--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Are you angry when someone’s armpits…" description: "\"“Are you angry when someone’s armpits stink or when their breath is bad? What would be the point? Having such a mouth and such armpits, there’s going t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/ryan-holiday-514_better-place_are-you-angry-when-someone-s-armpits-sti_586056.jpg" --- # Are you angry when someone’s armpits stink or when their… ![“Are you angry when someone’s armpits stink or when their breath is bad? What would be the point? Having such a mouth and such armpits, there’s going to be a smell emanating. You say, they must have sense, can’t they tell how they are offending others? Well, you have sense too, congratulations! So…” quote by Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/ryan-holiday-514_better-place_are-you-angry-when-someone-s-armpits-sti_586056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/ryan-holiday-514_better-place_are-you-angry-when-someone-s-armpits-sti_586056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/ryan-holiday-514_better-place_are-you-angry-when-someone-s-armpits-sti_586056.jpg) > ““Are you angry when someone’s armpits stink or when their breath is bad? What would be the point? Having such a mouth and such armpits, there’s going to be a smell emanating. You say, they must have sense, can’t they tell how they are offending others? Well, you have sense too, congratulations! So, use your natural reason to awaken theirs, show them, call it out. If the person will listen, you will have cured them without useless anger. No drama nor unseemly show required.” —MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 5.28 The person sitting next to you on the plane, the one who is loudly chattering and knocking around in your space? The one you’re grinding your teeth about, hating from the depth of your soul because they’re rude, ignorant, obnoxious? In these situations, you might feel it takes everything you have to restrain yourself from murdering them. It’s funny how that thought comes into our heads before, you know, politely asking them to stop, or making the minor scene of asking for a different seat. We’d rather be pissed off, bitter, raging inside than risk an awkward conversation that might actually help this person and make the world a better place. We don’t just want people to be better, we expect it to magically happen—that we can simply will other people to change, burning holes into their skull with our angry stare. Although when you think about it that way, it makes you wonder who the rude one actually is.”” [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It advises using calm reason to address others' offensive behavior rather than succumbing to anger, emphasizing constructive confrontation over resentment. **In simple terms:** Address rudeness with reason, not rage. Key Takeaway Confront politely, avoid bitterness. Themes self‑control communication empathy Mood reflective calm thoughtful Type advice philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - plane travel - office - public transport - family gatherings - social media Key Concepts Stoicism interpersonal ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn irritation into a helpful dialogue? - What would happen if you chose calm over resentment? A Different Perspective Anger can cloud judgment and damage relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Aurelius Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aurelius-meditations/) [Better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-place/) [Marcus Aurelius Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marcus-aurelius-meditations/) ## Related quotes > [Art thou angry with him whose armpits stink? Art thou angry with him whose mouth smells foul?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/art-thou-angry-with-him-whose-armpits-stink-art-thou-angry-with-him/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“From Rusticus … I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/from-rusticus-i-learned-to-read-carefully-and-not-be-satisfied-with-a/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Your principles can’t be extinguished unless you snuff out the thoughts that feed them, for it’s continually in your power to reignite new ones….…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/your-principles-can-t-be-extinguished-unless-you-snuff-out-the/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Erase the false impressions from your mind by constantly saying to yourself, I have it in my soul to keep out any evil, desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/erase-the-false-impressions-from-your-mind-by-constantly-saying-to/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Watch the stars in their courses and imagine yourself running alongside them. Think constantly on the changes of the elements into each other, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/watch-the-stars-in-their-courses-and-imagine-yourself-running/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Take a good hard look at people’s ruling principle, especially of the wise, what they run away from and what they seek out.” —MARCUS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/take-a-good-hard-look-at-people-s-ruling-principle-especially-of-the/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Here’s a way to think about what the masses regard as being ‘good’ things. If you would first start by setting your mind upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/here-s-a-way-to-think-about-what-the-masses-regard-as-being-good/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“All you need are these: certainty of judgment in the present moment; action for the common good in the present moment; and an attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/all-you-need-are-these-certainty-of-judgment-in-the-present-moment/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“June 16th NO SHAME IN NEEDING HELP “Don’t be ashamed of needing help. You have a duty to fulfill just like a soldier on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/june-16th-no-shame-in-needing-help-don-t-be-ashamed-of-needing-help/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Don’t let your reflection on the whole sweep of life crush you. Don’t fill your mind with all the bad things that might still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/don-t-let-your-reflection-on-the-whole-sweep-of-life-crush-you-don-t/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The best way to avenge yourself is to not be like that.” —MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 6.6 “How much better to heal than seek revenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-best-way-to-avenge-yourself-is-to-not-be-like-that-marcus/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Our life is what our thoughts make it. —Marcus Aurelius, Meditations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-langer/our-life-is-what-our-thoughts-make-it-marcus-aurelius-meditations/) [Ellen J. Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-langer/) > [“Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-obear/whenever-you-are-about-to-find-fault-with-someone-ask-yourself-the-2/) [Kathy Obear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-obear/) > [“An empty pageant; a stage play; flocks of sheep, herds of cattle; a bone flung among a pack of dogs; a crumb tossed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-garcia-martinez/an-empty-pageant-a-stage-play-flocks-of-sheep-herds-of-cattle-a-bone/) [Antonio Garcia Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-garcia-martinez/) > [When you're a confused 19-year-old filled with questions you can't even articulate and a kind of black rage that feeds at your heart from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-pizzolatto/when-you-re-a-confused-19-year-old-filled-with-questions-you-can-t/) [Nic Pizzolatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nic-pizzolatto/) ## More by Ryan Holiday > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“With a business, we take most failures less personally and understand they’re part of the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/with-a-business-we-take-most-failures-less-personally-and-understand/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Many creatives want to be just the creator, or only “the idea guy.” They like that because it’s sexy and because that’s what comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/many-creatives-want-to-be-just-the-creator-or-only-the-idea-guy-they/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Pretty much everyone's career starts the same way: with grunt work. Not just the cliched fetching of coffee, but other lowly tasks: taking notes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/pretty-much-everyone-s-career-starts-the-same-way-with-grunt-work-not/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The greats - they protect their sleep because it's where the best work comes from. They say no to things. They turn in when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-greats-they-protect-their-sleep-because-it-s-where-the-best-work/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Where little danger is apprehended, the more the enemy will be unprepared and consequently there is the fairest prospect of success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-little-danger-is-apprehended-the-more-the-enemy-will-be/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [We often learn the hard way that our world is ruled by external factors. We don't always get what is rightfully ours, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-often-learn-the-hard-way-that-our-world-is-ruled-by-external/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“From Rusticus … I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/from-rusticus-i-learned-to-read-carefully-and-not-be-satisfied-with-a/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [I wholeheartedly agree that many media 'standards' can feel disingenuous or, in fact, be a cover for less-than-honest behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/i-wholeheartedly-agree-that-many-media-standards-can-feel/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Remember: even what we get for free has a cost, if only in what we pay to store it—in our garages and in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/remember-even-what-we-get-for-free-has-a-cost-if-only-in-what-we-pay/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [It's your job to find a release and an outlet for the stress and the feelings. Never forget: the crazy stays at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-your-job-to-find-a-release-and-an-outlet-for-the-stress-and-the/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-the-head-goes-the-body-follows-perception-precedes-action-right/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The risks of speaking extemporaneously are apparent the first time you wing it and promptly put your foot in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-risks-of-speaking-extemporaneously-are-apparent-the-first-time/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) [Explore all 504 Ryan Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Are you angry when someone’s armpits stink or when their breath is bad? What would be the point? Having such a mouth and such armpits, there’s going to be a smell emanating. You say, they must have sense, can’t they tell how they are offending others? Well, you have sense too, congratulations! So, use your natural reason to awaken theirs, show them, call it out. If the person will listen, you will have cured them without useless anger. No drama nor unseemly show required.” —MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 5.28 The person sitting next to you on the plane, the one who is loudly chattering and knocking around in your space? The one you’re grinding your teeth about, hating from the depth of your soul because they’re rude, ignorant, obnoxious? In these situations, you might feel it takes everything you have to restrain yourself from murdering them. It’s funny how that thought comes into our heads before, you know, politely asking them to stop, or making the minor scene of asking for a different seat. We’d rather be pissed off, bitter, raging inside than risk an awkward conversation that might actually help this person and make the world a better place. We don’t just want people to be better, we expect it to magically happen—that we can simply will other people to change, burning holes into their skull with our angry stare. Although when you think about it that way, it makes you wonder who the rude one actually is.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Holiday" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/are-you-angry-when-someone-s-armpits-stink-or-when-their-breath-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/are-you-angry-when-someone-s-armpits-stink-or-when-their-breath-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/ryan-holiday-514_better-place_are-you-angry-when-someone-s-armpits-sti_586056.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/ryan-holiday-514_better-place_are-you-angry-when-someone-s-armpits-sti_586056.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/ryan-holiday-514_better-place_are-you-angry-when-someone-s-armpits-sti_586056.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Are you angry when someone’s armpits stink or when their breath is bad? What would be the point? Having such…” — Ryan Holiday", "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": "Ryan Holiday", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Are you angry when someone’s armpits...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/are-you-angry-when-someone-s-armpits-stink-or-when-their-breath-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/are-you-angry-when-someone-s-armpits-stink-or-when-their-breath-is/#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 } } ] } ```