--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes the best thing to do when…" description: "\"Sometimes the best thing to do when someone is spitting harsh words on us is to simply fold our hands and watch. Not because we are afraid to respond, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/terry-mark-87_anger_sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-some_16686.jpg" --- # Sometimes the best thing to do when someone is spitting… ![“Sometimes the best thing to do when someone is spitting harsh words on us is to simply fold our hands and watch. Not because we are afraid to respond, but because we are responsible for their anger.” quote by Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/terry-mark-87_anger_sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-some_16686.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/terry-mark-87_anger_sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-some_16686.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/terry-mark-87_anger_sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-some_16686.jpg) > “Sometimes the best thing to do when someone is spitting harsh words on us is to simply fold our hands and watch. Not because we are afraid to respond, but because we are responsible for their anger.” [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing restraint over retaliation can de‑escalate conflict, acknowledging that another's anger is their responsibility, not ours. **In simple terms:** Restraint defuses hostility. Key Takeaway Control your response, not their anger. Themes self‑control conflict resolution emotional intelligence responsibility mindfulness Mood calm reflective empowered Type advice philosophical motivational When to use this quote - receiving criticism - being insulted - witnessing a heated argument - navigating toxic workplace - handling online harassment Key Concepts anger management personal boundaries psychological ownership Practical Applications - mediation coaching - stress‑reduction training Questions to Reflect On - How does taking a step back change the dynamics of a confrontation? - What personal benefits arise from not internalizing others' anger? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Harsh words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harsh-words/) [Insults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insults/) [Spitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spitting/) ## Related quotes > [“It is very difficult to look at anger dispassionately because it is a part of me, but that is what I am trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/it-is-very-difficult-to-look-at-anger-dispassionately-because-it-is-a/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Even though we are primarily responsible for our own anger, we believe naively that if we can say something or do something to punish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/even-though-we-are-primarily-responsible-for-our-own-anger-we-believe/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [When a mad man insults you and you decide to insult him back, how do we differentiate?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/when-a-mad-man-insults-you-and-you-decide-to-insult-him-back-how-do/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [If someone insults you with Hate, you can shut them up with Love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-someone-insults-you-with-hate-you-can-shut-them-up-with-love/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [“I bet you'll be spitting on Death's face when she comes to claim you, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-bet-you-ll-be-spitting-on-death-s-face-when-she-comes-to-claim-you/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I tell you, you will not see the new beauty and the truth, until you make up your minds to spit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazimir-severinovich-malevich/i-tell-you-you-will-not-see-the-new-beauty-and-the-truth-until-you/) Kazimir Severinovich Malevich > [Ill be spitting flows since the kid was 6 years old if you listen close its like some mismatched clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/ill-be-spitting-flows-since-the-kid-was-6-years-old-if-you-listen/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [“Durak,” he said, spitting it. When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-kanon/durak-he-said-spitting-it-when/) [Joseph Kanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-kanon/) > [WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically Converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/warning-the-consumption-of-alcohol-may-make-you-think-you-can/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“There were times in life when nothing short of spitting fire would do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/there-were-times-in-life-when-nothing-short-of-spitting-fire-would-do/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“A layer of fine powder coats his skin. “My lungs are turning to concrete,” Rob wheezes, hacking and spitting. “So are my eyes. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kreitzer/a-layer-of-fine-powder-coats-his-skin-my-lungs-are-turning-to/) [Laura Kreitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kreitzer/) > [It is impossible to train and play without spitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rui-patricio/it-is-impossible-to-train-and-play-without-spitting/) [Rui Patricio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rui-patricio/) > [Beware of spitting against the wind!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/beware-of-spitting-against-the-wind/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I still have in me the same awareness when I was 12 and chubby and a girl was spitting in my face. I'm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-still-have-in-me-the-same-awareness-when-i-was-12-and-chubby-and-a/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [Haha,People give me the weirdest looks! I CANT DRINK A BOTTLE OF WATER IN PUBLIC WITHOUT LAUGHING AND SPITTING IT OUT! XDDD Happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazzy/haha-people-give-me-the-weirdest-looks-i-cant-drink-a-bottle-of-water/) [Jazzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazzy/) ## More by Terry Mark > [Hate nothing in another human being because your eyes is made looking at others but never at your own self except in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/hate-nothing-in-another-human-being-because-your-eyes-is-made-looking/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Sometimes, the person you trust most is the one who trusts you the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-the-person-you-trust-most-is-the-one-who-trusts-you-the/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Fill your minds with thoughts that will make you smile each time you remember them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/fill-your-minds-with-thoughts-that-will-make-you-smile-each-time-you/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Sometimes you never notice when somebody is breaking your heart, until they are through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-you-never-notice-when-somebody-is-breaking-your-heart-until/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [If possible, I want to hear POLITICS defined without either sympathy or apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-possible-i-want-to-hear-politics-defined-without-either-sympathy/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [If you have a bad day,pray. If you have a good day,pray. Pray for the best. Pray with the best. Prayer is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-you-have-a-bad-day-pray-if-you-have-a-good-day-pray-pray-for-the/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Procrastination isn't patience. It's a sign of laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/procrastination-isn-t-patience-it-s-a-sign-of-laziness/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Don't shout at my face, I won't understand you. Speak to my heart, I will feel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/don-t-shout-at-my-face-i-won-t-understand-you-speak-to-my-heart-i/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [My Life ain't steady but I always try to steady myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/my-life-ain-t-steady-but-i-always-try-to-steady-myself/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Whoever knows and fears God has conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/whoever-knows-and-fears-god-has-conscience/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [The Good Hearts always easily get broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/the-good-hearts-always-easily-get-broken/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [My troubles taught me not to be lazy if I really want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/my-troubles-taught-me-not-to-be-lazy-if-i-really-want-to-win/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Don't try to prove yourself the extra mile, your daily Life is enough to do that for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/don-t-try-to-prove-yourself-the-extra-mile-your-daily-life-is-enough/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [No matter how we repeat a lie, no matter how we deceive a people, the lies at the end can never be the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/no-matter-how-we-repeat-a-lie-no-matter-how-we-deceive-a-people-the/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [It's like every step we take in our lives is a risk and yet we must go on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/it-s-like-every-step-we-take-in-our-lives-is-a-risk-and-yet-we-must/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) [Explore all 1,469 Terry Mark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [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/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes the best thing to do when someone is spitting harsh words on us is to simply fold our hands and watch. Not because we are afraid to respond, but because we are responsible for their anger.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Mark" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-someone-is-spitting-harsh-words/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-someone-is-spitting-harsh-words/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/terry-mark-87_anger_sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-some_16686.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/terry-mark-87_anger_sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-some_16686.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/terry-mark-87_anger_sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-some_16686.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes the best thing to do when someone is spitting harsh words on us is to simply fold our hands and…” — Terry Mark", "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": "Terry Mark", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes the best thing to do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-someone-is-spitting-harsh-words/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-someone-is-spitting-harsh-words/#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 } } ] } ```