---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If arrogance were shoes, he'd never go…"
description: "\"If arrogance were shoes, he'd never go barefoot.\" — Tamora Pierce"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tamora-pierce-935_arrogance_if-arrogance-were-shoes-he-d-never-go-ba_1305808.png"
---

#  If arrogance were shoes, he'd never go barefoot.

![“If arrogance were shoes, he'd never go barefoot.” quote by Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tamora-pierce-935_arrogance_if-arrogance-were-shoes-he-d-never-go-ba_1305808.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tamora-pierce-935_arrogance_if-arrogance-were-shoes-he-d-never-go-ba_1305808.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tamora-pierce-935_arrogance_if-arrogance-were-shoes-he-d-never-go-ba_1305808.png)

> “If arrogance were shoes, he'd never go barefoot.”

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

## About This Quote

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

A metaphor warning that arrogance prevents humility and openness.

**In simple terms:** Arrogance blocks humility.

Key Takeaway

Check your pride before acting.

Themes

humility pride self-awareness

Mood

reflective cautionary

Type

advice aphilosophical

When to use this quote

- leadership
- personal growth
- relationships

Key Concepts

psychology metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your confidence affect your interactions?
- What steps can you take to stay grounded?

A Different Perspective

Arrogance can be hard to recognize in oneself.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Arrogance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) [Barefoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barefoot/)

## Related quotes

> [You know you're old when someone compliments you on your alligator shoes, and you're barefoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/you-know-you-re-old-when-someone-compliments-you-on-your-alligator/)

[Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/)

> [Some women have a weakness for shoes... I can go barefoot if necessary. I have a weakness for books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/some-women-have-a-weakness-for-shoes-i-can-go-barefoot-if-necessary-i/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [The first thing I do when I get home is take my shoes off and go barefoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/the-first-thing-i-do-when-i-get-home-is-take-my-shoes-off-and-go/)

[Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/)

> [To combat jet lag, when you get to your destination go straight to a park, take your shoes off and walk barefoot. It's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-willis/to-combat-jet-lag-when-you-get-to-your-destination-go-straight-to-a/)

[Emma Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-willis/)

> [I just kick off my shoes, walk around barefoot, I don't care if my feet get dirty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/i-just-kick-off-my-shoes-walk-around-barefoot-i-don-t-care-if-my-feet/)

[Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/)

> [“You always need to be wearing an elegant pair of shoes. Men are good too; but what good is a man if you don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/you-always-need-to-be-wearing-an-elegant-pair-of-shoes-men-are-good/)

[C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/)

> [The best treatment for feet encased in shoes all day is to go barefoot. One-fifth of the world's population never wears shoes - ever!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-tourles/the-best-treatment-for-feet-encased-in-shoes-all-day-is-to-go/)

Stephanie Tourles

> [I run in a pair of New Balances with a thinner sole, but they're nothing like those barefoot shoes that show all five toes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/i-run-in-a-pair-of-new-balances-with-a-thinner-sole-but-they-re/)

[Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/)

> [I love being in the woods, when I can just walk barefoot in the grass and just sit down and breathe. I love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-reyez/i-love-being-in-the-woods-when-i-can-just-walk-barefoot-in-the-grass/)

[Jessie Reyez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-reyez/)

> [When people said Africa would change me, I didn't understand what they meant. To see the poverty in the townships, for instance, is overwhelming.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudson/when-people-said-africa-would-change-me-i-didn-t-understand-what-they/)

[Jennifer Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hudson/)

> [I had no trainers to play, so I went barefoot. Everyone else had trainers. I also remember running 9 km. to training one day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richarlison/i-had-no-trainers-to-play-so-i-went-barefoot-everyone-else-had/)

[Richarlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richarlison/)

> [“When I was a teenager, I used to go about barefoot with no hat and sunglasses, just open to the Sun. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-used-to-go-about-barefoot-with-no-hat-and/)

[Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/)

> [He that sows thorns should never go barefoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-sows-thorns-should-never-go-barefoot/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“There was no way that these guys were going to let a bleeding, barefoot woman simply wander off alone into the streets. Two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/there-was-no-way-that-these-guys-were-going-to-let-a-bleeding/)

[Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/)

> [“In my opinion, walking over moss was as enjoyable as walking barefoot on the beach, if not more so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-weldon/in-my-opinion-walking-over-moss-was-as-enjoyable-as-walking-barefoot/)

[Phaedra Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-weldon/)

