--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A quick comeback is usually meant as…" description: "\"A quick comeback is usually meant as license to be mean.\" — Steven Petrow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/steven-petrow-20998_comeback_a-quick-comeback-is-usually-meant-as-lic_3222197.jpg" --- # A quick comeback is usually meant as license to be mean. ![“A quick comeback is usually meant as license to be mean.” quote by Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/steven-petrow-20998_comeback_a-quick-comeback-is-usually-meant-as-lic_3222197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/steven-petrow-20998_comeback_a-quick-comeback-is-usually-meant-as-lic_3222197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/steven-petrow-20998_comeback_a-quick-comeback-is-usually-meant-as-lic_3222197.jpg) > “A quick comeback is usually meant as license to be mean.” [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A quick comeback often serves as a pretext for rudeness, revealing underlying hostility. **In simple terms:** Comebacks can be excuses to be mean. Key Takeaway Think before you retort. Themes communication rudeness social interaction Mood cautious thoughtful Type advice observational When to use this quote - online comments - face‑to‑face arguments - debates Key Concepts psychology conflict resolution language use Questions to Reflect On - When is a comeback harmless? - How do you handle a sharp reply? A Different Perspective It may ignore that humor can be playful, not always harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comeback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comeback/) [Rude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rude/) ## Related quotes > [Liberty never meant the license to do anything at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/liberty-never-meant-the-license-to-do-anything-at-will/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [License they mean when they cry Liberty; For who loves that, must first be wise and good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/license-they-mean-when-they-cry-liberty-for-who-loves-that-must-first/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The best comeback when ur mom says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-comeback-when-ur-mom-says/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sex and the City: The Movie' - a bit like the All Saints comeback, and the return of the Jammy Dodger, it feels a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/sex-and-the-city-the-movie-a-bit-like-the-all-saints-comeback-and-the/) [Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/) > [Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordell-hull/never-insult-an-alligator-until-after-you-have-crossed-the-river/) [Cordell Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordell-hull/) > [A brilliant 1989 album, Oh Mercy; some career retrospectives; and two albums of American folk songs, with just Bob Dylan and his guitar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/a-brilliant-1989-album-oh-mercy-some-career-retrospectives-and-two/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [You may be in a tough time but that setback is simply a setup for a greater comeback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-may-be-in-a-tough-time-but-that-setback-is-simply-a-setup-for-a/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I don't have any particular desire to see words making a comeback. They are of their era, after all, and that is their identity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/i-don-t-have-any-particular-desire-to-see-words-making-a-comeback/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) > [Some people don't like the 'comeback' because that suggests they went somewhere, which they didn't. That isn't what I mean. In my mind, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/some-people-don-t-like-the-comeback-because-that-suggests-they-went/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [To be honest, my videos are for myself. I didn't look at social media as a vehicle for my comeback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sameera-reddy/to-be-honest-my-videos-are-for-myself-i-didn-t-look-at-social-media/) [Sameera Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sameera-reddy/) > [Whether the issue was black political power or nuclear power, Scott-Heron didn't mince words. His comeback record, 'I'm New Here,' doesn't mince words either,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hermes/whether-the-issue-was-black-political-power-or-nuclear-power-scott/) [Will Hermes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hermes/) > [Cancer reminds me of a very bad but tenacious performer who, although no one wants to see, insists on doing an encore, having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/cancer-reminds-me-of-a-very-bad-but-tenacious-performer-who-although/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [We have invented a new human right here - the right to return home after a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/we-have-invented-a-new-human-right-here-the-right-to-return-home/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [I think it takes about a million words to make a writer. I mean that you're going to throw away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pournelle/i-think-it-takes-about-a-million-words-to-make-a-writer-i-mean-that/) [Jerry Pournelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pournelle/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) ## More by Steven Petrow > [More people use guns to kill themselves than to kill others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/more-people-use-guns-to-kill-themselves-than-to-kill-others/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [Putting our heads in the sand is not a wise strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/putting-our-heads-in-the-sand-is-not-a-wise-strategy/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [Rely on facts, figures, principles of equality and fairness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/rely-on-facts-figures-principles-of-equality-and-fairness/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [You do not need to be female to be offended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/you-do-not-need-to-be-female-to-be-offended/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [The right to be married was hard earned by the marriage equality movement and one of its "perks" is the right to use the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/the-right-to-be-married-was-hard-earned-by-the-marriage-equality/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [The murkiness of Donald Trump's position is really what distinguishes him from other Republican nominees and contenders who have been steadfast in their opposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/the-murkiness-of-donald-trump-s-position-is-really-what-distinguishes/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [You know, my goal is not to convince you that I'm right or that you're wrong. About homophobia. Gun violence. Racism. Whatever the issue.