--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't shake hands with a clenched…" description: "\"“You can't shake hands with a clenched first,' Sayegh said.”\" — Shaun David Hutchinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/shaun-david-hutchinson-8024_shake-hands_you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-fi_2773511.jpg" --- # You can't shake hands with a clenched first,' Sayegh said. ![“You can't shake hands with a clenched first,' Sayegh said.” quote by Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/shaun-david-hutchinson-8024_shake-hands_you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-fi_2773511.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/shaun-david-hutchinson-8024_shake-hands_you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-fi_2773511.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/shaun-david-hutchinson-8024_shake-hands_you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-fi_2773511.jpg) > ““You can't shake hands with a clenched first,' Sayegh said.”” [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He warns that aggression prevents genuine connection and intimacy. **In simple terms:** Aggression blocks true connection. Key Takeaway Practice openness and vulnerability. Themes relationships communication vulnerability Mood thoughtful empathetic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - friendships - romantic relationships - teamwork - conflict resolution Key Concepts Psychology of aggression interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What habits keep you from being open? - How can you respond to aggression constructively? A Different Perspective Changing behavior is difficult without self‑awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clenched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clenched/) [Clenched Sayegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clenched-sayegh-3258647/) [Hands Clenched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-clenched-461469/) [Sayegh Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sayegh-said-3258648/) [Shake Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shake-hands/) ## Related quotes > [You can't shake hands with a clenched fist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-fist/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [“His hands clenched. "Sugar, I'm this close to tearing off your clothes and teaching you exactly how badly I take you keeping secrets from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/his-hands-clenched-sugar-i-m-this-close-to-tearing-off-your-clothes/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [ . . . \[T\]o live not with hands clenched to grasp, to strike, to hold tight to a life that is always slipping away… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/t-o-live-not-with-hands-clenched-to-grasp-to-strike-to-hold-tight-to/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“The air felt thick with the feeling between us, like it was filling the room: a room full of our carnal heat, our hot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-thrust/the-air-felt-thick-with-the-feeling-between-us-like-it-was-filling/) [Fiona Thrust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-thrust/) > [“Becky," he said. "Get in the car." "Becca," she corrected automatically. Her voice was breathy, her hands still clenched in fists. "For god's sake-"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/becky-he-said-get-in-the-car-becca-she-corrected-automatically-her/) [Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/) > [under his dripping hair, he was as white as parchment, his hands clenched at his sides so tightly that they were shaking. It seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/under-his-dripping-hair-he-was-as-white-as-parchment-his-hands/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I sit, but I'm still stiff as a board. My hands are clenched tight, as if I'm holding my tears in my palms and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-morrill/i-sit-but-i-m-still-stiff-as-a-board-my-hands-are-clenched-tight-as/) [Lauren Morrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-morrill/) > [“I would not have taken you on.” Jack’s hands were clenched tightly in his lap, working against each other, sweating. Officious little prick, officious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-would-not-have-taken-you-on-jack-s-hands-were-clenched-tightly-in/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Mary’s hands clenched. She’d been through fire, what with a murder, and white supremacists. And what about Caroline, who had gone undercover to rescue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rowland/mary-s-hands-clenched-she-d-been-through-fire-what-with-a-murder-and/) [Susan Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rowland/) > [We hold each other's lives in our open hands, not in clenched fists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/we-hold-each-other-s-lives-in-our-open-hands-not-in-clenched-fists/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“Now that child reminds me of something our sages taught. When a baby comes into the world, it's hands are clenched, right? Like this?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/now-that-child-reminds-me-of-something-our-sages-taught-when-a-baby/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Motherfucker! York was going to punch the shit out of Griffin directly after this session was over. If he so much as laid a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlene-hartnady/motherfucker-york-was-going-to-punch-the-shit-out-of-griffin-directly/) [Charlene Hartnady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlene-hartnady/) > [When a baby comes into the world, its hands are clenched, right? Like this?" He made a fist. "Why? Because a baby not knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/when-a-baby-comes-into-the-world-its-hands-are-clenched-right-like/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“She was looking, not at the spider, but at Neville, and Harry, following her gaze, saw that Neville’s hands were clenched upon the desk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/she-was-looking-not-at-the-spider-but-at-neville-and-harry-following/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Damen was breathing hard, his hands clenched into fists. How dare you talk that way about my father. The words were on his lips.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/damen-was-breathing-hard-his-hands-clenched-into-fists-how-dare-you/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) ## More by Shaun David Hutchinson > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“When the days are darkest, dear, you latch on to happiness wherever you find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/when-the-days-are-darkest-dear-you-latch-on-to-happiness-wherever-you/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“Soon, the whispers would solidify and their version of the truth would be the only one that mattered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/soon-the-whispers-would-solidify-and-their-version-of-the-truth-would/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“I loved how the sun and salt spray perfused my skin, filling me with the memory of light. God surely meant for humans to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/i-loved-how-the-sun-and-salt-spray-perfused-my-skin-filling-me-with/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“You have to write about yourself before you can write about anything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/you-have-to-write-about-yourself-before-you-can-write-about-anything/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“I danced from group to group with ease. That’s always been one of my gifts. The ability to move around like a social chameleon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/i-danced-from-group-to-group-with-ease-that-s-always-been-one-of-my/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“Like, if people shined, some would shine