Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Joe endures insults silently before fighting back fiercely when ready.
In plain terms
Stay calm under provocation then strike decisively.
What can you take from it?
Patience strengthens your response.

Where it applies

  • conflicts
  • office politics
  • personal disputes

Putting it to work

  • delay reaction
  • choose your moment

Questions to consider

  • When is silence better than words?

Another view

Silence can be mistaken for weakness.

More from Muhammad Ali

  1. Since I won't let the critics seal my fate, they keep hollering I'm full of hate. But they don't really hurt me none, 'cause I'm doing good and having fun.

    Permalink to quote #31
  2. For every struggle that Joe survived, For every dispute he endured, to rise, Joe will go down in history as a model for champions to come. While Frazier was a …

    Permalink to quote #33
  3. To make America the greatest is my goal, So I beat the Russians, and I beat the Pole, and for the USA won the medal of gold. Italians said: 'You're Greater tha…

    Permalink to quote #30

Related quotes

  1. Suicidal glory is the luxury of the irresponsible. We're not giving up. We're waiting for a better opportunity to win.

    Lois McMaster BujoldLois McMaster Bujold quote #20
  2. The mountain remains unmoved at seeming defeat by the mist.

    Rabindranath TagoreRabindranath Tagore quote #136
  3. Brer Fox, he lay low.

    Joel Chandler HarrisJoel Chandler Harris quote #1