--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody certainly has the right to…" description: "\"Everybody certainly has the right to defend themselves. That's not to say that they should defy common sense by avoiding or diffusing confrontation. An..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/steven-seagal-10758_avoiding_everybody-certainly-has-the-right-to-def_99897.jpg" --- # Everybody certainly has the right to defend themselves… ![“Everybody certainly has the right to defend themselves. That's not to say that they should defy common sense by avoiding or diffusing confrontation. And that's very, very important.” quote by Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/steven-seagal-10758_avoiding_everybody-certainly-has-the-right-to-def_99897.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/steven-seagal-10758_avoiding_everybody-certainly-has-the-right-to-def_99897.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/steven-seagal-10758_avoiding_everybody-certainly-has-the-right-to-def_99897.jpg) > “Everybody certainly has the right to defend themselves. That's not to say that they should defy common sense by avoiding or diffusing confrontation. And that's very, very important.” [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Everyone has a right to self‑defense, but that right does not justify reckless confrontation; common sense should guide how we protect ourselves. **In simple terms:** Defend yourself wisely, not recklessly. Key Takeaway Balance rights with prudence. Themes self‑defense common sense rights Mood cautious assertive Type ethical practical When to use this quote - a homeowner confronting a burglar - a driver avoiding a road rage incident - a citizen responding to a verbal threat Key Concepts ethical limits risk assessment Practical Applications - Assess threat level before acting; de‑escalate when possible Questions to Reflect On - When does self‑defense become unnecessary aggression? - How can we train to recognize proportional responses? A Different Perspective In some emergencies, immediate action may outweigh cautious deliberation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Confrontation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confrontation/) ## Related quotes > [I did not defend myself. I say a life for a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ellis/i-did-not-defend-myself-i-say-a-life-for-a-life/) Ruth Ellis > [If you hear that someone is speaking ill of you, instead of trying to defend yourself you should say: 'He obviously does not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-hear-that-someone-is-speaking-ill-of-you-instead-of-trying-to/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Ensures that more and more domestic disputes will end in the ultimate tragedy, and that more convenience store confrontations over loud music coming from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/ensures-that-more-and-more-domestic-disputes-will-end-in-the-ultimate/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [In romance, we feel the need to zoom in and expound on our partner's foibles in intimate detail; in friendship, we tend to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/in-romance-we-feel-the-need-to-zoom-in-and-expound-on-our-partner-s/) [Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/) > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [We all have a dark side. Most of us go through life avoiding direct confrontation with that aspect of ourselves, which I call the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-toussaint/we-all-have-a-dark-side-most-of-us-go-through-life-avoiding-direct/) [Lorraine Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-toussaint/) > [Our current gun culture simply ensures that more and more domestic disputes will end in the ultimate tragedy, and that more convenience-store confrontations over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/our-current-gun-culture-simply-ensures-that-more-and-more-domestic/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [The right to defend oneself is something that should never require us to be on a list, it should never require us to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/the-right-to-defend-oneself-is-something-that-should-never-require-us/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [Israel has the right to defend itself, especially against the huge numbers of Iranian long-range missiles pouring into the Gaza Strip from Iran via…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronen-bergman/israel-has-the-right-to-defend-itself-especially-against-the-huge/) [Ronen Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronen-bergman/) > [I do believe in the right to carry, and I believe in the right to defend myself and my family -- whether it's from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-ernst/i-do-believe-in-the-right-to-carry-and-i-believe-in-the-right-to/) [Joni Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-ernst/) > [If America has the right to target Osama bin Laden, or terrorists, of course Israel has the right to defend itself from terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-america-has-the-right-to-target-osama-bin-laden-or-terrorists-of/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [“Anybody have the right to defend himself by carrying a gun but nobody have the right to kill others because he is carrying a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hisham-fawzi/anybody-have-the-right-to-defend-himself-by-carrying-a-gun-but-nobody/) [Hisham Fawzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hisham-fawzi/) > [There is a fundamental principle. People have the right to defend their country from foreign occupiers, and people have the right to defend their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/there-is-a-fundamental-principle-people-have-the-right-to-defend/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [If every person has the right to defend - even by force - his person, his liberty, and his property, then it follows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/if-every-person-has-the-right-to-defend-even-by-force-his-person-his/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [I have always thought that Israel, as an independent and sovereign nation, had a right to defend itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/i-have-always-thought-that-israel-as-an-independent-and-sovereign/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) ## More by Steven Seagal > [To a police officer, a sawed off shotgun is the ultimate nightmare. You can blow someone in half!