--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the history of the world, telling…" description: "\"“In the history of the world, telling someone to ‘calm down’ has never done anything but piss them off more.”\" — Sarah Beth Durst" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9db/sarah-beth-durst-10639_calm_in-the-history-of-the-world-telling-some_630071.jpg" --- # In the history of the world, telling someone to ‘calm… ![“In the history of the world, telling someone to ‘calm down’ has never done anything but piss them off more.” quote by Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9db/sarah-beth-durst-10639_calm_in-the-history-of-the-world-telling-some_630071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9db/sarah-beth-durst-10639_calm_in-the-history-of-the-world-telling-some_630071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9db/sarah-beth-durst-10639_calm_in-the-history-of-the-world-telling-some_630071.jpg) > ““In the history of the world, telling someone to ‘calm down’ has never done anything but piss them off more.”” [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Telling someone to calm down often escalates anger rather than soothing them. **In simple terms:** “Calm down” can worsen anger. Key Takeaway Use empathy, not commands. Themes empathy communication conflict Mood empathetic practical Type advice psychological When to use this quote - customer service - relationship counseling - parenting - team management Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to listen than to advise? - How can you de‑escalate without saying “calm down”? A Different Perspective Some may need space before calming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I keep telling myself to calm down, to take less of an interest in things and not to get so excited, but I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-adie/i-keep-telling-myself-to-calm-down-to-take-less-of-an-interest-in/) [Kate Adie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-adie/) > [“Mary Karr once wrote, “In the entire history of anxiety worldwide, telling someone to calm down has worked zero times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-lowe/mary-karr-once-wrote-in-the-entire-history-of-anxiety-worldwide/) Jaime Lowe > [“I’m not your sweetness and I’m getting god damn tired of men telling me to calm down. I’m scared shitless and have a weapon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-prater/i-m-not-your-sweetness-and-i-m-getting-god-damn-tired-of-men-telling/) Celeste Prater > [Telling me to calm down is the easiest way to get me to freak the fuck out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/telling-me-to-calm-down-is-the-easiest-way-to-get-me-to-freak-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My acting coach I've got here, Richard Lawson, he's been doing good, just telling me to calm down sometimes and just be me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/my-acting-coach-i-ve-got-here-richard-lawson-he-s-been-doing-good/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [Everyone is calm and collected but I am telling you something - I am not calm and I am not collected. It's a sick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-stafford-smith/everyone-is-calm-and-collected-but-i-am-telling-you-something-i-am/) Clive Stafford Smith > [“You'd better have a firm foundation when you go out into the world. There's no telling what you'll run into.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-b-ross/you-d-better-have-a-firm-foundation-when-you-go-out-into-the-world/) [Ann B. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-b-ross/) > [Storytellers, by the very act of telling, communicate a radical learning that changes lives and the world: telling stories is a universally accessible means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cavanaugh/storytellers-by-the-very-act-of-telling-communicate-a-radical/) Chris Cavanaugh > [My favorite thing in the world is telling stories, and most of what I do is telling stories through music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/my-favorite-thing-in-the-world-is-telling-stories-and-most-of-what-i/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [When all the world is telling you 'no', tell yourself 'yes' ten times louder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-all-the-world-is-telling-you-no-tell-yourself-yes-ten-times/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am in a very peculiar business: I travel all over the world telling people what they should already know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-randi/i-am-in-a-very-peculiar-business-i-travel-all-over-the-world-telling/) [James Randi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-randi/) > [“He has told me, “I am only telling you what no one else will,” but of course, he is telling me what the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/he-has-told-me-i-am-only-telling-you-what-no-one-else-will-but-of/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [Humans think in stories, and we try to make sense of the world by telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/humans-think-in-stories-and-we-try-to-make-sense-of-the-world-by/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [The world has to tell us. In other words, we don't have an agenda or a battle plan or a map or a direction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/the-world-has-to-tell-us-in-other-words-we-don-t-have-an-agenda-or-a/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [The worst thing in the world is telling yourself you can't do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mitchell/the-worst-thing-in-the-world-is-telling-yourself-you-can-t-do/) [Jason Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mitchell/) ## More by Sarah Beth Durst > [“I can't be bound by a past self I don't remember.