I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
Will RogersRead
A remark generally hurts in proportion to its truth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A truthful comment can be painful, especially if it highlights a flaw or uncomfortable reality.
Will Rogers' quote suggests that the sting of a remark is directly related to how true it is. When someone speaks a hard truth about us or our actions, it often hurts because it resonates with us on a deep level; we know there is validity to what is being said, and this recognition can make us feel vulnerable or defensive.
Themes
TruthRemarkHurtWisdomVulnerability
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting where constructive criticism is needed.
More from Will Rogers
All quotes βPeople who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.
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Why don't they pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting anybody from learning anything? If it works as well as prohibition did, in five years Americans would be the smartest race of people on Earth.
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The 1928 Republican Convention opened with a prayer. If the Lord can see His way clear to bless the Republican Party the way it's been carrying on, then the rest of us ought to get it without even asking.
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Let advertisers spend the same amount of money improving their product that they do on advertising and they wouldn't have to advertise it.
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The man with the best job in the country is the vice-president. All he has to do is get up every morning and say, 'How is the president?'
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