--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I may be an old lion, but I can still…" description: "\"I may be an old lion, but I can still bite someone's hand off if he puts it in my mouth.\" — Wilhelm Steinitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_bite_i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bit_333419.png" --- # I may be an old lion, but I can still bite someone's hand… ![“I may be an old lion, but I can still bite someone's hand off if he puts it in my mouth.” quote by Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_bite_i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bit_333419.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_bite_i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bit_333419.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_bite_i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bit_333419.png) > “I may be an old lion, but I can still bite someone's hand off if he puts it in my mouth.” [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An experienced person can still be dangerous when provoked, despite age. **In simple terms:** Even old experts can strike back when threatened. Key Takeaway Respect boundaries, even with seasoned individuals. Themes power age defense Mood cautious assertive Type advice warning When to use this quote - workplace conflict - personal relationships - competitive sports Key Concepts strategic aggression experience warning Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle provocation from a senior colleague? - When is it appropriate to assert yourself? A Different Perspective Even seasoned individuals may overreact if they feel threatened. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lions/) ## Related quotes > [I wanna bite the hand that feeds me. I wanna bite that hand so badly. I want to make them wish they'd never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-wanna-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me-i-wanna-bite-that-hand-so-badly-i/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [An artist should always bite the hand that feeds him - but not too hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nam-june-paik/an-artist-should-always-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-him-but-not-too-hard/) [Nam June Paik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nam-june-paik/) > [Once in a while you have to bite the hand that reads you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/once-in-a-while-you-have-to-bite-the-hand-that-reads-you/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [Before we sit down, he puts his mouth next to my ear and says, “I like your hair that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/before-we-sit-down-he-puts-his-mouth-next-to-my-ear-and-says-i-like/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Time takes a cigarette, puts it in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/time-takes-a-cigarette-puts-it-in-your-mouth/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I don't bite the hand that feeds me. I'm a little smarter than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-marchand/i-don-t-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-me-i-m-a-little-smarter-than-that/) [Brad Marchand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-marchand/) > [Don't bite the hand that feeds u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-u/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never bite the hand that feeds you. You just might need that hand to pick you back up when you fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-you-just-might-need-that-hand-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You must bite the hand that feeds you. You are perhaps always told the opposite of this. The opposite of this is often said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/you-must-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-you-are-perhaps-always-told-the/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“Don't bite the hand that feeds you - especially if you're dining alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/don-t-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-especially-if-you-re-dining-alone/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [Don't bite the hand that feeds you for the one who's petting you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-for-the-one-who-s-petting-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You never want to bite the hand that feeds you, but you also do not want to be aiding and abetting problematic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lindsay/you-never-want-to-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-but-you-also-do-not/) [Rachel Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lindsay/) > [Never bite the hand that feeds you, especially never turn your back on those who love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you-especially-never-turn-your-back-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Tomorrow we bite The hand that feeds us today Either way, we'll eat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-dahlen/tomorrow-we-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-us-today-either-way-we-ll-eat/) Chris Dahlen > [Dont bite the hand that feeds you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Wilhelm Steinitz > [The King is a fighting piece. Use it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/the-king-is-a-fighting-piece-use-it/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [In the ending the king is a powerful piece for assisting his own pawns, or stopping the adverse pawns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/in-the-ending-the-king-is-a-powerful-piece-for-assisting-his-own/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Only the player with the initiative has the right to attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/only-the-player-with-the-initiative-has-the-right-to-attack/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is not for the faint-hearted; it absorbs a person entirely. To get to the bottom of this game, he has to give himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-not-for-the-faint-hearted-it-absorbs-a-person-entirely-to/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is intellectual gymnastics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-intellectual-gymnastics/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [When you have an advantage, you are obliged to attack; otherwise you are endangered to lose the advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/when-you-have-an-advantage-you-are-obliged-to-attack-otherwise-you/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [No great player blundered oftener than I done. I was champion of the world for twenty-eight years because I was twenty years ahead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/no-great-player-blundered-oftener-than-i-done-i-was-champion-of-the/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is so inspiring that I do not believe a good player is capable of having an evil thought during the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-so-inspiring-that-i-do-not-believe-a-good-player-is-capable/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is difficult, it demands work, serious reflection and zealous research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-difficult-it-demands-work-serious-reflection-and-zealous/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Have you ever seen a monkey examining a watch?