---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A little bit of irreverence is necessary…"
description: "\"A little bit of irreverence is necessary to have any self-esteem at all. Not irreverence for people, but rather, for what other people think.\" — Sherry..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/sherry-argov-2627_bits_a-little-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary_116865.png"
---

#  A little bit of irreverence is necessary to have any…

![“A little bit of irreverence is necessary to have any self-esteem at all. Not irreverence for people, but rather, for what other people think.” quote by Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/sherry-argov-2627_bits_a-little-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary_116865.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/sherry-argov-2627_bits_a-little-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary_116865.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/sherry-argov-2627_bits_a-little-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary_116865.png)

> “A little bit of irreverence is necessary to have any self-esteem at all. Not irreverence for people, but rather, for what other people think.”

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A modest amount of irreverence toward others' opinions is essential for maintaining self‑esteem; it protects personal confidence from external judgment.

**In simple terms:** Questioning others' views safeguards self‑worth.

Key Takeaway

Irreverence toward judgment fuels confidence.

Themes

self‑esteem independence social perception

Mood

assertive reflective

Type

motivational psychological

When to use this quote

- during a performance review
- when facing social media criticism
- in a debate with friends

Key Concepts

psychology of self‑validation boundary setting

Practical Applications

- practice reframing criticism as opinion
- set personal standards separate from external feedback

Questions to Reflect On

- When does healthy skepticism become arrogance?
- How can you balance confidence with respect for others?

A Different Perspective

Excessive irreverence can become dismissiveness, harming relationships.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Esteem Irreverence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem-irreverence-1374230/) [Irreverence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irreverence/) [Irreverence Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irreverence-necessary-1374231/) [Irreverence People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irreverence-people-1374232/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [It's that a bit of irreverence is necessary to have any self-esteem at all. Not irreverence for people, but rather, for what other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/it-s-that-a-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary-to-have-any-self-esteem/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [Irreverence is a most necessary ingredient of religion. Not to speak of its importance in philosophy. Irreverence is the only way left to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/irreverence-is-a-most-necessary-ingredient-of-religion-not-to-speak/)

[Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/)

> [We need to restore the spirit of irreverence in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-boulez/we-need-to-restore-the-spirit-of-irreverence-in-music/)

[Pierre Boulez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-boulez/)

> [Irreverence is the lifeblood of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/irreverence-is-the-lifeblood-of-freedom/)

[Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/)

> [Impiety. Your irreverence toward my deity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/impiety-your-irreverence-toward-my-deity/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [“Little G loved stories about all things sacred laced with a bit of irreverence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaelene-mcelroy/little-g-loved-stories-about-all-things-sacred-laced-with-a-bit-of/)

[Michaelene McElroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaelene-mcelroy/)

> [Irreverence is a way of playing hooky and remaining present at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ruefle/irreverence-is-a-way-of-playing-hooky-and-remaining-present-at-the/)

[Mary Ruefle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ruefle/)

> [Impiety, n.: Your irreverence toward my deity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/impiety-n-your-irreverence-toward-my-deity/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [The more repression there is, the more need there is for irreverence toward those who are responsible for that repression. But too often sarcasm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krassner/the-more-repression-there-is-the-more-need-there-is-for-irreverence/)

[Paul Krassner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krassner/)

> [Irreverence is our only sacred cow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krassner/irreverence-is-our-only-sacred-cow/)

[Paul Krassner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krassner/)

> [True irreverence is disrespect for another man's god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/true-irreverence-is-disrespect-for-another-man-s-god/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [If we had reverence for our life, our life would take at once religious form. But as it is, in our filthy irreverence, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/if-we-had-reverence-for-our-life-our-life-would-take-at-once/)

[D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/)

> [Every act of irreverence for life, every act which neglects life, which is indifferent to and wastes life, is a step towards the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/every-act-of-irreverence-for-life-every-act-which-neglects-life-which/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“If there is any irreverence in my own work, I hope it is the irreverence I bear in mistrusting my own sincere self, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ruefle/if-there-is-any-irreverence-in-my-own-work-i-hope-it-is-the/)

[Mary Ruefle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ruefle/)

> [I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-behan/i-have-a-total-irreverence-for-anything-connected-with-society-except/)

[Brendan Behan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-behan/)