brighter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/like-if-people-shined-some-would-shine-brighter/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“I tried to think of the right thing to say, but sometimes the right thing to say is nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/i-tried-to-think-of-the-right-thing-to-say-but-sometimes-the-right/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“When we died, the only things we’d leave behind of importance were our deeds. Our corpses would rot and our treasured belongings would wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/when-we-died-the-only-things-we-d-leave-behind-of-importance-were-our/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“I know,” I say, slapping the ash off my palm. The words rush from my mouth before she says them. It’s easier to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/i-know-i-say-slapping-the-ash-off-my-palm-the-words-rush-from-my/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“If a kid looks like he doesn't give a shit, it's not because he doesn't believe in himself anymore; it's because no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/if-a-kid-looks-like-he-doesn-t-give-a-shit-it-s-not-because-he-doesn/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“If she had any fucks to give about what we thought of her, she hoarded them jealously.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/if-she-had-any-fucks-to-give-about-what-we-thought-of-her-she-hoarded/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“Sometimes when a star collapses, it becomes a fiery supernova, but other times the core density is so great that it quietly consumes itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/sometimes-when-a-star-collapses-it-becomes-a-fiery-supernova-but/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“The only thing in life that's forever is death. You can change your mind about everything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/the-only-thing-in-life-that-s-forever-is-death-you-can-change-your/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“In this bubble of time, I wasn't a freak and he wasn't a bully, and we could be friends without anyone knowing, and at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/in-this-bubble-of-time-i-wasn-t-a-freak-and-he-wasn-t-a-bully-and-we/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) [Explore all 85 Shaun David Hutchinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) ## More Shake Hands quotes > [Brothers don't shake hands, brothers gotta HUG!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-farley/brothers-don-t-shake-hands-brothers-gotta-hug/) [Chris Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-farley/) > [During a campaign, the trick is to spend no more than 15 to 30 seconds with anyone and to keep moving so that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-navarro/during-a-campaign-the-trick-is-to-spend-no-more-than-15-to-30-seconds/) [Peter Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-navarro/) > [He was one of those guys that think they're being a pansy if they don't break around forty of your fingers when they shake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-was-one-of-those-guys-that-think-they-re-being-a-pansy-if-they-don/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Research by the Income Center for Tradeshows found that people are twice as likely to remember you if you shake hands. According to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/research-by-the-income-center-for-tradeshows-found-that-people-are/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Science and religion will meet and shake hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/science-and-religion-will-meet-and-shake-hands/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“I have a secret handshake, like the Masons. Except mine is like a true secret in that nobody else knows about it, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-have-a-secret-handshake-like-the-masons-except-mine-is-like-a-true/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [When I return to the world, I will be a man. I will walk among you. I will lick my lips with my small,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-stein/when-i-return-to-the-world-i-will-be-a-man-i-will-walk-among-you-i/) [Garth Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-stein/) > [“The most secretive news that can make you to shake hands with great people is humility. Pride on the other way is a dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-most-secretive-news-that-can-make-you-to-shake-hands-with-great/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I am still ready to shake hands with anyone who designs a better assault rifle than mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/i-am-still-ready-to-shake-hands-with-anyone-who-designs-a-better/) [Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/) > [I remember very clearly someone saying, 'Don't shake hands with the cactus,' and I thought, 'Well, why not? What could possibly go wrong?' Shaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-remember-very-clearly-someone-saying-don-t-shake-hands-with-the/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Pop Bottles, Shake Hands, Recognize I'm the Man. I tried to tell 'em but they won't understand that Pimpin' Ain't Easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pop-bottles-shake-hands-recognize-i-m-the-man-i-tried-to-tell-em-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I shake everybody's hand before the game, but Oklahoma City, they don't shake hands. Only some of them, but I don't think they really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-shake-everybody-s-hand-before-the-game-but-oklahoma-city-they-don-t/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [“I stood up to go shake hands with him and I don’t remember anything else. What I do recall is the crowd yelling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/i-stood-up-to-go-shake-hands-with-him-and-i-don-t-remember-anything/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [The essential relationship across American history between black people and white people is one of exploitation and one of plunder. This is not, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/the-essential-relationship-across-american-history-between-black/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [I will always remember that. English clubs are physical and tough, and they play strong for the whole game. But afterwards they shake hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-will-always-remember-that-english-clubs-are-physical-and-tough-and/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) [Browse all 109 Shake Hands quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shake-hands/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You can't shake hands with a clenched first,' Sayegh said.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shaun David Hutchinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-first-sayegh-said/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Shake Hands" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-first-sayegh-said/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/shaun-david-hutchinson-8024_shake-hands_you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-fi_2773511.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/shaun-david-hutchinson-8024_shake-hands_you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-fi_2773511.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/shaun-david-hutchinson-8024_shake-hands_you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-fi_2773511.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't shake hands with a clenched first,' Sayegh said.” — Shaun David Hutchinson", "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": "Shaun David Hutchinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You can't shake hands with a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-first-sayegh-said/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/you-can-t-shake-hands-with-a-clenched-first-sayegh-said/#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 } } ] } ```