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/have-you-ever-seen-a-monkey-examining-a-watch/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [I do not believe a good player is capable of having an evil thought during the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-do-not-believe-a-good-player-is-capable-of-having-an-evil-thought/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [I would rather die in America than live in England. I would rather lose a match in America than win one in England. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-would-rather-die-in-america-than-live-in-england-i-would-rather/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is not for timid souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-not-for-timid-souls/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [I am not a chess historian - I myself am a piece of chess history, which no one can avoid. I will not write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-am-not-a-chess-historian-i-myself-am-a-piece-of-chess-history-which/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [I shall accord to myself the honor of inscribing myself as an applicant for the American citizenship which according to law I can obtain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-shall-accord-to-myself-the-honor-of-inscribing-myself-as-an/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) [Explore all 26 Wilhelm Steinitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) ## More Bite quotes > [In every country dogges bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/in-every-country-dogges-bite/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [I don't bite you know ... unless it's called for,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-don-t-bite-you-know-unless-it-s-called-for/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I didn't respond to people thrusting microphones at me and asking me questions that were unanswerable in a sound bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/i-didn-t-respond-to-people-thrusting-microphones-at-me-and-asking-me/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [“The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-nakoneczny-high-school-track-coach/the-best-way-to-eat-an-elephant-is-one-bite-at-a-time/) Wayne Nakoneczny high school track coach > [“A werewolf bite turned me gay?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tielle-st-clare/a-werewolf-bite-turned-me-gay/) [Tielle St. Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tielle-st-clare/) > [“All the better to bite you, my dear!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mari-mancusi/all-the-better-to-bite-you-my-dear/) [Mari Mancusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mari-mancusi/) > [If the first bite is with the eye and the second with the nose, some people will never take that third, actual bite if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/if-the-first-bite-is-with-the-eye-and-the-second-with-the-nose-some/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [“What animal would do this?"he said harshly. "No, little one, animals might scratch you, or bite you, or even rip you apart in hunger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-animal-would-do-this-he-said-harshly-no-little-one-animals-might/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've been known not to bite my tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-gibbs/i-ve-been-known-not-to-bite-my-tongue/) [Freddie Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-gibbs/) > [“Bite your tongue. Don't let anyone bite it off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/bite-your-tongue-don-t-let-anyone-bite-it-off/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [“Hold me like you hold the hand of a little kid who needs you in loneliness, bite my fingers like you bite a giggling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/hold-me-like-you-hold-the-hand-of-a-little-kid-who-needs-you-in/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [“He pulled away from me and held his hands in the air like he was weighing something. “Keep Sophie safe or let Sophie die.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/he-pulled-away-from-me-and-held-his-hands-in-the-air-like-he-was/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [“Once the hand that feeds you fails, you are free to bite away!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/once-the-hand-that-feeds-you-fails-you-are-free-to-bite-away/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [If you live among dogs, keep a stick. After all, this is what a hound has teeth for-to bite when he feels like it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/if-you-live-among-dogs-keep-a-stick-after-all-this-is-what-a-hound/) [Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/) Browse all 516 Bite quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I may be an old lion, but I can still bite someone's hand off if he puts it in my mouth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wilhelm Steinitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bite-someone-s-hand-off-if-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bite" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bite-someone-s-hand-off-if-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_bite_i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bit_333419.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_bite_i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bit_333419.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_bite_i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bit_333419.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I may be an old lion, but I can still bite someone's hand off if he puts it in my mouth.” — Wilhelm Steinitz", "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": "Wilhelm Steinitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I may be an old lion,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bite-someone-s-hand-off-if-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bite-someone-s-hand-off-if-he/#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 } } ] } ```