuine dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jogged Basement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jogged-basement-4851835/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Mirror Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror-boy-4015777/) [Smart ass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-ass/) [Standing Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-said-2267157/) ## Related quotes > [“Eric Cameron. No… it couldn’t be. Oh. My. God. “Mattie?” That was why Eric was so familiar to me. I know his freaking name.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apryl-baker/eric-cameron-no-it-couldn-t-be-oh-my-god-mattie-that-was-why-eric-was/) [Apryl Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apryl-baker/) > [“At that moment it meant nothing to him who might be standing over him, or what was said of him; he was only glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/at-that-moment-it-meant-nothing-to-him-who-might-be-standing-over-him/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“The guy who was standing said, “We don’t want you here.” Reacher said, “You’re confusing me with someone who gives a shit what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/the-guy-who-was-standing-said-we-don-t-want-you-here-reacher-said-you/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [He drank standing up because he said, 'If you drink sitting down, you don't know if you will be... able to stand up.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hemingway/he-drank-standing-up-because-he-said-if-you-drink-sitting-down-you/) [Jack Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hemingway/) > [She straightens her hair, puts on her eyeliner, glosses her lips & takes one last look in the mirror, all for the boy who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/she-straightens-her-hair-puts-on-her-eyeliner-glosses-her-lips-takes/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“I’d prefer to stand when ladies are standing,” he said quietly to Livia. She longed to smooth a balm on all his wounds. “Blake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/i-d-prefer-to-stand-when-ladies-are-standing-he-said-quietly-to-livia/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“My eyes stray back to Eric Cameron, a.k.a. Mirror Boy. It might or might not be him. The face is the same shape and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apryl-baker/my-eyes-stray-back-to-eric-cameron-a-k-a-mirror-boy-it-might-or-might/) [Apryl Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apryl-baker/) > [“She straightens her hair, puts on eyeliner, glosses her lips and takes one last look in the mirror, all for the boy who doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/she-straightens-her-hair-puts-on-eyeliner-glosses-her-lips-and-takes/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [“...because being a smart-ass is always preferable to being a dumb-ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlaina-tibensky/because-being-a-smart-ass-is-always-preferable-to-being-a-dumb-ass/) [Arlaina Tibensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlaina-tibensky/) > [If I ever see you hitchhiking, I'll be sure to smile & return the thumbs up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/your-worst-enemy/if-i-ever-see-you-hitchhiking-i-ll-be-sure-to-smile-return-the-thumbs/) [Your Worst Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/your-worst-enemy/) > [“Are you always a smart ass?” Ryder asked with a lifted brow at her sardonic smile. “Nope, sometimes I’m asleep,” she offered with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-hutchins/are-you-always-a-smart-ass-ryder-asked-with-a-lifted-brow-at-her/) [Amelia Hutchins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-hutchins/) > [“Smart-ass,” she whispered to herself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isobel-archer/smart-ass-she-whispered-to-herself/) [Isobel Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isobel-archer/) > [“Please don’t be a smart-ass; just fix yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-roth/please-don-t-be-a-smart-ass-just-fix-yourself/) [Bernard Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-roth/) > [I'm kind of a smart ass so I guess I need someone that can give it back to me to hold my attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-lancaster/i-m-kind-of-a-smart-ass-so-i-guess-i-need-someone-that-can-give-it/) [Amber Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-lancaster/) > [“Mrs. Pott's beady black eyes narrowed,"Do you know how many glass slippers I have to stitch when I get home? There's a Mad Hatter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-avett/mrs-pott-s-beady-black-eyes-narrowed-do-you-know-how-many-glass/) [Sophie Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-avett/) ## More by Rachel Hawkins > [“Cal stepped forward, hopefully to come to my rescue. "I could toss her off the pier, Ms. Vanderlyden." Or not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/cal-stepped-forward-hopefully-to-come-to-my-rescue-i-could-toss-her/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. The rain of Doritos, the bed thing,this...Maybe it's just that you create too big, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/or-maybe-your-magic-isn-t-that-destructive-after-all-the-rain-of/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“We headed down a narrow flight of stairs that ended at a low arch. Beyond the arch was yet another murky room. Did these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/we-headed-down-a-narrow-flight-of-stairs-that-ended-at-a-low-arch/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“I know it looks vaguely unsanitary and potentially scandalous, Nana, but I promise that Izzy and I are only pursuing noble...pursuits. We've even got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-know-it-looks-vaguely-unsanitary-and-potentially-scandalous-nana/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Looking back, none of this would have happened if I’d brought lip gloss the night of the Homecoming Dance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/looking-back-none-of-this-would-have-happened-if-i-d-brought-lip/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Izzy was sitting cross-legged on the couch, a paper-back book in her hands. She didn’t look up when we came in, and I wondered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/izzy-was-sitting-cross-legged-on-the-couch-a-paper-back-book-in-her/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“I knew." "What?" "I knew what you were then, Sophie. Your dad told me before the betrothal. And you told me about your grandmother,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-knew-what-i-knew-what-you-were-then-sophie-your-dad-told-me-before/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Welcome to The Twilight Zone!” The “Holy-crap-that’s-a-lot-of-pink” Zone would have been a more accurate description.