--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If something stinks, I say it stinks. But…" description: "\"If something stinks, I say it stinks. But I try to massage it a little and not be as cutting, come behind it with a joke: Hey, I cut you deep, but now ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/wanda-sykes-3827_behinds_if-something-stinks-i-say-it-stinks-but_1942991.jpg" --- # If something stinks, I say it stinks. But I try to massage… ![“If something stinks, I say it stinks. But I try to massage it a little and not be as cutting, come behind it with a joke: Hey, I cut you deep, but now let me put a couple of stitches in you.” quote by Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/wanda-sykes-3827_behinds_if-something-stinks-i-say-it-stinks-but_1942991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/wanda-sykes-3827_behinds_if-something-stinks-i-say-it-stinks-but_1942991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/wanda-sykes-3827_behinds_if-something-stinks-i-say-it-stinks-but_1942991.jpg) > “If something stinks, I say it stinks. But I try to massage it a little and not be as cutting, come behind it with a joke: Hey, I cut you deep, but now let me put a couple of stitches in you.” [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Direct criticism can be softened with humor, making feedback more palatable while still addressing issues. **In simple terms:** Use humor to soften criticism. Key Takeaway Give honest feedback with a light touch. Themes communication humor feedback empathy conflict resolution Mood playful thoughtful Type comedic inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - performance reviews - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology of humor assertiveness social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is humor appropriate for criticism? - How do you ensure the message isn’t lost? A Different Perspective Humor may dilute seriousness or be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Couple Stitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple-stitches-3108386/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Hey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hey/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Let me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-me/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Massage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massage/) [Say Stinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-stinks-3108385/) [Stink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stink/) [Stinks Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stinks-say-3108387/) [Stitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stitches/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [I had a bike accident a few years ago, and I went to the emergency room, and I had to have a gash sewn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/i-had-a-bike-accident-a-few-years-ago-and-i-went-to-the-emergency/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [I wish everyone had the same chances," I say. "Because it stinks a big one that they don't." - Catherine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-lord/i-wish-everyone-had-the-same-chances-i-say-because-it-stinks-a-big/) [Cynthia Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-lord/) > [“If you want to be a genius, it's easy: All you gotta say is, "Everything stinks." Then, you're never wrong. That's how much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-j-cobb/if-you-want-to-be-a-genius-it-s-easy-all-you-gotta-say-is-everything-2/) [Wilbur J. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-j-cobb/) > [“If you want to be a genius, it's easy: All you gotta say is, 'Everything stinks.' Then, you're never wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-j-cobb/if-you-want-to-be-a-genius-it-s-easy-all-you-gotta-say-is-everything/) [Wilbur J. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-j-cobb/) > [I played a lot of ball and got hurt, stitches and this and that. That, sometimes they said, built character. I don't think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-marshall/i-played-a-lot-of-ball-and-got-hurt-stitches-and-this-and-that-that/) [Garry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-marshall/) > [Scars are memory. Like sutures. They stitch the past to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/scars-are-memory-like-sutures-they-stitch-the-past-to-me/) [China Mieville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [I needed two stitches after Alex kicked the boot at me. (on Ferguson)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/i-needed-two-stitches-after-alex-kicked-the-boot-at-me-on-ferguson/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [None of the chase scenes that I did had any opticals. We had to do all of that physically. The first thing you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-friedkin/none-of-the-chase-scenes-that-i-did-had-any-opticals-we-had-to-do-all/) [William Friedkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-friedkin/) > [If you want to build a boat, do not instruct the men to saw wood, stitch the sails, prepare the tools and organize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-boat-do-not-instruct-the-men-to-saw-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“Paranoia seems more reasonable when you've got twelve stitches in your side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-griffin/paranoia-seems-more-reasonable-when-you-ve-got-twelve-stitches-in/) [Kate Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-griffin/) > [Wake up wake up, I'm going at ya face makeup. These niggas need stitches cause they takin pay cuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/wake-up-wake-up-i-m-going-at-ya-face-makeup-these-niggas-need/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [There's more likelihood of Ian Paisley being the next pope, than of me agreeing to a fix or a stitch-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhodri-morgan/there-s-more-likelihood-of-ian-paisley-being-the-next-pope-than-of-me/) [Rhodri Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhodri-morgan/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) ## More by Wanda Sykes > [If you don't believe in same-sex marriage, then don't marry somebody of the same sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/if-you-don-t-believe-in-same-sex-marriage-then-don-t-marry-somebody/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [There are just so many more laws and rules that apply with marriage that do not come with domestic partnership and also to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/there-are-just-so-many-more-laws-and-rules-that-apply-with-marriage/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I hate when women compare men to dogs. Men are not dogs. Dogs are loyal. I've never found any strange panties in my dog's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-hate-when-women-compare-men-to-dogs-men-are-not-dogs-dogs-are-loyal/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I have a funny family, but none of them are remotely in show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-have-a-funny-family-but-none-of-them-are-remotely-in-show-business/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I have a well-balanced show. It's 50/50 on men/women, and also African-American/white writers, it's the same thing. I have four African-American writers, and four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-have-a-well-balanced-show-it-s-50-50-on-men-women-and-also-african/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [A woman would pitch a joke. Nothing. Then a guy would pitch it and everybody would laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/a-woman-would-pitch-a-joke-nothing-then-a-guy-would-pitch-it-and/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [The government shouldn't be involved in this because it's very simple. If you don't believe in same-sex marriage, then don't marry somebody of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/the-government-shouldn-t-be-involved-in-this-because-it-s-very-simple/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [When my parents send me emails the first 3 are blank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/when-my-parents-send-me-emails-the-first-3-are-blank/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [It's easier to rip somebody to shreds while you're making them laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/it-s-easier-to-rip-somebody-to-shreds-while-you-re-making-them-laugh/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [Yeah, I had top-secret clearance and everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/yeah-i-had-top-secret-clearance-and-everything/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I knew something was wrong with the economy when the shampoo girl at my salon closed on a six bedroom house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-knew-something-was-wrong-with-the-economy-when-the-shampoo-girl-at/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [If you're passionate about your work, it makes the people around you want to be involved too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/if-you-re-passionate-about-your-work-it-makes-the-people-around-you/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I watch Jay. I watch 'Letterman'. I flip back and forth between 'Conan' and 'Letterman', especially the top of the show for those guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-watch-jay-i-watch-letterman-i-flip-back-and-forth-between-conan-and/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I always had one goal, and that was to be a real funny stand-up comic, and that's pretty much what I'm doing. And everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-always-had-one-goal-and-that-was-to-be-a-real-funny-stand-up-comic/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I watched a lot of comedy growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-watched-a-lot-of-comedy-growing-up/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) [Explore all 121 Wanda Sykes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. 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If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. 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