---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't envy guards. They're quick little…"
description: "\"I don't envy guards. They're quick little monkeys, those guys.\" — Steven Adams"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50c/steven-adams-22121_envy_i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little_193323.jpg"
---

#  I don't envy guards. They're quick little monkeys, those…

![“I don't envy guards. They're quick little monkeys, those guys.” quote by Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50c/steven-adams-22121_envy_i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little_193323.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50c/steven-adams-22121_envy_i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little_193323.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50c/steven-adams-22121_envy_i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little_193323.jpg)

> “I don't envy guards. They're quick little monkeys, those guys.”

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

## About This Quote

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

A player dismisses the role of security staff, likening them to mischievous monkeys, showing contempt.

**In simple terms:** He says guards are like quick little monkeys, expressing disdain.

Key Takeaway

Respect all roles, even those unseen.

Themes

disdain security humor workplace respect

Mood

critical contemplative

Type

opinion social commentary

When to use this quote

- Team meetings
- security briefings
- public statements

Key Concepts

Workplace hierarchy perception of labor team dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we belittle certain jobs?
- How can respect be cultivated?

A Different Perspective

Undervaluing essential staff harms morale.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Monkeys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monkeys/)

## Related quotes

> [Monkey will be monkeys little monkeys but if you take their banana they going take yours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/monkey-will-be-monkeys-little-monkeys-but-if-you-take-their-banana/)

MrAwesome

> [I have a toy poodle, Shadow. She's a little whippersnapper! And I love little monkeys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-hudgens/i-have-a-toy-poodle-shadow-she-s-a-little-whippersnapper-and-i-love/)

[Vanessa Hudgens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-hudgens/)

> [Now run along and play, but don't get into trouble. George promised to be good. But it is easy for little monkeys to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-a-rey/now-run-along-and-play-but-don-t-get-into-trouble-george-promised-to/)

H. A. Rey

> [Children are all more or less little monkeys in that they imitate everything they see. If their mother treats them exactly as she does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/children-are-all-more-or-less-little-monkeys-in-that-they-imitate/)

[Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/)

> [Green Day is politically brain-dead but I love the little monkeys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/green-day-is-politically-brain-dead-but-i-love-the-little-monkeys/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

> [This should be a written rule: Guards should always defer to centers. I don't care how good you are, those big guys make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clyde-drexler/this-should-be-a-written-rule-guards-should-always-defer-to-centers-i/)

[Clyde Drexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clyde-drexler/)

> [Waitresses, soldiers, rickshaw drivers, old ladies selling vegetables - my father would schmooze anybody. He was Clintonesque before the word existed. And, of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-anderson/waitresses-soldiers-rickshaw-drivers-old-ladies-selling-vegetables-my/)

[Scott Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-anderson/)

> [When you have guards that are versatile, it just makes it a lot easier in terms of who you put on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-harris/when-you-have-guards-that-are-versatile-it-just-makes-it-a-lot-easier/)

[Joe Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-harris/)

> [When we were in Sweden, there was a fan that hid in a bin. I think one of the security guards saw and tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zayn-malik/when-we-were-in-sweden-there-was-a-fan-that-hid-in-a-bin-i-think-one/)

[Zayn Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zayn-malik/)

> [When I played with the Knicks, I was just as important or just as smart as any other of the guards I played with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/when-i-played-with-the-knicks-i-was-just-as-important-or-just-as/)

[Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/)

> [Who is to guard the guards themselves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/who-is-to-guard-the-guards-themselves/)

[Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/)

> [The U.N. guards the vital principles entrenched in its charter, notably the sovereign equality of states and the inadmissibility of interference in their internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/the-u-n-guards-the-vital-principles-entrenched-in-its-charter-notably/)

[Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/)

> [Who will guard the guards ? If we're the guards of society, then who will watch us and make sure that we're not dangerous?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/who-will-guard-the-guards-if-we-re-the-guards-of-society-then-who/)

[Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/)

> [“The guards were pacing in front of the large tent. They were armed with swords, axes, and crossbows, which Ennion didn't think was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lewis-baillot/the-guards-were-pacing-in-front-of-the-large-tent-they-were-armed/)

[Jack Lewis Baillot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lewis-baillot/)

> [“Edward: I don't know whether to put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la or find more of your guards so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/edward-i-don-t-know-whether-to-put-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-go-la-la/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

