--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought, how do you confuse violent…" description: "\"I thought, how do you confuse violent Russian mobsters? Well, by being silly!\" — Terry Gilliam" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/terry-gilliam-7704_being-silly_i-thought-how-do-you-confuse-violent-rus_1726113.jpg" --- # I thought, how do you confuse violent Russian mobsters?… ![“I thought, how do you confuse violent Russian mobsters? Well, by being silly!” quote by Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/terry-gilliam-7704_being-silly_i-thought-how-do-you-confuse-violent-rus_1726113.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/terry-gilliam-7704_being-silly_i-thought-how-do-you-confuse-violent-rus_1726113.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/terry-gilliam-7704_being-silly_i-thought-how-do-you-confuse-violent-rus_1726113.jpg) > “I thought, how do you confuse violent Russian mobsters? Well, by being silly!” [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Silliness can disarm even the most dangerous opponents. **In simple terms:** Being funny can confuse violent mobsters. Key Takeaway Use humor to defuse tension. Themes humor conflict resolution psychology Mood playful defensive Type anecdotal practical When to use this quote - street encounters - hostile negotiations - team building - personal safety Key Concepts nonviolent resistance cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - Can humor be a reliable tactic in dangerous situations? - When does humor become counterproductive? A Different Perspective Humor may not work on truly ruthless individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-silly/) [Confuse Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confuse-violent-1384903/) [Mobster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mobster/) [Mobsters Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mobsters-silly-1384900/) [Russian Mobsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russian-mobsters-1384902/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Violent Russian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent-russian-1384901/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [“Viktor, I’m not a freaking idiot. I’m a doctor. I didn’t save your daughter’s life just to hand her over to a bunch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raven-rivers/viktor-i-m-not-a-freaking-idiot-i-m-a-doctor-i-didn-t-save-your/) [Raven Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raven-rivers/) > [All I wanted was to be what I became to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gotti/all-i-wanted-was-to-be-what-i-became-to-be/) [John Gotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gotti/) > [“What happened to the perp?” “Perp?” “The piece of crap who tried to kill my wife. Where is he now?” There was a pause,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ponzo/what-happened-to-the-perp-perp-the-piece-of-crap-who-tried-to-kill-my/) [Gary Ponzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ponzo/) > [I like to be myself. Misery loves company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-corallo/i-like-to-be-myself-misery-loves-company/) [Anthony Corallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-corallo/) > [“Thomas,” the boss said. “How’s your father doing?” “He’s good, Sal.” Always the family questions first. That was Sal Demenci’s style. He could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ponzo/thomas-the-boss-said-how-s-your-father-doing-he-s-good-sal-always-the/) [Gary Ponzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ponzo/) > [ Four fifty-four for gas... because we have nobody that calls up OPEC... and say, \[mobster voice\] 'That. Price. Better. Get. Lower. And it better.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/four-fifty-four-for-gas-because-we-have-nobody-that-calls-up-opec-and/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Mobster stories are always a harder sell for me. I don't romanticize organize crime the way others do, though I can be swayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-stuever/mobster-stories-are-always-a-harder-sell-for-me-i-don-t-romanticize/) [Hank Stuever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-stuever/) > [Honest people have no ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-decavalcante/honest-people-have-no-ethics/) [Sam DeCavalcante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-decavalcante/) > [ The great thing about Europe is that things have not been represented \[as much\]. If you open the door of a bar in Brooklyn… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bidegain/the-great-thing-about-europe-is-that-things-have-not-been-represented/) [Thomas Bidegain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bidegain/) > [Instead, I cut him. Not deep, but there was enough of a sting in the wound to remind him of what I'd done to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/instead-i-cut-him-not-deep-but-there-was-enough-of-a-sting-in-the/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [We don't break our captains. We kill them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-gigante/we-don-t-break-our-captains-we-kill-them/) [Vincent Gigante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-gigante/) > [A boy has never wept...nor dashed a thousand kin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dutch-schultz/a-boy-has-never-wept-nor-dashed-a-thousand-kin/) [Dutch Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dutch-schultz/) > [I've been hooked on films ever since I can remember renting VHS tapes. But who got me hooked? I think life did. There wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-zevallos/i-ve-been-hooked-on-films-ever-since-i-can-remember-renting-vhs-tapes/) [Jaime Zevallos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-zevallos/) > [Be nice to bankers. Always be nice to pension fund managers. Always be nice to the media. In that order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gotti/be-nice-to-bankers-always-be-nice-to-pension-fund-managers-always-be/) [John Gotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gotti/) > [Las Vegas turns women into men and men into idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugsy-siegel/las-vegas-turns-women-into-men-and-men-into-idiots/) [Bugsy Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bugsy-siegel/) ## More by Terry Gilliam > [The English are such a frightened, nervous, insecure group of people - they no longer rule the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/the-english-are-such-a-frightened-nervous-insecure-group-of-people/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Well, I really want to encourage a kind of fantasy, a kind of magic. I love the term magic realism, whoever invented it –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/well-i-really-want-to-encourage-a-kind-of-fantasy-a-kind-of-magic-i/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I was doing political cartoons and getting angry to the point where I felt I was going to have to start making and throwing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/i-was-doing-political-cartoons-and-getting-angry-to-the-point-where-i/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I'm trying to escape by forming my own kind of world. Basically, I'm trying to encourage others