## More by Sherry Argov

> [When you meet someone who is truly great, he makes you believe you can be great, too. This is the kind of relationship you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/when-you-meet-someone-who-is-truly-great-he-makes-you-believe-you-can/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [He doesn't marry a woman who is perfect. He marries the woman who is interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/he-doesn-t-marry-a-woman-who-is-perfect-he-marries-the-woman-who-is/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [Whenever you are too worried about someone else's approval, that person loses respect for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/whenever-you-are-too-worried-about-someone-else-s-approval-that/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [And remember, it's always her fault. That's your story and you're sticking to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/and-remember-it-s-always-her-fault-that-s-your-story-and-you-re/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [If you've ever noticed, beauty pageants are a lot like county fairs. The farmers show the cows the same way. They walk their prized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/if-you-ve-ever-noticed-beauty-pageants-are-a-lot-like-county-fairs/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [When you meet someone who is truly great, he makes you believe you can be great, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/when-you-meet-someone-who-is-truly-great-he-makes-you-believe-you-can-2/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [“Overcompensating or being too eager to please will lessen a man’s respect; it will give the kiss of death to his attraction,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/overcompensating-or-being-too-eager-to-please-will-lessen-a-man-s/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [“Joking with a guy doesn’t make your motives any less obvious. Allison is a perfect example. She and Jamie had been out a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/joking-with-a-guy-doesn-t-make-your-motives-any-less-obvious-allison/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [You can tell how much someone respects you by how much he respects your opinion. If he doesn't respect your opinion, he won't respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/you-can-tell-how-much-someone-respects-you-by-how-much-he-respects/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [Relationship Principle 1 In romance, there's nothing more attractive to a man than a woman who has dignity and pride in who she is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/relationship-principle-1-in-romance-there-s-nothing-more-attractive/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [“The bitch is an empowered woman who derives tremendous strength from the ability to be an independent thinker, particularly in a world that still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/the-bitch-is-an-empowered-woman-who-derives-tremendous-strength-from/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [As soon as a man has his guard up, he will not fall in love or get attached. The only way he'll get attached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/as-soon-as-a-man-has-his-guard-up-he-will-not-fall-in-love-or-get/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [There's nothing more prized to a man than something he had to wait for, work for, or strugle a little bit to get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/there-s-nothing-more-prized-to-a-man-than-something-he-had-to-wait/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [Everybody has fallen down or been disappointed in love. Where you truly shine is when you get back up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/everybody-has-fallen-down-or-been-disappointed-in-love-where-you/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

> [Once you start laughing, you start healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/once-you-start-laughing-you-start-healing/)

[Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

[Explore all 157 Sherry Argov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/)

## More Bits quotes

> [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/)

[David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/)

> [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [I became a bit of a teacher's pet, and it became known in the school by both faculty and students that I really excelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/i-became-a-bit-of-a-teacher-s-pet-and-it-became-known-in-the-school/)

[Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/)

> [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/)

[Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/)

> [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/)

[Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/)

> [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/)

[Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/)

> [He referred to me as an 'insufferable puffed-up prat'. This is a bit rich coming from a man who actually married his own mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/he-referred-to-me-as-an-insufferable-puffed-up-prat-this-is-a-bit/)

[Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/)

> [It won't do you a bit of good to know everything if you don't do anything with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-fitzhugh/it-won-t-do-you-a-bit-of-good-to-know-everything-if-you-don-t-do/)

[Louise Fitzhugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-fitzhugh/)

> [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/)

[Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/)

> [I think that's the beauty of the current setup, is that Legends is meant to be a bit of a revolving door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-the-current-setup-is-that-legends-is/)

[Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/)

> [We, as pop stars, are people not androids. We’ve got views. I’ve got opinions and I don’t see why I shouldn’t use a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-meddows-taylor/we-as-pop-stars-are-people-not-androids-we-ve-got-views-i-ve-got/)

[Roger Meddows Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-meddows-taylor/)

> [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/)

[Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/)

> [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [When my name started popping up I was quite irritated and a little bit in shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snow/when-my-name-started-popping-up-i-was-quite-irritated-and-a-little/)

[Michael Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snow/)

> [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/)

[Browse all 5,709 Bits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A little bit of irreverence is necessary to have any self-esteem at all. Not irreverence for people, but rather, for what other people think.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sherry Argov"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/a-little-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary-to-have-any-self-esteem-at/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bits"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/a-little-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary-to-have-any-self-esteem-at/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/sherry-argov-2627_bits_a-little-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary_116865.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/sherry-argov-2627_bits_a-little-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary_116865.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/sherry-argov-2627_bits_a-little-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary_116865.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A little bit of irreverence is necessary to have any self-esteem at all. Not irreverence for people, but…” — Sherry Argov",
                "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": "Sherry Argov",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A little bit of irreverence is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/a-little-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary-to-have-any-self-esteem-at/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/a-little-bit-of-irreverence-is-necessary-to-have-any-self-esteem-at/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