## More by Steven Adams

> [I hope that basketball gains momentum and kids understand that you can actually make a living from it. Not just the N.B.A. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-hope-that-basketball-gains-momentum-and-kids-understand-that-you/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [My brothers bullied me, so I cried a lot as a kid. It was the only defense I had. Telling them to stop wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/my-brothers-bullied-me-so-i-cried-a-lot-as-a-kid-it-was-the-only/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [One thing that's good is I don't lose it if some old mate goes 'bang!' and hits me in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/one-thing-that-s-good-is-i-don-t-lose-it-if-some-old-mate-goes-bang/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [Defense is gonna help me in particular and help my team, so that's what I've really focused on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/defense-is-gonna-help-me-in-particular-and-help-my-team-so-that-s/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [My head is weirdly shaped, so I can't wear a headband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/my-head-is-weirdly-shaped-so-i-can-t-wear-a-headband/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [People just don't like me, and it's unfortunate, because I'm trying to get people to come down and visit New Zealand. I'm an ambassador…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/people-just-don-t-like-me-and-it-s-unfortunate-because-i-m-trying-to/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [All in all, we'll just do well as a team. We've got a great group of guys, and they're just willing to work. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/all-in-all-we-ll-just-do-well-as-a-team-we-ve-got-a-great-group-of/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [I just got addicted to getting better. My coach gave me a goal to get a tip dunk in a game - you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-just-got-addicted-to-getting-better-my-coach-gave-me-a-goal-to-get/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [I seem to get a general reaction at just, like, 'Oh! A mustache!' but mostly people are fine with it. But I don't actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-seem-to-get-a-general-reaction-at-just-like-oh-a-mustache-but/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [New Zealand has better food - sorry, America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/new-zealand-has-better-food-sorry-america/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [Of course cake is not bread. Is this why Americans are fat? You confuse cake with bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/of-course-cake-is-not-bread-is-this-why-americans-are-fat-you-confuse/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [If I eat a food and throw it up, I'm off that food for life. It sucks. I've actually had some favorite foods that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/if-i-eat-a-food-and-throw-it-up-i-m-off-that-food-for-life-it-sucks-i/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [I stuck with a mustache because... do you know Magnum P.I.?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-stuck-with-a-mustache-because-do-you-know-magnum-p-i/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [I don't pay attention to Australia, mate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-don-t-pay-attention-to-australia-mate/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [I was upset about getting $40 haircuts, like, every month. That's a lot of money, and so, man, that's a lot of food. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-was-upset-about-getting-40-haircuts-like-every-month-that-s-a-lot/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

[Explore all 28 Steven Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

## More Envy quotes

> [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/)

> [“He often remembered his dad's admonition that envy was mental theft. If you coveted another man's possessions, Dad said, then you should be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-often-remembered-his-dad-s-admonition-that-envy-was-mental-theft/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/)

[Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/)

> [There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of one's fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/there-is-no-sweeter-sound-than-the-crumbling-of-one-s-fellow-man/)

[Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/)

> [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [“Is it not strange that the more someone has, the less he feels he has? Envy can never be sated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-wheeler/is-it-not-strange-that-the-more-someone-has-the-less-he-feels-he-has/)

[Jeff Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-wheeler/)

> [I avoid envy at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-avoid-envy-at-all-costs/)

[Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/)

> [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/)

[Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/)

> [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [“Who would have thought you had so many supporters?" she whispered. "Not mine, my love. Yours. I had not a one till you started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-sinclair/who-would-have-thought-you-had-so-many-supporters-she-whispered-not/)

[Michele Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-sinclair/)

> [“Treachery is always a hairy caterpillar bred of a small butterfly called envy, no matter how lofty the principles involved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fazil-iskander/treachery-is-always-a-hairy-caterpillar-bred-of-a-small-butterfly/)

Fazil Iskander

> [Yes, Clay Matthews has a long, golden, Fabio-esque flowing mane that most women would chick-slap someone for. And yes, the shiny, beautiful, dark locks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-foudy/yes-clay-matthews-has-a-long-golden-fabio-esque-flowing-mane-that/)

[Julie Foudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-foudy/)

> [“I have known many true connoisseurs, with excellent tastes that range across the humanities and the culinary arts--and they never fail to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/i-have-known-many-true-connoisseurs-with-excellent-tastes-that-range/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

[Browse all 2,111 Envy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't envy guards. They're quick little monkeys, those guys.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Steven Adams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little-monkeys-those-guys/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Envy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little-monkeys-those-guys/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50c/steven-adams-22121_envy_i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little_193323.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50c/steven-adams-22121_envy_i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little_193323.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50c/steven-adams-22121_envy_i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little_193323.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't envy guards. They're quick little monkeys, those guys.” — Steven Adams",
                "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": "Steven Adams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't envy guards. They're quick...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little-monkeys-those-guys/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little-monkeys-those-guys/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```