to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/i-m-trying-to-escape-by-forming-my-own-kind-of-world-basically-i-m/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Hyperbole is something Id better avoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/hyperbole-is-something-id-better-avoid/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I was getting frustrated with America. It's interesting how as simple a thing as, like, letting your hair grow longer changed in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/i-was-getting-frustrated-with-america-it-s-interesting-how-as-simple/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I'm overwhelmed by writers. Most people aren't impressed by writers, but if you can draw a cartoon or a picture, they think you're magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/i-m-overwhelmed-by-writers-most-people-aren-t-impressed-by-writers/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Nobody went to see Tideland! I was hoping people would get angry about it but those that saw it didn't want to talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/nobody-went-to-see-tideland-i-was-hoping-people-would-get-angry-about/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Fantasy isn't just a jolly escape: It's an escape, but into something far more extreme than reality, or normality. It's where things are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/fantasy-isn-t-just-a-jolly-escape-it-s-an-escape-but-into-something/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [It's hard for me to worry about the studios losing money. I'm not very sympathetic to their money problems, because they certainly haven't been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/it-s-hard-for-me-to-worry-about-the-studios-losing-money-i-m-not-very/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Hyperbole is something I'd better avoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/hyperbole-is-something-i-d-better-avoid/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [When it came to slaughtering sacred cows with such crude yet perfect musical precision, there was no one better than Frank. I wonder what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/when-it-came-to-slaughtering-sacred-cows-with-such-crude-yet-perfect/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I've given up asking questions. l merely float on a tsunami of acceptance of anything life throws at me ... and marvel stupidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/i-ve-given-up-asking-questions-l-merely-float-on-a-tsunami-of/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [You know the hardest thing to do in Hollywood is burn bridges. There is usually some sucker who still likes me. There is usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/you-know-the-hardest-thing-to-do-in-hollywood-is-burn-bridges-there/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Once the voices are in your head, it's either make a movie or kill a lot of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/once-the-voices-are-in-your-head-it-s-either-make-a-movie-or-kill-a/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) [Explore all 88 Terry Gilliam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) ## More Being silly quotes > [I love being my silly ole self! Lifes a lot better when you have a good sense of humor and you smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-being-my-silly-ole-self-lifes-a-lot-better-when-you-have-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know that sometimes when you are really worried about something, it ends up not being nearly as bad as you think it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moriarty/i-know-that-sometimes-when-you-are-really-worried-about-something-it/) [Laura Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moriarty/) > [Everyone feels like this at one point in their lives and sometimes atleast once a day :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-feels-like-this-at-one-point-in-their-lives-and-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't be silly and don't waste your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/don-t-be-silly-and-don-t-waste-your-time/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [Being silly is still allowed, not excluded by adulthood. What's excluded by adulthood is thoughtlessness, so be thoughtful and silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-green/being-silly-is-still-allowed-not-excluded-by-adulthood-what-s/) [Hank Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-green/) > [When I get tired I start being extra silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shmitb/when-i-get-tired-i-start-being-extra-silly/) [ShmitB](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shmitb/) > [Bunny slippers remind me of who I am.You can't get a swelled head if you wear bunny slippers. You can't lose your sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/bunny-slippers-remind-me-of-who-i-am-you-can-t-get-a-swelled-head-if/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [I like being silly cause it makes everything better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-being-silly-cause-it-makes-everything-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ I really enjoyed stepping into that side of \[princess Margaret\] and being silly and naughty and fun. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kirby/i-really-enjoyed-stepping-into-that-side-of-princess-margaret-and/) [Vanessa Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kirby/) > [Hey you! Don't be silly! Put a rubber on your willie!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/hey-you-don-t-be-silly-put-a-rubber-on-your-willie/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Ok…so I really want a quote with LOTS of comments ^^ hehe sooooo, if your reading this and want to help me out, lol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/treasured4evr/ok-so-i-really-want-a-quote-with-lots-of-comments-hehe-sooooo-if-your/) [Treasured4Evr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/treasured4evr/) > [Oh, don't be silly - EVERYONE wants this. Everyone wants to be \*us\*.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-weisberger/oh-don-t-be-silly-everyone-wants-this-everyone-wants-to-be-us/) [Lauren Weisberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-weisberger/) > [Don’t be silly. Loving is easy. It’s finding someone to love you back that’s hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/don-t-be-silly-loving-is-easy-it-s-finding-someone-to-love-you-back/) [Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/) > [Kids love to be silly, they love to laugh, so I think it was natural for my kids to like the sort of books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/kids-love-to-be-silly-they-love-to-laugh-so-i-think-it-was-natural/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [Don't move your money from Bear! That's just being silly! Don't be silly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cramer/don-t-move-your-money-from-bear-that-s-just-being-silly-don-t-be-silly/) [Jim Cramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cramer/) [Browse all 170 Being silly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-silly/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought, how do you confuse violent Russian mobsters? 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