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/you-know-my-goal-is-not-to-convince-you-that-i-m-right-or-that-you-re/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [To parents who find a child's disclosure about sexual or gender identity challenging, I always urge what I'd call "moderated" honesty. If you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/to-parents-who-find-a-child-s-disclosure-about-sexual-or-gender/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [When someone transitions you should refer to them by their new name both in the present and with references back in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/when-someone-transitions-you-should-refer-to-them-by-their-new-name/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [As for LGBTQ people supporting Donald Trump (or other Republicans), I do understand that some of them value his stances on immigration, climate change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/as-for-lgbtq-people-supporting-donald-trump-or-other-republicans-i-do/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [A big question that we have is that we do not understand why the comfort of the few should override the comfort of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/a-big-question-that-we-have-is-that-we-do-not-understand-why-the/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [Most pedophiles are straight not gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/most-pedophiles-are-straight-not-gay/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [I'll tell you what gives me hope. After the struggle for marriage equality, the LGBTQ community has built some very powerful organizations; in particular,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/i-ll-tell-you-what-gives-me-hope-after-the-struggle-for-marriage/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [There's nothing you can say that won't make you seem ungrateful or rude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/there-s-nothing-you-can-say-that-won-t-make-you-seem-ungrateful-or/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [Okay, so here's my question: When did civility become incompatible with protest? Why do some people consider civility an antonym - anathema, even -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/okay-so-here-s-my-question-when-did-civility-become-incompatible-with/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) [Explore all 30 Steven Petrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) ## More Comeback quotes > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [I think it takes about a million words to make a writer. I mean that you're going to throw away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pournelle/i-think-it-takes-about-a-million-words-to-make-a-writer-i-mean-that/) [Jerry Pournelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pournelle/) > [We have invented a new human right here - the right to return home after a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/we-have-invented-a-new-human-right-here-the-right-to-return-home/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [Cancer reminds me of a very bad but tenacious performer who, although no one wants to see, insists on doing an encore, having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/cancer-reminds-me-of-a-very-bad-but-tenacious-performer-who-although/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [Whether the issue was black political power or nuclear power, Scott-Heron didn't mince words. His comeback record, 'I'm New Here,' doesn't mince words either,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hermes/whether-the-issue-was-black-political-power-or-nuclear-power-scott/) [Will Hermes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hermes/) > [To be honest, my videos are for myself. I didn't look at social media as a vehicle for my comeback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sameera-reddy/to-be-honest-my-videos-are-for-myself-i-didn-t-look-at-social-media/) [Sameera Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sameera-reddy/) > [Some people don't like the 'comeback' because that suggests they went somewhere, which they didn't. That isn't what I mean. In my mind, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/some-people-don-t-like-the-comeback-because-that-suggests-they-went/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [I don't have any particular desire to see words making a comeback. They are of their era, after all, and that is their identity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/i-don-t-have-any-particular-desire-to-see-words-making-a-comeback/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) > [You may be in a tough time but that setback is simply a setup for a greater comeback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-may-be-in-a-tough-time-but-that-setback-is-simply-a-setup-for-a/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [A brilliant 1989 album, Oh Mercy; some career retrospectives; and two albums of American folk songs, with just Bob Dylan and his guitar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/a-brilliant-1989-album-oh-mercy-some-career-retrospectives-and-two/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordell-hull/never-insult-an-alligator-until-after-you-have-crossed-the-river/) [Cordell Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordell-hull/) > [Sex and the City: The Movie' - a bit like the All Saints comeback, and the return of the Jammy Dodger, it feels a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/sex-and-the-city-the-movie-a-bit-like-the-all-saints-comeback-and-the/) [Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/) > [The best comeback when ur mom says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-comeback-when-ur-mom-says/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was never desperate to make a comeback. But winning 'Bigg Boss' assured faith in me that I have a good reputation in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-roy/i-was-never-desperate-to-make-a-comeback-but-winning-bigg-boss/) [Rahul Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-roy/) > [If they had said my writing wasn't good enough, fair enough, that's an opinion. But to say it's too complex is to insult the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/if-they-had-said-my-writing-wasn-t-good-enough-fair-enough-that-s-an/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) [Browse all 365 Comeback quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comeback/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A quick comeback is usually meant as license to be mean.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Petrow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/a-quick-comeback-is-usually-meant-as-license-to-be-mean/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comeback" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/a-quick-comeback-is-usually-meant-as-license-to-be-mean/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/steven-petrow-20998_comeback_a-quick-comeback-is-usually-meant-as-lic_3222197.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/steven-petrow-20998_comeback_a-quick-comeback-is-usually-meant-as-lic_3222197.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/steven-petrow-20998_comeback_a-quick-comeback-is-usually-meant-as-lic_3222197.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A quick comeback is usually meant as license to be mean.” — Steven Petrow", "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 Petrow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A quick comeback is usually meant...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/a-quick-comeback-is-usually-meant-as-license-to-be-mean/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/a-quick-comeback-is-usually-meant-as-license-to-be-mean/#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 } } ] } ```