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/to-a-police-officer-a-sawed-off-shotgun-is-the-ultimate-nightmare-you/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [The entrances I make now, when we kick in the door of a high-risk warrant, eighty percent of the homes we're kicking into, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/the-entrances-i-make-now-when-we-kick-in-the-door-of-a-high-risk/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [I'm gonna take you to the bank, Senator Trent. To the blood bank!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-m-gonna-take-you-to-the-bank-senator-trent-to-the-blood-bank/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [In general, we as police officers - at least the good police officers - like to look at each situation case by case and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/in-general-we-as-police-officers-at-least-the-good-police-officers/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [I don't consider myself a martial-arts star. I'd be offended and disappointed if I got a reputation as a martial-arts star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-martial-arts-star-i-d-be-offended-and/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [I think people are frustrated in this society, where predators prey upon normal, law-abiding citizens, and you never see justice in the courtroom. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-think-people-are-frustrated-in-this-society-where-predators-prey/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [I've been a musician since childhood, and music is my first love. I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-ve-been-a-musician-since-childhood-and-music-is-my-first-love-i/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [I always hated being a child. I always felt like an adult trapped in a child's body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-always-hated-being-a-child-i-always-felt-like-an-adult-trapped-in-a/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [I'm a hip-hop fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-m-a-hip-hop-fan/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [The most important seed I can sow in this life is my children, and the love and knowledge that I can bestow upon them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/the-most-important-seed-i-can-sow-in-this-life-is-my-children-and-the/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [I myself am a very nonviolent person and only resort to violence when I absolutely have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-myself-am-a-very-nonviolent-person-and-only-resort-to-violence-when/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [Most of us have unhealthy thoughts and emotions that have either developed as a result of trauma or hardships in their childhood, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/most-of-us-have-unhealthy-thoughts-and-emotions-that-have-either/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [I would only ever be involved in a reality show that was about real life and had lots of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-would-only-ever-be-involved-in-a-reality-show-that-was-about-real/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [I love getting out on the streets and helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-love-getting-out-on-the-streets-and-helping-people/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [One must first learn to heal people to be great. To hurt people is easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/one-must-first-learn-to-heal-people-to-be-great-to-hurt-people-is-easy/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) [Explore all 63 Steven Seagal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) ## More Avoiding quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [ I can hardly believe what these 12 caricatures \[about Prophet Muhammad\] have caused in the world. We Danes feel like we have been placed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-can-hardly-believe-what-these-12-caricatures-about-prophet-muhammad/) [Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/) > [I know a bit about taxation and the remarkable effort that goes in to avoiding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-know-a-bit-about-taxation-and-the-remarkable-effort-that-goes-in-to/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/) Raymond Briggs > [Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy-and time. The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you'll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/resisting-and-avoiding-pain-sucks-energy-and-time-the-more-you-let/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/reading-is-sometimes-an-ingenious-device-for-avoiding-thought/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/a-day-can-really-slip-by-when-you-re-deliberately-avoiding-what-you/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [When someone starts Ignoring you, just back off without staying there with them Just to know the reason for avoiding..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishak/when-someone-starts-ignoring-you-just-back-off-without-staying-there/) [Vishak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishak/) > [You know what takes effort? 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I've been married to the same person for nearly 50 years, I'm scrupulous about paying bills, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/in-my-personal-life-i-m-very-conservative-i-ve-been-married-to-the/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) Browse all 713 Avoiding quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everybody certainly has the right to defend themselves. That's not to say that they should defy common sense by avoiding or diffusing confrontation. 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