"Never allow yourself to be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life. Define yourself."
HARVEY FIERSTEIN, writer
"A bully is a big a--hole with a little bit of man attached."
MICKEY ROURKE, actor
"I was the kid who used to get shoved into lockers by school bullies. Because of that, I have never felt like a star in my life."
WINONA RYDER, actress
"I paid a worker at New York's zoo to open it just for me and Robin." (Tyson's then-wife.) "When we got to the gorilla cage there was a big silverback gorilla there just bullying the other gorillas. They were so powerful, but their eyes were like an innocent infant. I offered the attendant $10,000 to open the cage door and let me smash the silverback right in the snotbox. He declined."
MIKE TYSON, boxer, who as a young child had been savagely abused.
"He seemed to delight in his ability to frighten me...a bully is an emotionally retarded vampire. He is not entitled to your blood."
MARLENA DE BLASI, writer.
"Stalking is bullying. One of the hardest jobs a cop will ever face is getting it through the head of a real sleazebag that he can't dog, follow, threaten, or otherwise torment a woman he wants, who won't have anything to do with him. Quite often he's married to somebody else, or got a girlfriend. He'll lie to them about what he's doing, lie to his own mom. It's not rocket science, ladies. Is he following somebody around? Trying to access her email, Facebook account? And she's made it clear she despises his guts? The guy is a creep. He thinks we don't know about him? We know."
A POLICEWOMAN
"All bullying should be met by steel."
GYPSY saying.
"When I was six years old I went and complained to my Mom because I was being punched around by kids. She gave me some of the best advice I've ever had. She said, If somebody is pushing you around, drop something very heavy on his head. Worked then, works now."
JOHNNY DEPP, actor. To this day his most cherished tattoo is the one on his strong left bicep: his mother's name, BETTY SUE.
"I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid-a-hand-on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."
JOHN WAYNE, actor, always said that this line from THE SHOOTIST expressed his own ideas of human dignity and strength, and the way people should treat each other. I think he was right.
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These are very powerful quotes on one of the most relevant topics of the day. I especially like the statement by a female cop. It's also good to see that some stars have been open about having been bullied. I wish the message, though, wasn't akin to blaming the victim (i.e., "They should just fight back."). If only it was so easy.
ReplyDeleteBe well, Margaret. Thanks for stopping by. It's always good to see you.
xoRobyn
My granddaughter just went through an ordeal of text bullying, from some girls in her school. My son took it straight to the principal. I'm waiting to see how their zero tolerance policy (on bullying) handles it.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful collection of quotes up there, dearest Margaret. Of course, a lot of the time bullies are a product of having been bullied, themselves (not that that is any comfort to their victims). We tend to assume most bullies "grow out of it", which thankfully, many do - but we all know of the aggressive, rage-filled adult, who uses intimadation to try manipulate those around them. I have a neighbour I now recognise as a bully, she is not physically agressive, but she MUST have us all do as she will bid, or we suffer her anger. I think she would be horrified being labelled a bully, I do know she is very insecure and filled with fear. It DOES seem easier to just give in, in order to keep the peace, but appeasing a bully never really works, for if you do not ultimitely take a stand, the demands only become higher and much more frequent. I wish I had stood up and said, "no more" years ago. Now? She hardly ever intrudes upon me.
ReplyDeleteRobyn--Thanks for visiting the blog. Your Comments are always thoughtful. I agree we shouldn't blame the victims of bullies, and sometimes (in our society) they seemingly have no recourse except to endure it. But I also think there are times when we could all be braver than we have been, both in our own defense and in defense of others.
ReplyDeleteMs. A--so sorry to hear about the text bullying your granddaughter has gone through. Your son is doing the right thing--and she knows her Dad is standing up for her.
Shrinky--"Insecure and filled with fear" types cause a lot of havoc in the world, don't they? I think they're so unhappy with their own lives that they're starving for a sense of control over others. Totally sick. I guess the best one can do is to stay strong and, when needed, point out their bullying in very plain terms. People like this have a mental illness as marked as someone confined to a psychiatric ward.
Sorry the whole post seemed off to me because I thought you wrote Harvey Fierstein. That being said those are incredible quotes. The emoitionally R*tarded vampire one is interesting.
ReplyDeleteCopyboy--Thanks for pointing out the typo, I corrected it. Great tough quote, like Fierstein.
ReplyDeleteI think the first quote is the best, but man that Tyson quote is kinda of funny
ReplyDeleteAdam--Thanks for dropping by. Yes, the Harvey Fierstein quote says it all, doesn't he? About Tyson, I bet he really could have clocked that gorilla!
ReplyDeleteGreat quotes! However, I'm pretty sure the silver back would have thrown Mr. Tyson around like he was a rag doll... You know my background and probably understand why I HATE bullies.
ReplyDeleteI've always prided myself in being a devout "anti-bully." I'm a firm believer in the gypsy saying.
Bullies need to be dealt with quickly and strongly.
Pat--You're probably right about Tyson and the silverback!
ReplyDeleteI do know your background, and I'd bet you've reduced many a bully to cowardly jelly.
Long time no see (or read). Everything okay?
ReplyDeleteHi Pat, thanks for checking in! Everything is OK (in fact, I'm going to post again in a day or two.) Guess this gorgeous summer weather has made me lazy. I have been lazying on the deck watching cloud shapes and smelling the honeysuckle...and enjoying more energetic people's blogs, like yours!
ReplyDeleteJust added a great sentiment from John Wayne, who I'm sure inspired terror in a good many bullies!
ReplyDeleteIronic that Tyson was the worst kind of bully, beating up Robin Givens.
ReplyDeleteProfessor Chaos--yes, he was. I remember an article which quoted something he supposedly told a friend at the time. He bragged that he hit Givens just once, and she "bounced off every wall in the apartment." Heavyweight champion of the world belting this petite woman. She's lucky she made it out of that marriage alive.
ReplyDelete