Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker denies being ruthless but threatens to destroy anyone who accuses them of it.
In plain terms
I am not ruthless, but I will hurt those who say I am.
What can you take from it?
Deny the label but threaten those who use it.

Where it applies

  • public accusation
  • political attack
  • personal feud

Putting it to work

  • protecting reputation
  • responding to critics
  • deterrence

Questions to consider

  • How do you handle criticism?
  • Is violence ever justified?

Another view

Threatening destruction often confirms the accusation of ruthlessness.

More from Robert F. Kennedy

  1. People are selfish, but they can also be compassionate and generous, and they care about the country. But not when they feel threatened. That's why this is suc…

    Permalink to quote #60

  2. Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies.

    Permalink to quote #62

  3. Parties are instruments of government....The business of parties is not just win elections. It is to govern. And a party cannot govern if it is disunited. (Kin…

    Permalink to quote #59

Related quotes

  1. People say I am ruthless. I am not ruthless. And if I find the man who is calling me ruthless, I shall destroy him.

    Robert KennedyRobert Kennedy quote #61

  2. Fire on anything that moves on the river.

    Kingoro HashimotoKingoro Hashimoto quote #1

  3. What argument have they to persuade the young men to fight except merely in another squalid attempt to defend themselves against a redistribution of the intern…

    Aneurin BevanAneurin Bevan quote #3