---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don’t apologize. It’s a sign of…"
description: "\"“Don’t apologize. It’s a sign of weakness.\" Captain Nathan Brittles, \"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon \"(1949)”\" — Zane Grey"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/zane-grey-8315_apology_don-t-apologize-it-s-a-sign-of-weakness_201640.jpg"
---

#  Don’t apologize. It’s a sign of weakness." Captain Nathan…

![“Don’t apologize. It’s a sign of weakness.&quot; Captain Nathan Brittles, &quot;She Wore a Yellow Ribbon &quot;(1949)” quote by Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/zane-grey-8315_apology_don-t-apologize-it-s-a-sign-of-weakness_201640.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/zane-grey-8315_apology_don-t-apologize-it-s-a-sign-of-weakness_201640.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/zane-grey-8315_apology_don-t-apologize-it-s-a-sign-of-weakness_201640.jpg)

> ““Don’t apologize. It’s a sign of weakness." Captain Nathan Brittles, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon "(1949)””

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

## About This Quote

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

Apologizing is portrayed as weakness; maintaining stoic resolve is valued.

**In simple terms:** Apology seen as weakness; stay strong.

Key Takeaway

Show strength through confidence, not apologies.

Themes

strength pride masculinity

Mood

reflective critical

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- leadership decisions
- team dynamics
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

military culture personal conduct

Questions to Reflect On

- When is an apology more powerful than silence?
- How does pride affect relationships?

A Different Perspective

Apologizing can be a sign of humility and growth.

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[Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/)

## Related quotes

> [“Don't apologize. It's a sign of weakness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-apologize-it-s-a-sign-of-weakness/)

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

> [No amount of money will induce someone to lay down their life, but they will gladly do so for a bit of yellow ribbon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/no-amount-of-money-will-induce-someone-to-lay-down-their-life-but/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [I wish I'd known that apologizing is a sign of strength. I had the impression that if you apologize, it's a sign of weakness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/i-wish-i-d-known-that-apologizing-is-a-sign-of-strength-i-had-the/)

[Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/)

> [In her hair she wore a yellow ribbon , she wore it for her marine that was far far away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-her-hair-she-wore-a-yellow-ribbon-she-wore-it-for-her-marine-that/)

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

> [Sometimes walking away is not the sign of weakness its the sign of strength. That you have realized the truth and have enough courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/sometimes-walking-away-is-not-the-sign-of-weakness-its-the-sign-of/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [I've never found therapy to be a sign of weakness; I've found the opposite to be true. The willingness to have a mirror held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/i-ve-never-found-therapy-to-be-a-sign-of-weakness-i-ve-found-the/)

[Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/)

> [I seldom reraise before the flop no matter what my hand is. By so doing, I'm able to disguise the strength of my hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-negreanu/i-seldom-reraise-before-the-flop-no-matter-what-my-hand-is-by-so/)

[Daniel Negreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-negreanu/)

> [In American culture at large, but especially in African American culture, it's a sign of weakness to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/in-american-culture-at-large-but-especially-in-african-american/)

[Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/)

> [Crying isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of having tried too hard to be strong for too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/crying-isn-t-a-sign-of-weakness-it-s-a-sign-of-having-tried-too-hard/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [In a king, modesty would be a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/in-a-king-modesty-would-be-a-sign-of-weakness/)

[Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [Being mean is a sign weakness, being kind shows you have strength and being there for someone shows them you can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-mean-is-a-sign-weakness-being-kind-shows-you-have-strength-and/)

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

> [Don't take my kindness as a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-take-my-kindness-as-a-sign-of-weakness/)

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

> [To me, crying is not a sign of weakness. She wants it that bad and she puts her whole heart into it. She had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerri-walsh/to-me-crying-is-not-a-sign-of-weakness-she-wants-it-that-bad-and-she/)

[Kerri Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerri-walsh/)

> [“But failure is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that you are alive and growing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/but-failure-is-not-a-sign-of-weakness-it-is-a-sign-that-you-are-alive/)

[Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/)

> [“Wanting to improve is not a sign of weakness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/wanting-to-improve-is-not-a-sign-of-weakness/)

[Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/)

## More by Zane Grey

> [I arise full of eagerness and energy, knowing well what achievement lies ahead of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/i-arise-full-of-eagerness-and-energy-knowing-well-what-achievement/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

> [“You and I will never live to see the day that women recover their balance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/you-and-i-will-never-live-to-see-the-day-that-women-recover-their/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

> [“So that's troublin' you? I reckon it needn't. You see it was this way. I come round the house an' seen that fat party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/so-that-s-troublin-you-i-reckon-it-needn-t-you-see-it-was-this-way-i/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

> [“I was a preacher, and now I am thirsting for vengeance,” answered Christy, his face clouding darkly. “Wait until you learn what frontier life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/i-was-a-preacher-and-now-i-am-thirsting-for-vengeance-answered/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

> [What makes life worth living? Better surely, to yield to the stain of suicide blood in me and seek forgetfulness in the embrace of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/what-makes-life-worth-living-better-surely-to-yield-to-the-stain-of/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

> [I hate birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/i-hate-birthdays/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

> [Fishermen, no matter what supreme good fortune befalls them, cannot ever be absolutely satisfied. It is a fundamental weakness of intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/fishermen-no-matter-what-supreme-good-fortune-befalls-them-cannot/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

> [“We must dress to make other women jealous and to attract men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/we-must-dress-to-make-other-women-jealous-and-to-attract-men/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

> [Adam Larey gazed with hard and wondering eyes down the silent current of the red river upon which he meant to drift away into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/adam-larey-gazed-with-hard-and-wondering-eyes-down-the-silent-current/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

> [I am full of fire and passion. I am not ready yet for great concentration and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/i-am-full-of-fire-and-passion-i-am-not-ready-yet-for-great/)

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> [Fishing is a condition of mind wherein you cannot possibly have a bad time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/fishing-is-a-condition-of-mind-wherein-you-cannot-possibly-have-a-bad/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

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> [Jealously was an unjust and stifling thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/jealously-was-an-unjust-and-stifling-thing/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

> [“twenty-foot-square, furious splash as he hooked himself. I sat spellbound. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/twenty-foot-square-furious-splash-as-he-hooked-himself-i-sat/)

[Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

[Explore all 82 Zane Grey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/)

## More Apology quotes

> [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/)

[Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/)

> [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/)

[Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/)

> [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/)

Elizabeth Tambascio

> [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/)

[Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/)

> [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/)

Allison Pataki

> [And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/and-apologies-once-postponed-become-harder-and-harder-to-make-and/)

[Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/)

> [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/)

[Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/)

> [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/)

[Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/)

> [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/)

[Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/)

> [“I don’t care if you’ve changed. I don’t care who you are now. I don’t need or want your explanations because what you did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-don-t-care-if-you-ve-changed-i-don-t-care-who-you-are-now-i-don-t/)

[Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/)

> [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/)

[Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/)

> [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. This is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-this-is-when-we-must/)

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> [“It's clear he still feels something, but what? Is the whole reason he made such a big deal about wanting to talk to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-heywood/it-s-clear-he-still-feels-something-but-what-is-the-whole-reason-he/)

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> [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [For every person who atones, a hundred others find regret sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/for-every-person-who-atones-a-hundred-others-find-regret-sufficient/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

[Browse all 1,300 Apology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/)

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