## More by Tamora Pierce

> [Lord Raoul asked me to tell you that if you get yourself killed, he will never speak to you again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/lord-raoul-asked-me-to-tell-you-that-if-you-get-yourself-killed-he/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [I will be known forever as the Puppy who chased a cutpurse and caught fish garbage instead. My descendants will pretend I'm not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/i-will-be-known-forever-as-the-puppy-who-chased-a-cutpurse-and-caught/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [Dreadful sorry mistress. Ma always said I was too silly to die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/dreadful-sorry-mistress-ma-always-said-i-was-too-silly-to-die/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [Frostpine made a face. Lifting the cup, he dumped its contents down his throat. “Auugghh!” he yelled, his voice stronger than it had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/frostpine-made-a-face-lifting-the-cup-he-dumped-its-contents-down-his/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [Face it," Gary told her kindly. "You'll never catch up. You just do as much as you can and take the punishments without saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/face-it-gary-told-her-kindly-you-ll-never-catch-up-you-just-do-as/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [“The god inside the man glanced at Aly. "This is your chessboard, I believe, my dear." Aly beamed at him. "So it is. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/the-god-inside-the-man-glanced-at-aly-this-is-your-chessboard-i/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [She's all over us like maggots on garbage, just because I interfered with one pickpocket yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/she-s-all-over-us-like-maggots-on-garbage-just-because-i-interfered/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [What if custom is wrong? demanded the part of her that believed in the code of chivalry. A knight must set things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/what-if-custom-is-wrong-demanded-the-part-of-her-that-believed-in-the/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [When it was her own doing, she was always tempted to skip a day, or just glance down, then get back to the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/when-it-was-her-own-doing-she-was-always-tempted-to-skip-a-day-or/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [Wouldn't--" Kel began to say, but the words stuck in her mouth. She swallowed and tried again. "Wouldn't it be well, not nice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/wouldn-t-kel-began-to-say-but-the-words-stuck-in-her-mouth-she/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [You'll see. I'm as good as any boy. I'm better. - Kel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/you-ll-see-i-m-as-good-as-any-boy-i-m-better-kel/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [“I don't know about some of these other people, particularly the ministers who served my uncle." "Can't you get rid of them?" Kaddar shook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/i-don-t-know-about-some-of-these-other-people-particularly-the/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [You must tell Lady Alanna that sometime. I'd do it from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/you-must-tell-lady-alanna-that-sometime-i-d-do-it-from-a-distance/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [If I have to 'catch' a man to get a husband, I don't want one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/if-i-have-to-catch-a-man-to-get-a-husband-i-don-t-want-one/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [George looked at her for a long moment. Finally he replied, "And why do you find it so hard to think someone might like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/george-looked-at-her-for-a-long-moment-finally-he-replied-and-why-do/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

[Explore all 323 Tamora Pierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

## More Arrogance quotes

> [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/)

[Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/)

> [wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/)

[Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/)

> [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/)

[Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/)

> [What you see of me on TV and all of that, that is me - that's truly how I feel. I'm just multiplying it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-corbin/what-you-see-of-me-on-tv-and-all-of-that-that-is-me-that-s-truly-how/)

[Baron Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-corbin/)

> [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Never mistake someones quietness for their arrogance as you can surely miss out on an awsome personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-mistake-someones-quietness-for-their-arrogance-as-you-can/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [“I was consumed by a selfishness and arrogance that I didn't dare let go of until I found a new persona to hide behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/i-was-consumed-by-a-selfishness-and-arrogance-that-i-didn-t-dare-let/)

[Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/)

> [Arrogance is the outgrowth of prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/arrogance-is-the-outgrowth-of-prosperity/)

[Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/)

> [Timing and arrogance are decisive factors in the successful use of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/timing-and-arrogance-are-decisive-factors-in-the-successful-use-of/)

[Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/)

> [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/)

[Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/)

> [Closed some doors, not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenz-jeffrey/closed-some-doors-not-because-of-pride-incapacity-or-arrogance-but/)

[Frenz Jeffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenz-jeffrey/)

> [My success isn't a result of arrogance - it's a result of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/my-success-isn-t-a-result-of-arrogance-it-s-a-result-of-belief/)

[Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/)

> [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/)

Miguel Cervantes

> [An increasing number of people are growing uncomfortable with the gulf between the world's rich and the poor. Ostentatiously splashing your money around simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalle-lasn/an-increasing-number-of-people-are-growing-uncomfortable-with-the/)

[Kalle Lasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalle-lasn/)

[Browse all 1,418 Arrogance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If arrogance were shoes, he'd never go barefoot.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tamora Pierce"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/if-arrogance-were-shoes-he-d-never-go-barefoot/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arrogance"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/if-arrogance-were-shoes-he-d-never-go-barefoot/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tamora-pierce-935_arrogance_if-arrogance-were-shoes-he-d-never-go-ba_1305808.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tamora-pierce-935_arrogance_if-arrogance-were-shoes-he-d-never-go-ba_1305808.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/tamora-pierce-935_arrogance_if-arrogance-were-shoes-he-d-never-go-ba_1305808.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If arrogance were shoes, he'd never go barefoot.” — Tamora Pierce",
                "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": "Tamora Pierce",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If arrogance were shoes, he'd never...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/if-arrogance-were-shoes-he-d-never-go-barefoot/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/if-arrogance-were-shoes-he-d-never-go-barefoot/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