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/i-can-t-be-bound-by-a-past-self-i-don-t-remember/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“She'd always been a little excitable, a little more passionate about books than your average person, but she was supposed to be -- she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/she-d-always-been-a-little-excitable-a-little-more-passionate-about/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“ 'Hubba-Hubba' never slips out," Zeke said. "You selected those words with deliberate intent, and I question your commitment to the respectable use of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/hubba-hubba-never-slips-out-zeke-said-you-selected-those-words-with/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“My manly strength will not allow me to choose a less unyielding material," Matt said. "I have rocks for muscles. You fear my strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/my-manly-strength-will-not-allow-me-to-choose-a-less-unyielding/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“Whether you made your choices with your eyes open or closed, they’re made. It’s not time to regret them; it’s time to live with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/whether-you-made-your-choices-with-your-eyes-open-or-closed-they-re/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“Both instances, sweet. Also stupid, which pretty much defined Evan: sweet and stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/both-instances-sweet-also-stupid-which-pretty-much-defined-evan-sweet/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“Impressive vocabulary," Korbyn said. "I feel as though I should take notes." "I think she's making them up," Liyana said. "Half of them are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/impressive-vocabulary-korbyn-said-i-feel-as-though-i-should-take/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“Last period of the day was new gym class. It was her only class that didn't include Evan, which was a relief. She should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/last-period-of-the-day-was-new-gym-class-it-was-her-only-class-that/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“To you,” he said, “I surrender my heart and soul.” She rolled her eyes. “Very romantic, considering you have neither.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/to-you-he-said-i-surrender-my-heart-and-soul-she-rolled-her-eyes-very/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“A unicorn stepped onto the path. Kiela gasped. Caz breathed, "Whoa." It was like moonlit water, so bright that tears sprang into Kiela's eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/a-unicorn-stepped-onto-the-path-kiela-gasped-caz-breathed-whoa-it-was/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“He also looked very handsome, even though there was a smear of dirt on his gold-hued cheek that she very much wanted to wipe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/he-also-looked-very-handsome-even-though-there-was-a-smear-of-dirt-on/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“Across the water, she saw a herd of merhorses rise and fall with the waves. Her breath caught in her throat. Half horse and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/across-the-water-she-saw-a-herd-of-merhorses-rise-and-fall-with-the/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“Glaring at the unicorn silhouette, she decided she hated coincidences. Or cosmic signs. Whichever it was. She felt as if the universe were laughing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/glaring-at-the-unicorn-silhouette-she-decided-she-hated-coincidences/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“Imagine that it's sugar," Korbyn said. 'You're riding across candy.' "Salt can never be sugar," Fennik said. "We should talk about the definition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/imagine-that-it-s-sugar-korbyn-said-you-re-riding-across-candy-salt/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) > [“You do realize that you are addressing the emperor of the Crescent Empire." "And you are addressing a free woman of the desert. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/you-do-realize-that-you-are-addressing-the-emperor-of-the-crescent/) [Sarah Beth Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) [Explore all 64 Sarah Beth Durst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/) ## More Calm quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“After the storm, reigns the calm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simdi-onuora/after-the-storm-reigns-the-calm/) Simdi Onuora > [So mightiest powers buy deepest calms are fed, And sleep, how oft, in things that gentlest be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-procter/so-mightiest-powers-buy-deepest-calms-are-fed-and-sleep-how-oft-in/) [Bryan Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-procter/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-practice-aikido-fully-you-must-calm-the-spirit-and-go-back-to-the/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ben-ari/the-goal-of-the-operation-is-to-send-gaza-back-to-the-middle-ages/) Michael Ben-Ari > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When I was a child I truly loved: Unthinking love as calm and deep As the North Sea. But I have lived, And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/when-i-was-a-child-i-truly-loved-unthinking-love-as-calm-and-deep-as/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [~Keep Calm and Swagger On~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/keep-calm-and-swagger-on/) Im Nothing > [Ride your horse calm, forward and then make him straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-zettl/ride-your-horse-calm-forward-and-then-make-him-straight/) [Walter Zettl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-zettl/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Browse all 3,074 Calm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In the history of the world, telling someone to ‘calm down’ has never done anything but piss them off more.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Beth Durst" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/in-the-history-of-the-world-telling-someone-to-calm-down-has-never/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Calm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/in-the-history-of-the-world-telling-someone-to-calm-down-has-never/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9db/sarah-beth-durst-10639_calm_in-the-history-of-the-world-telling-some_630071.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9db/sarah-beth-durst-10639_calm_in-the-history-of-the-world-telling-some_630071.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9db/sarah-beth-durst-10639_calm_in-the-history-of-the-world-telling-some_630071.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the history of the world, telling someone to ‘calm down’ has never done anything but piss them off more.” — Sarah Beth Durst", "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": "Sarah Beth Durst", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-durst/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In the history of the world,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/in-the-history-of-the-world-telling-someone-to-calm-down-has-never/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-durst/in-the-history-of-the-world-telling-someone-to-calm-down-has-never/#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 } } ] } ```