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/welcome-to-the-twilight-zone-the-holy-crap-that-s-a-lot-of-pink-zone/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“There was an intruder on a forbidden part of the island, and the security system was compromised." Another image of Archer's sword slicing through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/there-was-an-intruder-on-a-forbidden-part-of-the-island-and-the/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Do you remember the section on controlling demons in Demonologies ? I believe it's in chapter five." "Um...no." Irritation flashed over his face. "Honestly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/do-you-remember-the-section-on-controlling-demons-in-demonologies-i/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Both of us widened our eyes and said, "Woah." Then I immediately blushed. Oh my God, had I just looked at Archer and said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/both-of-us-widened-our-eyes-and-said-woah-then-i-immediately-blushed/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Ah, Grace and Aislinn arguing. It’s like old times again,” a male voice said, sounding vaguely muffled. “Could someone take this blasted thing off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/ah-grace-and-aislinn-arguing-it-s-like-old-times-again-a-male-voice/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Why do you think Lara is Lara Casnoff, and Mrs. Casnoff is Mrs. Casnoff?” Elodie whispered as she worked her magic on the enchanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/why-do-you-think-lara-is-lara-casnoff-and-mrs-casnoff-is-mrs-casnoff/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Put simply,she freaked me the hell out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/put-simply-she-freaked-me-the-hell-out/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“When someone tells you somebody's been murdered, laughing is probably not the best response. You know, for future reference. But laughing is exactly what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/when-someone-tells-you-somebody-s-been-murdered-laughing-is-probably/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) [Explore all 614 Rachel Hawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) ## More Mirror quotes > [Hate nothing in another human being because your eyes is made looking at others but never at your own self except in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/hate-nothing-in-another-human-being-because-your-eyes-is-made-looking/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I always look in the mirror to see somthing beautiful but all I see is me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/13-yearold/i-always-look-in-the-mirror-to-see-somthing-beautiful-but-all-i-see/) [13 Yearold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/13-yearold/) > [I fell upon Jenny Saville's work and loved these great big pieces she was painting, celebrating all things flesh and woman, and with great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-fell-upon-jenny-saville-s-work-and-loved-these-great-big-pieces-she/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [I wasn't happy with my body and I knew I had to do something to make myself feel better. I was looking at myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-pivarnick/i-wasn-t-happy-with-my-body-and-i-knew-i-had-to-do-something-to-make/) [Angelina Pivarnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-pivarnick/) > [A Margo for each of us--and each more mirror than window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-margo-for-each-of-us-and-each-more-mirror-than-window/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Our fashion for us, it's an expression; first of all of life, I put all of myself in my fashion. Sometimes it's good, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-gabbana/our-fashion-for-us-it-s-an-expression-first-of-all-of-life-i-put-all/) [Stefano Gabbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-gabbana/) > [Think of me as a mirror. How you treat me is how I will treat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/think-of-me-as-a-mirror-how-you-treat-me-is-how-i-will-treat-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Even If I Don’t See it Again Even if I don’t see it again.–nor ever feel it I know it is–and that if once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/even-if-i-don-t-see-it-again-even-if-i-don-t-see-it-again-nor-ever/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [“nations never see themselves clearly in the mirror, much less when war preys on their minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/nations-never-see-themselves-clearly-in-the-mirror-much-less-when-war/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [When people look in the mirror, sometimes they see are their shells in the mirror, nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-look-in-the-mirror-sometimes-they-see-are-their-shells-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mirror, mirror, here I stand. Who is the fairest in the land?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mirror-mirror-here-i-stand-who-is-the-fairest-in-the-land/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Maybe it begins the day you pledge allegiance, face the flag and suddenly clutch your left clavicle because you find a tender puff of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-johnson/maybe-it-begins-the-day-you-pledge-allegiance-face-the-flag-and/) [Marilyn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-johnson/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [I turned back to the mirror, seeing that there were no lines on it. It was empty. "What happened to my mirror?" I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/i-turned-back-to-the-mirror-seeing-that-there-were-no-lines-on-it-it/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [If you long for peace, act in peace and harmony. If you want the world to change, start with the person in the mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-long-for-peace-act-in-peace-and-harmony-if-you-want-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 2,876 Mirror quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But he’ll just say a bunch of smart-ass stuff before maybe telling you anything real. 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