On Showing up to meet His Majesty King Edward VII of England in just a loincloth, a reporter wondered aloud if this was disrespectful to the king. Gandhi replied simply, 'The King was wearing enough for the both of us.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Gandhi uses humor to suggest that the King is fully clothed while he is not, implying the King has no grounds to be offended by his minimal attire.
- In plain terms
- The King is dressed enough for both of us, so my lack of clothes is not disrespectful.
- What can you take from it?
- Use wit to deflect criticism about appearance or protocol.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is humor appropriate in formal settings?
- How do you respond to perceived disrespect?
Another view
It assumes the listener understands the sarcasm and does not take the claim literally.
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